Are you a senior who loves to travel? With rising costs of airfare, you’re probably wondering if you can snag an awesome discount with one of your favorite airlines. In your golden years, you probably now have the time to enjoy yourself and travel the world, checking off items on your bucket list. While senior discounts are quickly disappearing in favor of loyalty programs, some popular airlines still offer discounts to our most valued members of society, like Air France and Delta. If you’re curious about airfare discounts for seniors, check out these frequently asked questions to learn more.
Usually, senior discounts are for around 10% of the ticket price. During sales this may be more valuable than during peak travel times due to rising costs—10% off a high price is still a high price. Different agencies will have different numbers for you, so inquire with them for specifics.
Even if a senior discount doesn’t offer the best deal on a particular flight, it may worth taking advantage of anyway because many airlines offer special terms to senior passengers. For example, the fare may not be as restrictive, or you may be able to get a last minute ticket for a good price. Senior tickets are often refundable and transferable to another senior as well.
Most airlines that offer senior discounts do not offer them online. Instead, you can access them by calling the airline directly via phone call or in person at an airport. This is to prevent fraud and to allow the airline to verify your information.
Air France and British Airways offer senior discounts, so if you intend to travel anywhere that those airlines serve, you might be able to find a great price. There are some conditions for each of these airlines, for example, Air France only offers discounts within France itself so you might only be able to get a discount on a connecting flight, but it’s still worth inquiring.
Usually, senior discounts are not the best discounts you can get. The best prices are usually reserved for frequent flyers on the airline, or at least those who are members of their loyalty programs. If you frequently travel with Southwest Airlines, for example, it may be worth it to join their loyalty program and register for points to ensure you get the best fares.
You are more likely to get a discount from AARP’s travel agency than you are with an airline itself. British Airways in particular partners with AARP frequently to offer special deals, but your best bet is definitely to look with AARP first when planning your trip.
There usually aren’t additional fees for seniors who take advantage of special pricing, but if you haven’t traveled by air recently, you may be shocked at the different fees charged by different airlines like baggage fees, checked baggage fees, and the price of in-flight snacks.
Air France, British Airways, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines offer senior discounts. They may only be offered for certain regions or flights, so you should inquire with the specific airline with your travel plans to get a better idea of what fares might be offered to you.