Wannabe questions

Long story short, I'm at a transitional point in my life and in the course of figuring out what it is I want to do with my life, everything revolved around traveling. In thinking about that, I decided that working for an airline would be a good way to accomplish many of my life's desires on the cheap. A couple regional carriers where I live are hiring part time ramp/customer service (skywest calls 'em cross-utilized agents)

I'd kind of like to get the run-down on how nonrev travel works. I'm mostly concerned with..well I don't know how to ask, because I don't know the lingo etc so I'll offer up some examples.

The two regional carriers here (JAC) that are hiring are Skywest(Delta??) and Mesa (United express??). In looking at flight schedules, skywest has loads more in and out of here than mesa, but mesa has more destinations (via America West) that I am interested in. The real question is, I guess, does one working for skywest have the same priveleges on delta, and the same for mesa/united?

Are there any good reads for someone who doesn't know anything about the process so that I can figure out which questions to ask?

BTW you all look like you have a great cyber-community going on here. Thanks in advance for any responses you can give.

Hello,

There's someone on here who works at Mesa Airlines here in Phoenix, DNA is their member name. I'd send them a private message to see what they tell you.

I work at America West, and I do know that what we offer Mesa employees who work on our express flights is different than Mesa employees who work express for other airlines.

Non rev. travel is space available after all revenue is boarded & at my airline non revs are boarded by date of hire. You being a new hire would be at the bottom. Our airline space available is almost non existant at this time. With fare where they are you are almost best just to buy the lowest & not worry about it. As far as working for an airline it's not what it was in 1979 when I started.
But if you want to work for an airline, I will just say good luck.

I don't know if you had made your decision, but SkyWest has a better employer reputation (I'm biased). As far as travel bennies for regional airline, SkyWest has the best. You will be able to travel on all SkyWest flights, Delta Connection and United Express flights plus working at a Delta Station you have travel benefits on Delta mainline anywhere in the USA for free and 3 international trips per year. Plus, we have a ton of ZED (low cost standby tickets) on many domestic and foreign airlines. Our travel department works hard to get these agreements. Actually, I will copy and paste the list for you.

Airlines ID90 ID75 Service Charge
OW Service Charge
RT Minimum Fare
OW Minimum Fare
RT Parents
** Indicates Domestic Partner Privileges
Aero California (JR) 2 ID90 Per Calendar Year Unlimited ID 75 $25.00 minimum $50.00 minimum None
Aeromexico (AM) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Air Baltic** (BT) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Air Berlin** (AB) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Air Botnia ZED Fare Based on mileage See SAS agreement
Air Canada (AC) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Air Dolomiti** (EN) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Air Europa** (UX) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Air Europe** (PE) ZED Fare See Volare Airlines Same
Air Midwest (ZV) See US Airways
Air New Zealand (NZ) ID 90 by special request only None
Air Tahiti Nui (TN) ID 90 by special request only None
Air Vanuatu** (NF) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Air Wisconsin/DLC & COC Employees** (ZW) $15.00 $30.00 Same
Air Wisconsin/UAX Employees** (ZW) Fee waived Fee waived
Aircalin (SB) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
AirTran $25.00 $50.00 Same
Alaska Airlines** (AS) $30.00 Domestic /$45.00 Mexico $60.00 Domestic /$90.00 Mexico Same
Alex Air Helicopters Contact Travel Center Same
All Nippon Airways** (NH) ZED Fare Based on mileage Slightly higher
Allegheny** See US Airways
Allegiant Air** (G4) - Begins 5/16/05 $25.00 $50.00 Same
Aloha Airlines (AQ) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
America West** (HP) $25.00 $50.00 Same
American Airlines** (AA) ZED Fare Same
American Trans Air (TZ) Domestic partner of SFO empl only - ID 90 $15.00, $30.00 plus taxes $30.00, $60.00 plus taxes $45.00 OW, $90.00 RT to Hawaii Same
Arkia Israeli Airlines** (IZ) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Asiana Airlines** (OZ) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Atlantic Southeast Airlines ASA** (EV) Please Click Airline Name For Details
Bearskin Airlines** (JV) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Big Sky Airlines** (GQ) $20.00 $40.00 Same
British Airways Speedbird Speedbird Fare Only Slightly higher
British Airways** (BA) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
British Midland Airways** (BD) Zed Fare Based on Mileage Same
British West Indies BWIA (BW) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Canadian North** (5T) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Cape Air **(9K) $10.00 $20.00 Same
Cathay Pacific (CX) - Agreement Suspended
Cayman Airways** (KX) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
China Airlines** (CI) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
CityJet** (WX) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Colgan Air** See US Airways
Comair Please Click Airline Name For Details
CommutAir** (C5) 10.00 20.00 Same
Continental Airlines- COC Employees (CO) $10.00 (domestic) $20.00 (domestic) Other fares vary by region Same
Continental Airlines- UAX /DLC Employees(CO) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Continental Micronesia (CO) See Continental Agreement
Corporate Airlines $15.00 $30.00 Same
Delta AirLines Please Click Airline Name For Details
El Al Israel Airlines** (LY) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
ERA Aviation (7H) $10.00 $20.00 Same
Estonian Air** (OV) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Etihad Airways** (EY) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
EVA Airways** (BR) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Federal Express Unlimited ID 25 None
First Air** (7F) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Freedom Airlines** See America West Agreement
Frontier Airlines **(F9) $25.00 $50.00 Same
Great Lakes Aviation** (ZK) $15.00 $30.00 Same
Gulfstream Int'l. Airlines** (3M) $25.00 plus int'l. tax $50.00 plus int'l. tax Same
Hawaiian** (HA) $25/$50/$60 (See Detail) Same
Horizon Air** (QX) $25.00 $50.00 Same
Icelandair** (FI) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly Higher
Independence Air** $25.00 $50.00 Same
Iran Air (IR) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
JAT Airways** (JU) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
JetBlue Airways ** (B6) $25.00 $50.00 Same
Korean Air (KE) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Lauda Air** (L4) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Livingston Aviation** (LM) See Lauda Agreement
LOT Polish Airlines** (LO) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Sllightly higher
Lufthansa German Airline** (LH) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Luxair** (LG) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Maersk Air** (DM) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Malmo Aviation** (TF) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Martinair** (MP) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Meridiana** (IG) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Mesa (YV) Parents, retirees ID 75 $25.00 $50.00 Unlimited ID 75
Mesaba** $20.00 $40.00 Same
Mexicana Airlines (MX) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
MidAtlantic** See US Airways
Midwest Airlines (YX) $10.00 $20.00 Same
Northwest** (NW) ZED fare Based on Mileage Same
Olympic Airlines ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters (HI) $25.00 $50.00 Same
Pen Air ** $10.00 $20.00 Same
Piedmont** See US Airways
PSA Airlines** See US Airways
Qantas Airways** (QF) ZED Fare Based on Mileage None
Qatar Airways (QR) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Salmon Air (S6) Free Free None
SAS Scandinavian Airlines** (SK) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Slightly higher
Scenic Airlines** (YR) Varies -see detail Same
Shuttle America** See US Airways
Skyway Airlines (AL) $10.00 $20.00 Same
Song Please Click Airline Name For Details
South African Airways (SA) See Detail for **Special** Contact Travel Center Yes, if accompanied by employee
Southwest Airlines** (WN) $25.00 $50.00 Same
Sun Country Airlines (SY) Offer is for employee only $50.00 None
TACV Cabo Verde** (VR) ZED Fare Based on Mileage None
Trans States Airlines** (TW) See US Airways
United Airlines (DLC/COC employees)** (UA) Unlimited ID 90 DLC/COC employees $25.00 minimum (DLC/COC empl) $50.00 minimum (DLC/COC empl) ID75-DLC/COC empl. parents
United Airlines (UAX employees)** (UA) Based on mileage Same
US Airways** (US) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) 1 ID 90 per year for employees and retirees Unlimited ID 75 $60.00 minimum $120.00 minimum Unlimited ID 75
Volare Airlines** (VA) ZED Fare Based on Mileage Same
ZED CHART - ZH (ZONE HIGH)
ZED CHART - ZL (ZONE LOW)
ZED CHART - ZM (ZONE MEDIUM)

Patch, thanks for that info. Unfortunately, Skywest wasn't going to work for my situation. They need people who can commit to 5 full weeks of training. Training which would interfere with my full-time job.

I ended up taking a position with Mesa. Straight evenings and all the training is on site (JAC) rather than having to go to SLC.

mesa/skywest have a station agreement here so that I can fly on skywest flights as if they were mesa flights. that leaves lots of options in and out. Sweet!

I'm stoked!

Patch,

That list was great. Is this list available somewhere? Also, how do we get info on ZED fares? I have called the travel benefits line to get the login info for gozed.com but they said they have never heard of ZED fares.

I appreciate any help you might give me.

DakotaGypsy

If you work for SkyWest, you find the list on skywest online under travel, discounts, airlines. The travel center is very knowledgable with ZEDs, just call the employee line and listen to the prompts to get to connected to the travel center. Some of the counters (make sure it's skywest counter) don't have many dealings with ZEDs, check with the sup for help.

If you don't work for SkyWest, unfortunately every airline has different agreements... Check with your travel benefits department. Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions.

Oh yeah, I don't think there is a company login for gozed.com. However, there is for flyzed.com but it is kind of obscure. I think you can find it by doing a search on i-share or on the forums... Again, good luck.

No, the main page of gozed.com doesn't require login but the section where you look up zed pricing does. This page is at

<a href="http://www.gozed.com/discounts/zedfares.cfm?v=2189621" target="_blank">http://www.gozed.com/discounts/zedfares.cfm?v=2189621</A>

I am with ASA (Delta) and the travel benefits people have no idea what a zed fare is. How can I get the:

Carrier Code:
3 Digit Numeric Carrier Code:
Carrier Password:

That I need to get into this page?

Thanks,
DakotaGypsy

The first thing you have to do is find out if your company even has zed agreements. I know AS just started with them last October so they are fairly new for us. I tried many times to figure out how to book something on the zed site before I realized that we had no agreements and I had no access. That could be your problem. A lot of airlines still have only the service pass/id90 type agreements with other airlines.

I'd say if your pass bureau doesn't know anything about zed fares, you are out of luck for now.