AAFES Gas Stations Extend Discount to Drivers Who Use a Military StarSM Card
Aug 28 2008
Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) gas stations in CONUS, Alaska, and Puerto Rico are being programmed to reflect a discount of three cents a gallon for drivers who pay with a Military StarSM Card.
“Anytime a customer uses a bank-issued debit or credit card, the retailer pays a portion of the transaction to a third party financial institution,” said AAFES’ Chief of Corporate Communications Lt. Col. Dean Thurmond. “Because the Military StarSM Card is administered by the Exchange Credit Program, AAFES is not subject to the additional fees incurred through other ‘pay at the pump’ options. As a result, we’re able to pass savings on to authorized exchange shoppers.”
The three cent a gallon discount currently is being applied to transactions at 13 installations: Minneapolis-St. Paul JARS, Columbus AFB, Redstone Arsenal, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Fort Gordon, Patrick AFB, Robins AFB, USMA, Laughlin AFB, Yuma Proving Ground, Mountain Home AFB and Nellis AFB, MacDill, Scott, JRB Carswell.
All remaining facilities in CONUS, Alaska, and Puerto Rico (177 facilities) were expected to begin applying the three cent a gallon discount as of Tuesday, Aug. 19.
“I encourage drivers during the first week or so of this new effort, to touch base with the attendant at their local gas station to ensure the software upgrades have taken effect before fueling up,” said Thurmond. “As is the case with anything technical, we expect a few glitches could occur during the first few weeks of the program.”
Officials hope to extend the Military StarSM Card three cent a gallon discount at all AAFES facilities, but do not have a time table for worldwide implementation at this time.
“This effort is a priority of AAFES command,” said Thurmond. “Entire teams are dedicated to working through the technical challenges to extend the Military StarSM Card discount to drivers at all AAFES locations.”
