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Hi, through some stars aligning/good luck, I have a choice of either being a companion for a long term Delta employee or an AA employee, but am not sure which would be best. I am located in DTW, so obviously Delta has more flights out, but no zed fares. I will be flying internationally quite a bit and depending on availability, would pay for business/first on AA..{as opposed to free econ that aa offers.} any advice or things to consider would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I'd go with the AA employee route since being a companion for flight benefits sounds like you have to stay under his/her mercy everytime you want to travel. What if you two are in a bar and he stinks up the joint by throwing beer bottles around and you end up with a black eye? You still want to do business with this so called "companion"?
With DL, you can travel alone on any DL system flight (not partners--zeds) You pay yield fare for INT and if emp has high seniority, you can get first (domestic is rare) or biz (more often) for long haul. What's your goal for INT? Asia, EU, elsewhere?
I don't believe you pay for any domestic travel? I'll check in a few. Just checked and you pay small yield fare for domestic. INT is yield + taxes/fees. Tkting can be done w/out employee via phone res or tkt agent, using your credit card, as well as on Travelnet thru emp. You get 6 high priority flight days (S2)
I have no knowledge about AA companion rules so I won't tell you something incorrect.
With AA you can also travel alone. Charges depend on mileage and class of service + taxes and fees.
Boarding is based on check-in time (FCFS) within your pass classification (D2-registered companion/ D3-buddy????)
As M7 said, getting first is rare- very rare, and I wouldn’t count on business too much either, those upgrade lists are always a mile long.
DTW is a Delta hub
One factor that would tip the scales - the DL employee’s date of hire.
All 4 of our pass riders flew to Japan HND and then to BKK in business using S4s en masse. Only one had first class domestic flight. I get them now and then but many of my cnx are on RJs and limited to 8-12 seats (if any)
Seniority date is key, along with routes. That FCFS policy would bother me.
Having 6 S2s on DL is also quite a plus on some routes. They don't have to be used RT. A flight day is 24 hrs--any INT date changes do not matter as long as subsequent flights are scheduled in the 24 hrs from first flight departure using S2. If you have layover and next departure is after the 24 hr period, you will not carry-over that flight day. You'd have to use another S2 if you want to maintain that priority.
I'd look at those "where we fly" route maps and weigh your options. Have fun--and make sure you read the Nonrevs Prayer!
PS--Mig, we don't offer auto upgrades for biz (INT) except for some full price medallions and misc circumstances. We do get a fair # of positive space upgrades for overseas crew in key gateways. DTW can be PSUP for Asia crews.
PS new2this: If your employee has better seniority than mid 1987 DOH, go with AA (so you can't outrank us on a flight--hehe)
I was wondering what DOH was considered optimal for F. :cool: And I will also add, that my view of DOH boarding has changed as the years have passed. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by mrs767er
Just wondering (because I know you know) is it possible to 'game the system' *wink*
Everything is IN the system nowadays, so unless a GA gets it wrong, you can't play games...(maybe overseas but even AMS is in tune w/our priority system--CDG might still be an issue?) I've never actually tried but always thought I could wiggle a little if needed. I'm glad--I'd feel way too guilty if I tried to pull something sneaky. Karma is key...Quote:
Originally Posted by Migflanker
hey If anyone would like to sell me a buddy pass on dl or ua that would be great, I work for Great Lakes, but I don't have benefits for my brother, he's in the Navy Coming home, I
was hoping to get him home cheaper...
thanks
dave
Great gesture, however I doubt you will get any takers on this idea. Reason being that most here are not willing to risk handing out buddy passes to complete strangers being its risky. If a buddy passer happens to lose it, gets mad about something, the buddy pass giver risks his travel priveledges. Even if you pay for the buddy pass. If its a friend or someone you know and the know the buddy rider, that may be a different story. I would consider greyhounding him from GL Illinois to SD. That's probably the cheapest way. I am not speaking for everyone here but I can feel the negativeness of the buddy pass situation from years of posting here. Most use them for either family members that are not eligible pass riders or friends that they really know.
I agree with 29palms. The buddy is a reflection on emp/retiree. I saw this just last month while I was in FLL. Two 'buddies' in the waiting area, missing getting on 2 flights. Making a little bit of a pest out of themelves to the gate agent. When they're on their cell phones talking about how pissed off they are about the situation, you can tell who they are (S4), with not a lot a training about how this system works by their DL friend. They did get on finally with the last flight of the day, as did I.Quote:
Originally Posted by 29palms