Buying Flight Tickets When going on Leave

[Catherine]

Son just finished School and got assigned to a boat.  Was told they will be given leave time later this year when they return from an assignment - but won't know specific dates for leave until they return, so would probably be buying plane tickets to come home 2-3 weeks before the actual flight.  Roundtrip plane tickets to fly cross country are expensive any what but even more so when bought within a few days of departure date.   So, are sailors just out of luck and need to purchase high priced tickets when leave is approved within a month or so of flight dates?   Do any of you have any experience with this?  Do some airlines offer special discounts for military? Thanks.

[ellen0502]

There will be someone that will help him with flight arrangements. They will give him details, and choices that will work with the Navy schedule he will be on. Yes, they do get a discount, although some cannot be great. The Navy does work, to some extent, with specific airlines, and they do try to find the best flight available. It is what it is.

[Catherine]

Thanks!

[Catherine]

Thanks! No one helped him with fares when he got a bit of leave after finishing A school, so his ticket was expensive.   Nice to hear there might be some assistance/advice now that he’s assigned to a boat.  

[Chipmunk]

Catharine, my son has had to make his own arrangements as well but the last time he flew home, he was given information on a website that he could book his flight through and at least their travel insurance for flight cancellation was a lot cheaper than what I could get. 

Ellen0502 - if you have any information on who their resources are for getting cheaper rates, etc. I would appreciate it. Even when dealing with Delta directly, the best option they could give us were just the cheapest fare rates that I could book ourselves. Thanks!