Thread: ZED fares for travel companion

A travel companion as in buddy pass traveller? Not eligible for Zed travel as far as I know. Zed travel is for employees and eligible pass riders, and retirees but not buddy pass riders even if travelling with employee.

Sorry, not as in buddy pass, but as a pass rider in lieu of a spouse. Is that eligible? How would that be booked since the pass rider wouldn't have an employee id?

I thought a travel companion fell under the same category as eligible pass riders such as parents and spouses. I guess that depends on the airline. I can't honestly say I am aware of the travel companion/pass rider policy in my airline regarding ZED. I do know parents and spouses can use ZED and all they have to do is go to the pass travel office or airline agency nearby to purchase their offline tickets. We can't buy ZED fares from other airlines via computer.

Not for "companions" in the usual sense. Only Parents, Dependents,Spouse, and many times, Domestic partners.

I'm sure it varies by airline. My employer does allow a guest in lieu of a spouse or domesitc partner and a "few" OAL will honor ZED passes in their name - Air Canada, British Midland, Lufthansa, and a few other European airlines. None of the major American carriers allow it (with my airline anyway).

The ZED agreement REQUIRES that carriers bilaterally accept EMPLOYEE, SPOUSE (LEGAL SPOUSE), and CHILD. There are several other eligibility categories but they are OPTIONl (i.e., airlines may -- or may not -- agree bilaterally to include them).

Travel companion (regardless of whether they are "in lieu of spouse" at your own airline) fall into the OPTIONAL category. This category is often included in alliance agreements (e.g., oneworld, SkyTeam, Star) but generally not outside of that. Although, there are a few European carriers known to include them routinely.

Ultimately, it all boils down to your airline's bilateral agreements

Wow, learned something new!