MoD Discount Brochure

[propulike]

A warning to all you bargain hunters.

I've just been trying to book a hire car for my hol's and used the codes in the Forces Discount Brochure to see what deals I could get. Alamo car hire worked out at over 20% more expensive than using no 'discount code', Hertz at a whopping 75% more expensive for using the 'Government and Mil Corporate rate'!

The people who produce the Discount Brochure only collate the information given to them, but who on Earth organised these 'deals'???

[Navaleye]

Propulike,

My g/f is a corporate travel agent. She tells me that rates have fallen so far recently that unless a corporate rate has been freshly negotiated, it is likley to be more expensive than a current general commercial rates. Its cheapest and easiest to book off the web. Jeepers, she can get a 2wk cruise on P&O for £299. A few years ago you could easily add another zero to that.

[monkeytamer]

Roughly on topic, does anyone know travel companies doing good MOD discounts for last minute breaks or any general good deals on currently? :)

[Vage Rot]

Doesn't matter what the Mil rate is - it's a rip off. I stayed at Holiday inn last month on duty - £113 b&b. The other half stayed at same holiday inn last week - £59 Dinner B&B!!! negotiated by her civvy company with half as many employees as the RAF - well, for now anyway!

[The Ferret]

Propulike - Agreed! I have both an Avis Preferred and a Hertz Gold Account registered on the military discount and it is ALWAYS cheaper to get a weekend or special deal on a car in the UK or USA without it! The only time it is beneficial in the USA is when you book a car at the "Duty" rate! But you have to be "on duty" of course and this has insurance implications! A NATO Travel Order normally works - although I have not been asked for it yet!

As far as hotel discounts go I never use the military code - join the respective loyalty scheme, get your discount through their card and become a civvy while you stay!

[Big Unit Specialist]

Spoke to the forces travel office the other day to get a Chunnel ticket - one way was over 150 quid - spoke direct to Eurotunnel - 41 pounds RETURN............ guess who I booked with? As you all have said 'tis a bit of a farce but at least you get the contact tel nos....

[Zoom]

The Yanks seem to have it right. Many moons ago I checked into a hotel in New Orleans.

Me: How much?

She: $80 per night.

Me: Do you do a military discount?

She: Certainly. That'll be $40 per night.

She didn't even ask for my ID. The Yanks appear to have some regard for their Armed Forces.

[Lukeafb1]

Whilst on the subject of general discounts, if you have the misfortune to have to travel by rail in UK, try this:

Look up the cheapest genuine fare on the web (regardless of who its through), go to your starting station and after being quoted some ludicrous fare, mention, that you can get it at "X" through the web. You will almost invariably be given the rate you quoted, even if you want to travel by the next available train.

I was quoted £149.00 return from a midlands station to Euston a few weeks ago. When I told the ticket issuer that I could get it at £39.00 return from "Y", he charged me the "Y" fare without even checking it. I'm not mentioning the midlands station in question, cos' I use it fairly frequently at the moment. But its just down the line from Crewe!:ok: