Department of Defense and Priceline Expand American Forces Travel

NORWALK, Conn., July 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) officially announced the expansion of American Forces Travel, a leisure travel site created with Priceline, for current and retired members of all six branches of the U.S. military, the National Guard, and their families, along with DoD civilians. The program's expansion extends benefits to all Veterans of the United States Armed Forces with a discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions, allowing an additional 16 million users access to the full-service travel booking platform.

Introduced in 2019 to thank the military community for their service, American Forces Travel is a unique and unprecedented travel platform: a global collection of exceptional deals, assembled in a single place exclusively for those who have served on behalf of our nation. The site is the result of a joint service initiative among the six branches of the United States Armed Forces—the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard—and the National Guard, along with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Priceline, which operates the platform at no cost to the DoD. 

In addition to improving access to Armed Forces' Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) benefits, every booking on American Forces Travel generates revenue used to support critical quality of life programs for Service members and families.

The platform features privately negotiated deals on the world's most popular hotel, flight and car rental brands with over a million deals in more than 71,000 destinations globally, providing fast, easy access to a broad selection of deeply discounted leisure travel for the military community and their families. Eligible users can save up to 40% - 60% on leisure travel.

"Priceline is proud to support American Forces Travel by providing the best travel deals the industry has to offer for the brave Americans who support our country through military service," said Brett Keller, Priceline's CEO. "We are pleased to expand this program to an additional 16 million Veterans who have served in the United States Military."

MILITARY STAR Card 
As part of the expansion, the MILITARY STAR card is now available as a payment method on thousands of deeply discounted hotels. The MILITARY STAR card is part of The Exchange Credit Program under the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and offers exclusive credit benefits to military personnel and their families, including a competitive APR regardless of credit score and interest reduction during deployment.

Eligibility Verification
American Forces Travel is open to all military and military affiliated personnel who are eligible to use Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. First-time users will be asked to verify their eligibility with the Department of Defense through the site. Once verified, they are free to use the site to book discounted travel around the world. The verification process is secure and requested information will not be retained.

Under the expansion, 22 million personnel will now have access to the site, including:

• All current active duty military who serve in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard 
• All members of the Reserve components and National Guard
• Coast Guard Auxiliary Active Duty
• All current active duty and retired National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• All current active duty and retired US Public Health Service (USPHS)
• All retired military, including those in the Reserves and National Guard who are retirement eligible
• Eligible family members who are officially sponsored (ID card holder) by authorized patrons in the above categories
• All Medal of Honor recipients
• All Veterans of the United States Armed Forces with a discharge status of honorable or general under honorable conditions
• All Veterans with service-connected disabilities, all Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, all Veterans who are former prisoners of war, all individuals approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible Veterans under the Department of Veterans Affairs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
• All Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilians, including appropriated funds (APF) employees and nonappropriated funds (NAF) employees
• Full-time, paid employees of the American Red Cross and United Service Organizations (USO) hired in the United States and serving at U.S. DoD installations overseas

Eligible patrons can sign up, book travel, and find more information by visiting AmericanForcesTravel.com.

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About American Forces Travel℠
American Forces Travel℠ is a new Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program arising out of a joint service initiative combining the efforts of each of the six branches of service (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard), the National Guard and the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy. American Forces Travel℠ is transforming the way MWR provides online leisure services to our Service members and families, empowering them to revitalize, reconnect, be well, and most importantly, be mission-ready. In addition to dramatically enhancing quality of life for the military community, American Forces Travel℠ will inject critical revenue into MWR programs by providing commissions from every booking made.

About Priceline
Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a world leader in travel deals. Priceline offers exclusive discounts on hotels, flights, alternative accommodations, rental cars, cruises and packages. We offer more than a million lodging properties, helping travelers find the right accommodation at the right price. We negotiate great deals every day, and put our best pricing on the Priceline app. Our deep discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars and more are also distributed through our partnership brand, Priceline Partner Network. With free cancellation for many rates, 24-hour customer assistance and the option for both pre-paid and pay upon arrival reservations, Priceline helps millions of travelers be there for the moments that matter. For us, and for our customers, every trip is a big deal.

For further information, please contact:
Christina Bennett, [email protected]     
Stephanie Perry, [email protected]

SOURCE Priceline