e-ticket ZEDs

So apparently within a 4 day warning window, we plan on switching from paper ZEDs to e-ticket ZEDs.

HKG have told us that one of the new conditions will now be fixed routing - so if the e-ticket says MCOJFK for example, we cannot use it to LGA or EWR, which I find odd.

I assume some of you have had e-ticket ZEDs for a while? Do you have this odd regulation?

"The traditional green tickets for staff travel on interline carriers will gradually be replaced by iET. To comply with the iET provision, interline tickets will only be valid for travel to/from the specific airports indicated on the ticket. For example, for a AMS-JFK ticket, this will only be valid for travel from Amsterdam to New York Kennedy while travel to other airports in New York is prohibited. At the same time, staff will only be required to furnish the specific Airport Code when submitting interline ticket application. Further details will be announced in due course."

Odd indeed.
I was under the impression that ZED's were implemented :
A. Uniform fare calculation
B. Eliminate the necessity for multiple back ups

In prohibiting the use of ' co terminals ', it defeats 'B' which will lead to multiple back ups again, thus increasing the work of ticket agents
and at the back end, refund agents.

At UA we have very few interline E ticket agreements & none of these contain such a restriction.

Good points there. Might just write in to our staff magazine about this ill thought out procedure

Hi Nick,

I doubt very much that CX is moving to 100% eTicketing for ZED right now since the majority of ZED carriers are not yet prepared to support this. In fact, I'm fairly certain CX is not yet prepared to support interline eTicketing for ZED. They may, however, be readying for eTicketing CX employee travel on CX (ZED or other) and that may be what they're referring to if you say they've only given you a 4 day warning.

Note that interchangeability between co-terms is really up to the transporting airline, if they're system supports it for eTicketed commercial passegners they'll likely support it for eTicketed staff as well.

Even if eTicketing means we do lose interchangeability, by the way, I'm confident employees will gain even more flexibility if their airlines support automated (on-line) ticketing, which can be done for eTickets but not for paper. In otherwords, if I can't use my PAR-BOS ticket but now need a PAR-MIA, and my airline has IET for ZED with other airlines, I could request the new ticket through the web and, at the same time, refund the original. There is development underway to support that. This type of automation could also allow employees to purchase ZED tickets at locations where their airline does not have a presence. Again, a huge benefit.

Don't see this as two steps back, in fact, I think we'll be taking giant leaps forward.

You make some good points. In the future yes it will be very good, the condition being if one can instantly get tix and refund them.

Whilst e-tickets / coupons where no cash is taken unless ticket is used is in place in HKG for CX for online tickets only, we cannot do it in outports for for OAL ZEDs for tax reasons, as the company pays our fringe benefits tax on tickets so we need to go through a cumbersome process to obtain them.

The paper tickets are cumbersome and time consuming, and in that sense I can see how e-tickets would be flexible and efficient. However in our case until they work out a way not to take all this money off me that they won't refund for 2-3months after refund application I see no personal benefit!

Be aware of the introduction of any automated systems allowing you to book interline tickets. Earlier this year BA introduced such a system stating that it would be far better for the staff and easier to book interline tickets. ( It is ... if you know that you need a back-up ticket at least 7 days before departure as the tickets have to be posted and cannot be collected ).
They have now announced that there will be a USD3 NON_REFUNDABLE charge on each sector made using the system ... thats USD3 per person per sector or about 10% on the cost for a ZM1 ticket.
Then don't use the system, book by phone, I hear you say .... unfortunately we now have no option but to use it.
Other carriers beware !!!!

There are alot of automated tools being developed, some by individual carrier some by industry providers, each with it's own set of advantages and disadvantages. The key being that airlines have to find a solution to staff travel. Paper tickets are costly to process and require a great deal more human interaction that eTickets. This means that the ticket with the least value (i.e. in dollars and cents) costs an airline the most to process. Automation (particularly through on-line tools) will be used to faciliate eTicketing. That will likely mean we will have to suffer some growing pains (e.g., delayed refund process, less flexibility from a single ticket) but overall I think it will work out for us.

Change is difficult but often times worth while.