Zed fare on QF

I noticed some posts talking about getting a ZED fare on QF. I work for Southwest and our pass bureau is quoting ID90s. Do QF offer ZED fares to some carriers but not others?

I am trying to find the cheapest way to get from west coast US to Perth end of April. Any help or suggestions MUCH appreciated

AFAIK, ZED agreements are bilateral, just like ID90 agreements. QF does have ZED agreements with some airlines, but not all. If your pass bureau are quoting ID90s, that's probably the best they can do.

Susi, try carriers like Thai and Cathay as well. They fly into Perth from their home hubs, and obviously from the U.S. to the hubs.

Hi SusiQ!

Every year QF floods WN with prize letters. From personal experience most of these go unused. There's alway someone willing to trade theirs for a couple of buddy passes and the like. The Pass Bureau has a list of people trying to get rid of their QF (and other) passes. You'll only pay taxes, which last time I checked was going to be about $100-$150US. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I'm having a terrible time deciding what to do! I just can't stomach the idea of buying a confirmed ticket at $1600.00 and I've never nonreved to PER so I'm not sure how difficult it is. Even an ID90 on QF will run me $900 USD.
I'm going SAT April 28 LAX to PER, returning SUN May 6th. I have to be in PER 1st thru 5th otherwise trip is a waste.
Anyone who has nonreved on QF...what are my chances? I will have backup pass LAX to SYD on UA.

Is there one day better than another for nonreving? Is that week an AUS holiday time or anything? Is there weight restrictions or embargos I should know about?

Also, I called to check loads. Right now the flights have at least 60 + seats available. Some are as much as 120. I realize I am still 3.5 weeks out still but does anyone know if the booking loads tend to change alot during the end of Apr, first part of May? And if do change a lot 5 to 7 days before.

Geesh! You'd think I'd never nonreved before. I've only been doing this for over 18 years! If it wasn't so important to be there by the 1st I wouldn't be panicking so much. It's for a very special reunion that I don't want to miss.

Here's a thought. It may not work but it might be something to check into anyway.

It's relatively easy for us to get to HNL at that time of the year. Have you checked to see if HA or AC has any specials from HNL to SYD? We also have pass agreements with both. If memory serves me well then AC tends to run full but Al could probably answer that better than I.

Not sure If I helped or just added to your confusion. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...n_confused.gif

Good Luck!

I did check that, actually. HA had a confirmed ticket for $690 HNL to SYD when I first thought about it but of course when I went back to book it, it was gone. Ya win some, ya lose some.

AC has a great ZED fare HNL to SYD of around $250 RT. But they only have one flight a day so it could be risky that way. Especially if they run full like you mentioned. But I'll definitely consider that option too.

Thanks!

I flew nonrev on QF LAX-SYD-LAX without any problems.
I used to work for WN and I remember them not having many ZED agreements. ZED is the best way to go since the tickets are inter-changeable on any ZED carrier. I was trying AF SFO-CDG and it was full and so I just used my same ticket on VS SFO-LHR.
I did not care for the way you had to buy tickets in advance from the pass bureau at WN.
At my carrier, we can purchase nonrev tickets from any of our counters worldwide, even the same day of travel.
Best of luck to you getting to Perth!
Let us know how it went.

I called WN's pass bureau and asked why they didn't have more ZED fares. They explained, since WN doesn't interline and can not interchange tickets like most carriers do with each other, like you metioned, they aren't offered the ZED fares. But there are a few out there that take pity on us. I didn't know that about using a ZED fare on interchangably like that on another carrier. ...learn something every day! Thanks for the input!

ZED is the greatest thing that has happened to nonrev travel.
It is based on mileage rather than specific airlines or city pairs.
A ZED ticket should say "valid on any ZED carrier" on it. No longer a need for back up tickets.
From what I understand though, you have to go in the general area of your original city pairs.
I could not have used my SFO-CDG ticket on a SFO-NRT flight.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SusiQ:
I called WN's pass bureau and asked why they didn't have more ZED fares. They explained, since WN doesn't interline and can not interchange tickets like most carriers do with each other, like you metioned, they aren't offered the ZED fares. But there are a few out there that take pity on us. I didn't know that about using a ZED fare on interchangably like that on another carrier. ...learn something every day! Thanks for the input! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's correct, WN is not a member of the ZED/MIBA Forum and therefore does not have any ZED agreements. What they can and do have are bilateral agreements using zonal based rates equivalent to the current ZED rates. Because WN's agreements are based on a bilateral agreement, and not the multilateral ZED agreemnt, they cannot state "VALID ZED CARRIERS" so they are not interchangeable.

Thanks for the clarification AA ZED. Because I was thinking...so what would stop one from getting an AC zed fare and taking it to another zed carrier and using it on that. I would never do anything to jepardize my pass priveleges but there are plenty who would.

Hi AA ZED:

Actually we have a number of ZED agreements (including AA) and even a few walkups.

One of the frustrating things is our pass agreements are in no way shape or form automated. You always have to call the Pass Bureau and then send in a paper request. Airport staff have a little easier time of it as most have local agreements that override. Maybe one day!

Randy, did I understand you right? I didn't know we have ZED fares on AA? I thought we only had ID90s on them. I work at the airport so I usually utilize those station agreements.

Yes. Check the Pass Bureau page on SWALife under Pass Agreements. We fly AA a couple of times a year.

Yes, WN has ZED on AA, AC, LH, BD, LT.

That may not be current, as I have been gone from WN for two years now.

AA ZED is right, you could not have a ticket with "valid all ZED carriers".
In a perfect world though, you should be able to use a ticket on those five carriers above.