Why You Should Join the AARP, Even If You Are a Young Whippersnapper
I am not a pensioner, although I am fastidious, I do not like noisy restaurants and sometimes grumble when I get out of my chairs. Yet I am also a member of the AARP Seniors Advocacy Group, which entitles me to all kinds of discounts on my purchases. This is because, contrary to popular belief, there is no minimum age to join – anyone who can pay the $ 16 annual membership fee is eligible for the same benefits as those in their golden years. And the deals are good too!
How does AARP membership work?
Formerly the American Association of Retirees, AARP advocates for people over 50 on issues that affect them most, such as social security or access to health care. Members also get good discounts on travel, dining and entertainment, and there is no age limit for membership (the only exceptions to this are offers that have minimum age requirements, such as additional Medicare coverage, or some life insurance policies).
Membership is $ 12 for the first year with auto-renewal and $ 16 per year thereafter. You can also save 10% or 21% on the annual rate if you sign up to a three-year or five-year agreement, respectively.
What kind of deals can you get through AARP?
- Car Rentals: With car rental prices skyrocketing, one of the best benefits is up to 30% discount on basic car rental rates at Avis, Budget and Payless. You can also get 43% discount on your annual Zipcar membership.
- Flights: Through our partnership with British Airways, you are eligible for $ 65 (Economy or Premium Economy) or $ 200 (Business Class) flights to over 130 destinations worldwide when booked online.
- Hotels: Membership entitles you to a 5-15% discount on a range of hotel chains including Wyndham, Radisson, Hilton and Best Western.
- Restaurants: The selection is limited to 14 chain restaurants, but you can get 10-15% off at Denny’s, Rainforest Cafe, Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill.
- Entertainment: You can get up to 20% off Regal Cinema Standard Tickets and $ 3 off the popcorn and soda combo if you already have a Regal membership. There are also two-for-one tickets to select shows through Ticketmaster (eg Vegas shows, musicals, minor league sports) and a $ 2 off monthly Audible subscription.
As a member, you can also find deals on pharmacies, anti-fraud products, travel packages, financial products and of course the free AARP glossy magazine on aging (what it’s worth). Here is a complete list of their benefits .
Is AARP worth the cost of membership?
That is, given that the membership cost is low enough that you hardly need to use it to get any benefit from it – maybe renting an odd car, booking a hotel room, or buying movie tickets.
For example, I can easily offset the $ 12 membership cost for one online purchase of two Regal movie tickets, which is $ 14.80 less than what I would have gotten without AARP. As a frequent moviegoer, the membership is only worth it for the Regal discounts, even if I never use it for any other discounts (I’m not a big fan of Rainforest Cafe anyway – too loud).