San Francisco Bay Area Seniors Discount

San Francisco Bay Area Seniors Discount

Many SF Bay Area businesses offer discounts to aggressively solicit more business from the Seniors group. Reading this page will help you spot some of those “hidden discounts” you probably didn’t realize exist at places where you already go. Also be sure to check our tips for Seniors below to get the best deals.

Send a link to this page to your senior friends and relatives; they will find it interesting even if they are not into discounts.  Also check our Discount Coupons page and Thrift Stores page for deals available to all ages.

The list below was emailed to me and rapidly gets out of date so be sure to double check. I was surprised to see how many discounts there were, that some start at the young age of 50, and some even include everyone in the group with a senior (at least if he/she is paying).

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LISTS OF DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS
activities  grocery  hotels  restaurants  retail  transportation  misc

Note: Senior discounts change often and vary by age, location, date or even time of day. Call ahead or ask “do you have a seniors discount” to be sure. This list will still give you a good start at hints on where to ask about senior discounts. Also check Google for coupons, which can often be better, that are available to all ages.

RESTAURANTS

• Applebee’s: The Golden Apple Card for Seniors was discontinued in 2012 but Senior discounts still exist at some locations. On the positive side, every Veteran’s Day Applebee’s invites Veterans and active military to have a free meal; they do need to show proof of military service.
• Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
• Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
• Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
• Boston Market: typically 10% off (65+)
• Burger King: 10% off (60+)
• Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
• Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
• Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
• Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
• Elephant Bar: 20% of with Senior Explorer VIP Card (60+). Sign up at the restaurant. Call up first to make sure since this is not longer so visible on their website.
• Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
• Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
• Harry’s Hofbrau: $9.74 for a full Seniors dinner. See details. A good deal and very popular with SF Peninsula Seniors.
• IHOP: 10% off or a 55+ menu which varies by location (55+).
• Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
• KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+). Some locations give 10% off your order.
• Krispy Kreme Donuts: 10% off (50+) . There is one on Sullivan Ave in Daley City off Hwy 280 (by In-and-Out Burger) but we haven’t confirmed a discount there yet.
• Long John Silver’s: various discounts at locations (55+)
• McDonald’s: various discounts (55+). Some locations will give a free coffee with an order, others discount sodas, others give a reduced price on coffee.
• Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
• Subway: 10% off (60+)
• Sweet Tomatoes: Senior special unlimited salad & coffee $6.99 Mon-Thu 2-5pm (60+). See details.
• Taco Bell: varies 5-10% off, free beverages (65+)
• TCBY: 10% off (55+)
• Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)

RETAIL & APPAREL

• Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
• Clarks: 10% off (62+)
• Dress Barn: 10% off one day/week (55+)
• Goodwill: 10% off one day/week (Sundays on most of the Peninsula)
• Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
• Kmart: 20% off (50+). Senior discounts are at the regional manager’s option.
• Kohl’s: 15% off on Wednesdays (62+)
• Rite Aid: Living More members 10% off Tuesdays & 10% off Rite Aid brand every day (60+). See details.
• Ross Stores: 10% off on Tuesdays for the Every Tuesday Club (55+). See details.
• Salvation Army Thrift Stores: 15-50% off, usually one day/week (55+)

GROCERY

• Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
• Fry’s Supermarket: Free Fry’s VIP Club Membership is needed for Seniors discount. Save an additional 10% off the first Wednesday every month (55+)
• Kroger: 10% off first Wednesday of every month (60+)
• Sav Mart: 5% off one day/week (55+)

TRANSPORTATION

Other

• Senior Clipper Card: Substantial discounts often over 50% off (65+). An electronic regional transit fare card accepted on all SF Muni vehicles, BART, AC Transit, Caltrain, SamTrans, VTA, and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry, and San Francisco Bay and Oakland/Alameda ferry service. It automatically calculates your discount each time you use it for cash or prepaid payments. See details.
• SF Muni, Bart, Etc. – Some cash payments with a valid ID also get a senior discount (65+). The free permanent Senior Clipper Card (see above) is now the most convenient way with more options for users to automatically get senior discounts even if they are paying cash.
• Amtrak Rail: 15% off with restrictions (62+). See details.
• Greyhound Bus: 5% off on some fares (55+)

Airlines

• Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
• American Airlines: various discounts for 65+ (call before booking for discount). Merged with Continental Airlines in 2011.
• Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65+ (call before booking for discount). However, these fares are often higher than web fares. One advantage is that they are refundable. See details.
• United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
• U.S.Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

Car Rentals

• AlamoCar Rental: up to 25% off for AARP members
• Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members Best Western: 10% off (55+)
• Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
• Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
• EnterpriseRent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
• Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
• National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members

HOTELS

• Best Western: 10% off (55+)
• Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Clarion Motels: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Hampton Inns &Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
• Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
• Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
• InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
• Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
• Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
• Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
• Myrtle BeachResort: 10% off (55+)
• Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
• Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)

ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT

• America the Beautiful: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+). Provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. See details. Active U.S. Military and their dependents can get a free annual pass.
• AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
• Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
• California State Parks: $1 off for vehicle state use (62+). See special pass details for life-time passes for the permanently disabled.
• Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
• Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off (62+)
• Regal Cinemas: 30% off Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
• Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+). This often only applies certain days and changes.
• AT&T cell phone: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
• Jitterbug cell phone: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
• Verizon Wireless cell phone: Nationwide 65 Plus Plan gives 200 anytime minutes for $29.99/month (65+). A smartphone data plan is extra.

LINKS RELATED TO SENIOR DISCOUNTS  top

• Best SF Bay Area Thrift Stores – This is a list of the best thrift stores hiddenSF.com has found in the SF Bay Area. Several give Senior discounts.
• seniordiscounts.com – One of the best web sites for checking out senior discounts. The mass of information can be confusing however unless you refine it to a useful level. We first search by zip code then refine by category, discount type (local), and distance (2 miles).
• sciddy.com – Another web site that searches for discounts by city or zip.
• AARP discounts – . The largest and most publicized senior discount program around around so you may wish to join ($16/yr) since many vendors know about it.  On the other hand I’ve found that their website and actual discounts are not as exciting as they make out.  Also, as an aside, the AARP organization is also not as kindly a seniors’ advocate as it promotes. It actually consists of two parts: a very large profit-making corporation, AARP Services Inc which primarily sells insurance; and a non-profit foundation, AARP Foundation which is one of the nation’s most powerful lobbying groups for liberal causes such as Obamacare.  In 2014 the CEO made $1,698,299 .
• This couponchief.com page provides some more conservative alternatives to AARP.
• USAA discounts – If you are a military veteran or closely related to one then USAA has a wide variety of good discounts. Their other financial and insurance services are excellent as well per our personal experience.
• Here’s a list of Discounts to Veterans and Active Duty Military (restaurants & stores) on or around Veteran’s Day

TIPS & IDEAS ON SENIOR DISCOUNTS  top

• Reasons YOU should always ASK for your discount!
  – These days Seniors discounts have more to do with marketing than anything else so don’t be embarrassed to ask. Companies are providing Seniors discounts to attract more business. So, just consider taking a Seniors discount to be like using any other coupon. That’s what it is! They want your business.
  – Ask “Do you have a senior discount?” and ye shall receive; otherwise pay full price! 
  – Some businesses specifically train employees not to ask “Are you a senior?” to avoid embarrassing customers who are sensitive about their age.
  – Many senior discounts are not advertised to the public.
  – Discounts often vary by specific location, date, and time of day. For example, franchisee stores are often allowed to set their own discounts and they can be different in company stores.
• Many businesses offer time-sensitive discounts and coupons to every age group. These are often even better discounts if you have the time to look them up on Google (look up, for example, subway coupon, subway discount, subway coupon 2013) or on the business’s own web site.
• Changes are always happening and often different locations in the same chain have different rules … so the information provided may be out of date. Please email me if you happen to notice something incorrect.
• Most San Francisco attractions including movie houses offer a senior discount. Don’t be shy about asking but remember they typically require official identification, such as a driver’s license, showing date of birth.
• You can often beat the standard seniors discount with a time-sensitive or internet offer. We recommend using Google to look up latest details. Search for the name of the business along with the words “discount” or “senior discount”. E.g., boston market senior discount.
• If you are a serious discounter make your own list of discounts at businesses you frequent. Start by printing out this list … then checking out and adding your favorites from the web. Let us know if you see any particularly good deals we should add in this list.
• At most up-scale restaurants going for lunch or “early bird” dinners rather than during regular evening hours is a good way for Seniors to save. Check their web sites, or better yet ask, for exact times.
• Search this www.hiddenSF.com site for nifty things to do. Many excellent places we’ve found are quite inexpensive even without a discount.