AARP does not negotiate airline discounts directly, but members can access reduced fares through partner travel agencies and booking platforms

AARP membership itself does not unlock a special airline discount code you enter at checkout. Instead, AARP members can book flights through AARP Travel, a service run by Expedia, which sometimes offers lower prices than the public rate for the same flight. The discount varies by route, airline, and travel date — there is no fixed percentage off, and on some flights there may be no discount at all.

The second way to save is through individual airline programs. Many carriers offer senior fares or reduced advance-purchase rates that do not require AARP membership but do require you to be 62 or older (the age varies by airline). These are separate from AARP's partnership and often provide a clearer discount than the AARP Travel booking site.

A third option is AARP's partnership with AAA, which sometimes stacks discounts — you may may have access to for both an AARP rate and an AAA rate on the same booking, though you would need both memberships to use them.

Key Takeaways

  • AARP Travel, powered by Expedia, shows prices that may be lower than public rates, but the discount is not may provide and varies by flight.
  • Most major airlines offer senior fares for passengers 62 or older, independent of AARP membership, and these sometimes beat AARP Travel prices.
  • You must book directly with the airline or through their phone line to use a senior fare; online booking sites often do not display them.
  • Comparing AARP Travel, the airline's senior fare, and a standard booking site for the same flight usually takes five minutes and can save $50 to $200 per ticket.

How to access AARP Travel discounts

Go to aarptravel.com or call AARP Travel at 1-855-738-2772. Enter your departure city, destination, and travel dates the same way you would on any booking site. The site will show available flights; prices displayed already reflect any AARP member discount, so you do not need a code. You will need your AARP membership number to complete the booking.

AARP Travel books through Expedia's inventory, so the flights shown are the same ones available elsewhere — the difference is only in the price Expedia negotiated with AARP. This means if a flight is sold out on AARP Travel, it may still be available on the airline's own site or another booking platform.

You can also call AARP Travel directly to speak with an agent. This is useful if you have complex routing (multiple stops, one-way tickets, or international flights), because agents can sometimes find combinations that the website does not display.

Senior fares offered directly by airlines

Most major carriers — United, American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, and JetBlue among them — offer reduced fares for passengers 62 or older. These fares are not always advertised on the airline's homepage; you usually have to call the airline's senior reservations line or ask an agent at the ticket counter. The discount is typically 5 to 10 percent off the lowest available fare for that flight, though it varies.

To book a senior fare, call the airline directly using the phone number on your ticket or the airline's website. Have your birthdate ready. Some airlines will also let you book senior fares online if you select "senior" from a dropdown menu during checkout, but this option is not always visible — you may have to call to confirm a senior fare is available before you book.

Senior fares usually come with restrictions: they may not be refundable, may require advance purchase, or may not be available on all flights. Read the terms before you book. If the senior fare is higher than a sale price or a price you found on AARP Travel, book the cheaper option instead.

Comparing prices across three sources

The fastest way to find the best price is to check three places for the same flight on the same day: AARP Travel, the airline's website (searching for senior fares), and a standard booking site like Google Flights or Kayak. Write down the price from each, including any taxes and fees.

AARP Travel often beats the airline's public website but not always the airline's senior fare. The airline's senior fare sometimes beats both. A standard booking site may show a sale price that beats all three. Spending ten minutes comparing usually saves more than the cost of a coffee.

If you are booking a round-trip ticket, check whether the outbound and return flights have different discounts available. You might find that the outbound flight is cheaper on AARP Travel but the return flight is cheaper as a senior fare booked directly with the airline. In that case, you would book them separately.

What AARP membership costs and whether it pays for itself

AARP membership costs $16 per year for the first year, then $24 per year after that. A single flight discount of $50 or more pays for the membership. If you fly even once a year, the membership usually saves money.

AARP membership also includes discounts on hotels, car rentals, and other travel services through the same AARP Travel platform. If you travel more than once a year, the membership often pays for itself through hotel discounts alone, even if flights do not save money on a particular booking.

You can cancel AARP membership at any time, so if you join for a single trip and do not use other discounts, you can cancel after that trip.

When senior fares and AARP discounts do not save money

On heavily discounted flights — sales, flash deals, or basic economy fares already marked down — there is often no additional senior or AARP discount available. The airline has already reduced the price as far as it will go. In these cases, the public price and the senior price are the same.

Budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier rarely offer senior fares at all. If you fly these carriers, AARP Travel is your only option, and the discount is often small or nonexistent.

International flights sometimes have senior discounts, but they are less common and often smaller than domestic discounts. Always check the terms, because international senior fares may have strict change or cancellation policies.

Other AARP travel discounts beyond flights

AARP Travel also negotiates rates on hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises. Hotel discounts are often 10 percent or more off the public rate. Car rental discounts vary widely by location and date. Cruise discounts are sometimes substantial, especially on repositioning cruises or last-minute bookings.

These discounts are available through aarptravel.com or by phone. You do not need to book your flight through AARP Travel to use the hotel or car rental discounts — they are separate offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an AARP member to get a senior airline discount?

No. Most airlines offer senior fares for passengers 62 or older, regardless of AARP membership. AARP membership gives you access to AARP Travel, which may have different prices than the airline's senior fare. You can use either one or compare both.

What age do I have to be to book a senior fare?

Most airlines require you to be 62 or older. A few require 65. Check the specific airline's policy before you book. You will need to provide your birthdate when you reserve the ticket.

Can I use AARP Travel to book a flight for someone else?

Yes, but only if you are an AARP member. The discount applies to the booking, not to the passenger's age. You enter your AARP membership number at checkout. The person flying does not need to be an AARP member or even 62 or older.

Do AARP flight discounts work on international flights?

AARP Travel books international flights and sometimes shows discounted prices. Senior fares on international flights are less common than on domestic flights and often have stricter rules. Compare the AARP Travel price with the airline's senior fare before you book.

What if I find a cheaper flight after I book through AARP Travel?

AARP Travel bookings are subject to the same change and cancellation policies as any other booking made through Expedia. If the flight is refundable, you can cancel and rebook. If it is not refundable, you cannot get your money back, but you may be able to use the ticket value toward a future flight with the same airline.