Home › Airline, Rail & Transit Senior Discounts
Airline, Rail & Transit Senior Discounts
Last updated 2026-07-15 · Offers change — when in doubt, call your local store and ask.
Getting around costs less once you know where to look. From 10% off Amtrak to half-price rides on your local bus or subway, these discounts are real and easy to claim — you just usually have to ask for them or show ID. A few (like airline senior fares) are limited and inconsistent, so call ahead when a discount says 'phone only.'
Get the free Senior Discounts Master List
Join our free weekly newsletter — the best senior discounts, benefit deadlines, and bill-cutting tricks, in plain English. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
Form not loading? Sign up on our hosted page instead.
| Where | Discount | Min. age | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 10% off most rail fares | 65 | Select 'Senior' as a traveler type when booking on amtrak.com or through the app and the discount applies automatically. Doesn't apply to sleeping-car accommodation charges or certain Amtrak Connection (bus) segments, and can't always be combined with other discounts. Valid photo ID proving age is required at booking and on board. On joint Amtrak/VIA Rail cross-border routes, the minimum age drops to 60. Amtrak.com official senior discount page |
| Greyhound | 5% off unrestricted adult fares | 62 | Discount applies to standard (unrestricted) fares, not every promotional fare bucket. Bring a driver's license or other government photo ID as proof of age when booking or boarding. Greyhound.com deals & senior discount roundups |
| United Airlines | Senior fares on select routes, roughly 10-40% off | 65 | Not published or bookable online — availability depends on the specific route and travel dates, and these fares are inconsistent. Best approach: call United reservations directly and ask if a senior fare is available for your trip. Bring photo ID showing date of birth for check-in. United.com Senior Travelers page + travel industry reporting |
| American Airlines | Senior fares on select routes | 65 | Choosing 'Senior (65+)' under passenger type at aa.com will apply a discount automatically if one exists for that flight, but availability is route-by-route and not guaranteed. You can also call American Airlines reservations to ask about senior fares directly. AA.com netSAAver senior fares + industry reporting |
| Delta Air Lines | Senior discounts in certain markets | 65 | Delta's own fares page confirms senior discounts exist but are 'not offered on delta.com' — they must be checked by calling Delta Reservations directly. Availability varies a lot by route and season, so don't count on it for every trip. Delta.com official Fares & Discounts page |
| TSA (all US airports) | Expedited/relaxed screening — may keep shoes on | 75 | Travelers 75 and older may leave their shoes on during standard security screening. If an alarm sounds, additional screening (shoe removal or a pat-down) may still be required. This is separate from TSA PreCheck, which still requires a separate application and fee regardless of age. TSA.gov official page: Screening for Passengers 75 and Older |
| Federally funded local transit (nationwide) | Half off peak fare during off-peak hours | 65 | Federal law (49 U.S.C. §5307(d)(1)(D)) requires any transit agency receiving FTA funding to charge seniors, Medicare cardholders, and riders with disabilities no more than half the peak-hour fare during off-peak hours. Some cities set a lower qualifying age locally (60 in some places), so check your local agency. A Medicare card alone can qualify you even without a separate senior ID card. National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), citing FTA regulation |
| NYC MTA (subway, bus, SIR, tram) | Half-price fares ($1.50 vs $3.00) via Reduced-Fare OMNY | 65 | Apply in person at an MTA customer service center or by mail (mail applications can take up to 3 months) with photo ID showing your birthdate. Once you have a Reduced-Fare OMNY card, tap it like a regular OMNY card — 12 rides in 7 days and the rest of that week's rides are free, same as full-fare riders. MTA.info official Reduced-Fare program page |
| WMATA (Washington DC Metro) | 50% off with Senior SmarTrip card | 65 | Get a $2 Senior SmarTrip card at the Metro Center sales office, commuter stores, or select public libraries with government photo ID showing your birthdate. The discount applies automatically once you tap the card. WMATA.com official Senior SmarTrip page |
| SEPTA (Philadelphia) | Free rides within Pennsylvania (50% to/from NJ or DE) | 65 | Seniors ride free on SEPTA bus, subway/Metro, and Regional Rail within Pennsylvania with a SEPTA Senior Fare Card, funded by the PA Lottery. Trips crossing into New Jersey or Delaware are 50% of the weekday fare. An in-person appointment is recommended to get or renew the card. SEPTA.org official Senior Fare Program page |
| MBTA (Boston) | About 50% off with Senior CharlieCard | 65 | Apply online via a MyCharlie account with photo ID showing you're 65+; card arrives in about 7-10 business days and is valid for 8 years. Works on subway, bus, and discounted Commuter Rail/ferry/Express Bus passes. MBTA.com official Senior CharlieCard page |
| BART (San Francisco Bay Area) | 62.5% off with Senior Clipper card | 65 | Apply for a Senior Clipper card online, by mail, or in person at a customer service center with proof of age (driver's license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate). Keep at least 90 cents loaded to enter a station. BART.gov official Discounts page |
| CTA / RTA (Chicago region) | About 50% off fares with RTA Reduced Fare permit | 65 | Covers CTA buses and 'L' trains, Pace buses, and Metra. Apply online at fares.rtachicago.org or call RTA Customer Service (312-913-3110) to have a paper application mailed to you. RTA Chicago official Discounted Fare and Ride Free Programs page |
| LA Metro (Los Angeles) | Reduced fares with Senior TAP card | 62 | Seniors can get a Reduced Fare TAP card starting at 62, but must reapply/reverify at 65 to keep the reduced rate long-term. Apply online; card mails within about 20 business days with a passport-style photo and government ID copy required. Metro.net official Seniors/Medicare/Disabilities fares page |
| National Park Service (America the Beautiful Senior Pass) | Free entry to 2,000+ federal parks/lands; lifetime pass $80, annual $20 | 62 | Covers entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites, plus 50% off some amenity fees like camping and boat launches. Buy in person at a federal recreation site, by mail, or (as of Jan 2026) as an instant digital pass via Recreation.gov. National Park Service official Senior Pass page |
Most senior discounts are not automatic — you have to ask. A polite
"Do you offer a senior discount?" at checkout is the highest-paying sentence in retail.
Tips
- Airline senior fares are the least reliable discount on this list — they're not published online for United, American, or Delta, so you generally have to call reservations directly and ask if one is available for your specific route and dates.
- Local transit discount ages vary by city — while federal law sets a 65+ floor, some agencies (like LA Metro) let you start at 62, so check your own transit agency's site.
- Always carry government photo ID showing your birthdate when using any senior discount — nearly every program above requires proof of age at application or on the spot.
- A Medicare card can qualify you for reduced transit fares even without a separate senior fare card in many cities — ask your local agency if that option applies.
- The America the Beautiful Senior Pass pays for itself fast: at $80 for a lifetime pass, it covers itself after just two or three national park visits.