Zed Fares

[Smog]

Is there any chance that Air Canada and Westjet would set up a Zed Fare program between the 2 companies ?

[mbav8r]

Can't see it, I don't think WJ goes anywhere AC doesn't go or already have access to. The benefit would only go to WJ with AC's worldwide network.

[jeollanamdo]

I disagree, I think it would be smart for both Air Canada and WestJet to allow employees to travel on each other. They already have a pilot reciprocal agreement in place, so extending it to all employees would be the next step.

In the U.S. Alaskan Airlines and nearly every U.S. carrier have employee travel bennefits with each other, and Alaskan Airlines is like WestJet in terms of network. They travel primarily within the US, Mexico and Hawaii. They do not have global reach yet have access to all of the other carriers.

The benefit to employee travel is not so much network, but extra seat capacity available to the employee. I can't tell you how many times I have flown standby and noticed that my flight was full and the Air Canada flight was open. On the other hand I have seen our side with extra space and Air Canada employees left behind. It would make sense for both Airlines to open up to each other so that employees benefit from the extra empty seats that become available.

Just a quick search through ZED Fares I found that Frontier, AirTran, and Southwest all have ZED agreements with Delta, US Airways, United, American, Alaskan, Hawaiian Airlines, and almost every major international carrier. AirTran, Southweat and Frontier (like Alaskan) are all primarily domestic carriers, with no first class or premium cabin, with the odd flight to Mexico.

I do see this in the future for Air Canada and WestJet, it will take time, however the benefits for both carriers are clear. Remember, Air Canada with all of its partners feeding to their domestic network, often fills thier seats with codeshare passengers feeding them across the country. This makes standby very difficult for thier employees, espeically when thier standby priority is based on seniority. Imagine if you were at the bottom of the food chain... you are the last to always get on, and more often then not are getting bumped on your way home during the holidays or your vacation. If you could get on WestJet it increases your chances! This is the same for WestJet employees, especially now that we are codesharing.

[Gawtti]

Never knew the Pilot's had a reciprocal agreement, also ... Who does WestJet employees get Zed's with so far?

[WJ700]

I disagree, I think it would be smart for both Air Canada and WestJet to allow employees to travel on each other. They already have a pilot reciprocal agreement in place, so extending it to all employees would be the next step.

In the U.S. Alaskan Airlines and nearly every U.S. carrier have employee travel bennefits with each other, and Alaskan Airlines is like WestJet in terms of network. They travel primarily within the US, Mexico and Hawaii. They do not have global reach yet have access to all of the other carriers.

The benefit to employee travel is not so much network, but extra seat capacity available to the employee. I can't tell you how many times I have flown standby and noticed that my flight was full and the Air Canada flight was open. On the other hand I have seen our side with extra space and Air Canada employees left behind. It would make sense for both Airlines to open up to each other so that employees benefit from the extra empty seats that become available.

Just a quick search through ZED Fares I found that Frontier, AirTran, and Southwest all have ZED agreements with Delta, US Airways, United, American, Alaskan, Hawaiian Airlines, and almost every major international carrier. AirTran, Southweat and Frontier (like Alaskan) are all primarily domestic carriers, with no first class or premium cabin, with the odd flight to Mexico.

I do see this in the future for Air Canada and WestJet, it will take time, however the benefits for both carriers are clear. Remember, Air Canada with all of its partners feeding to their domestic network, often fills thier seats with codeshare passengers feeding them across the country. This makes standby very difficult for thier employees, espeically when thier standby priority is based on seniority. Imagine if you were at the bottom of the food chain... you are the last to always get on, and more often then not are getting bumped on your way home during the holidays or your vacation. If you could get on WestJet it increases your chances! This is the same for WestJet employees, especially now that we are codesharing.

Great points. I used to grab ZED's on alternate carriers when traveling on AC. It was a slick system and the un-used back ups could be refunded with ease. WestJet has been building a solid travel benefits base but they are still far behind in ease of ticketing. It's still a painful request process with long lead times, and it doesn't help when you live outside of Calgary. However, I assume Sabre has opened the possibility to print ZEDS at all airports now. Over time, it should move that way but there is always something on IT's plate ahead of that kind of stuff. For now, my standby website is still Expedia, because I can't stand jumping the hoops.

[jeollanamdo]

The current process of booking interlines is not easy. I recently took a trip on of our interlines. I requested my ticket 3 weeks in advance. Was contacted 2 days prior to departure with my PNR so that I could travel. The day before leaving I noticed the flight that I needed was overbooked. I called the Destination Desk and they said they would e-mail the pass office and they would get back to me in 4 to 7 days. I must have had the most crazed look on my face when I said to the destination desk that I was supposed to leave the next day, not in 7 days when I needed to be back to work... I ended up going to the airport and they changed it for me, although they will not always do this. The agent I had was very nice and helped me out.

Once I arrived in destination it was much the same, I had to contact the destinatioin desk to change the date of the ticket due to loads... and it was painful. It is not worth using the interline tickets we have due to the fact they are standby in nature, but inflexible when it comes to making changes and modications, and you need this when travelling standby.

By no means am I saying the Destination Desk does a bad job. They work very hard with the tools they have. I just hope someone - "way up" can get ZED going to make this process easier on us... and the Destination Desk. Just imagine how busy they must get simply with change and cancel requests on over 60 different airlines.

[DaveP]

Hi,

Zeds are coming very shortly. I don't know the specifics, but Greg mentioned it couple weeks ago.

Dave.

[ravensrule]

I flew with KLM FRA-AMS-YYZ last year. I missed my original flight from FRA, but thankfully the agent rebooked me at the counter for the later flight to yyz. When I got to AMS, I went to their connections desk as I needed a boarding pass for my yyz flight. I was informed that the flight was oversold by 22 seats. I got to the gate, waited til cut off, when the agent gave me the last seat on the plane, in first class no less . I'm not sure what happened to the other 22 people, but I was certainly a very happy camper.

I learned KLM will allow non-revs to fly in their jump seats.. I was getting a little excited thinking that I would be in the cockpit of the A330 for the flight. However, I was informed that it would not be the cockpit, but an fa jump seat at one of the doors, as they had an extra seat. Thankfully, I ended up in first class, but I was prepared to sit in a jump seat because I had to get home!

[jeollanamdo]

I must say KLM was very helpful at the airports in Europe. If you call their standby line they tell you to go to your pass office, and that is hard to do once you are abroad.

WestJet is missing out on many airlines in terms of pass travel because most airlines now are on ZED type fares and they do not want the extra hassle of handling manual employee interlines.

This is one of the reasons we do not have an employee interline with Air France and a couple of the other big players. If you want employee pass travel with them, you must be a member of ZED or one of the affiliates of ZED.

Ticketing and pricing is much easier as well. You are either ZED high, medium or low and it is set prices across the board. ZED if booked correctly is a great cost saver... just book the trip with the least amount of connections, otherwise it gets expensive.

Let us wait and see what happens... I hope we get ZED, in the meantime I will have to start thinking of my next trip!

[mikeecho]

I must say KLM was very helpful at the airports in Europe. If you call their standby line they tell you to go to your pass office, and that is hard to do once you are abroad.

WestJet is missing out on many airlines in terms of pass travel because most airlines now are on ZED type fares and they do not want the extra hassle of handling manual employee interlines.

This is one of the reasons we do not have an employee interline with Air France and a couple of the other big players. If you want employee pass travel with them, you must be a member of ZED or one of the affiliates of ZED.

Ticketing and pricing is much easier as well. You are either ZED high, medium or low and it is set prices across the board. ZED if booked correctly is a great cost saver... just book the trip with the least amount of connections, otherwise it gets expensive.

Let us wait and see what happens... I hope we get ZED, in the meantime I will have to start thinking of my next trip!

It's been said before. ZED is coming.

[Flapsforty]

Comming in aug.

[CanadaEH]

AWESOME! As long as we don't have to go through the same process are our current pass requests this is great news.

[stickontheice]

Where did you hear that FlapsForty?

[jeollanamdo]

So, from what I hear the ZED fares are on the way... well it has been confirmed on the Real Story. I have heard we are going to being with KLM, and then progess to our other partners. Has anyone heard anything on when this is going to launch for sure? I have heard August and then later this year...

[ravensrule]

So, from what I hear the ZED fares are on the way... well it has been confirmed on the Real Story. I have heard we are going to being with KLM, and then progess to our other partners. Has anyone heard anything on when this is going to launch for sure? I have heard August and then later this year...

Our KLM fares are already setup by distance, so it seems like all we will have to do is call a different phone number and we will be able to book on KLM. I just wish we allowed for travel companions to travel on more airlines.

[jeollanamdo]

KLM, Jet Airways, and Emirates are setup on zonal pricing. The booking will be through WestJet CSA's as that is how Zed works. Will be interesting to see when it all starts. There will new Airlines added as well, but it is so far speculation... Everyone is very excited...

[Flapsforty]

Hi,

I know beacuse I am on the Standby Travel Committee. It's actually been pushed off to Sept. I don't know which airlines we'll get right out of the box, but, I think Jetblue, SWA, and Cathay to start along with a few of our already other partners. We are attending the ZED conference in OCT in Geneva to sign up more. The expectation is for a hundred or so from there. We have aligned our pricing for the program so we can mesh with anyone.

Cheers

[CanadaEH]

Flaps, are we going to be able to purchase standby tickets - at any time - at the Airport or will it be through the Destination Desk?

[pic777]

So when do we (KLM) get to fly with WJ?
I spend about $900 mth on air fare commuting to AMS, would be nice to get a bit of a break
There was a big meeting in YYC with the KLM bobo's in July I think, but been quiet ever since

[Flapsforty]

It will go through our travel desk for the first little bit but i'm pushing hard to avoid that. It won't be the 'wait for 2 weeks' thing anymore at least and you can get your tickets right away. It will go to an online portal ASAP I just think they want to get comfortable with it.

pic 777,

I would think KLM would be on the list if not right away after the convention. I'll try to get some more info on who we've got out of the box and post it here in early Sept.

Cheers

[CanadaEH]

The ladies at the destination desk do a great job and have always been accommodating to me. If we can get our tickets ASAP (especially if in another country) that's cool, but if we have to wait to have them approved... well, that wouldn't be very good.

[stickontheice]

The ladies at the destination desk do a great job and have always been accommodating to me. If we can get our tickets ASAP (especially if in another country) that's cool, but if we have to wait to have them approved... well, that wouldn't be very good.

I'll second that! They do a great job however it would be amazing to be able to book online. Getting tickets in a timely fashion will be great too. I wanted to go and visit my folks in Arizona last year. The carrier I wanted to use needed 3 weeks notice. Just couldn't make it work. Hopefully this winter it'll be different. Thanks for the awesome effort Flapsforty!

[jeollanamdo]

Zed fares are currently issued via paper coupon, that must be issued by your employing airline. So the online version to order passes is great, but you will still need to have them delivered or pick them up from the destination desk, so I would think the best way to get your passes would be to go to destination desk yourself or a WestJet ticket counter (once they are ready to issue ZED Passes).

Partner airlines in the ZED program are not able to issue ZED passes for WestJet Employees, only WestJet can do this, so if you are travelling to a location that WestJet does not fly to, then you need to order all of your passes as required prior to departing...

I have heard that the ZED program is looking to start e-ticketing ZED passes, however this has been talked about for the last few years with nothing really materializing. The only thing that has materialized is ID90.com which allows parter carriers to list for flights rather than having to call.

[whiteguy]

I have heard that the ZED program is looking to start e-ticketing ZED passes, however this has been talked about for the last few years with nothing really materializing. The only thing that has materialized is ID90.com which allows parter carriers to list for flights rather than having to call.

There are a few airlines that have e- ticket Zeds. Canadian North, CMA, UA, Qatar......maybe more. This is through AC though, so not sure if the same applies to other airlines.

[CanadaEH]

So one can't walk up to, for example, Cathay in HKG and get a ZED fare? It must be printed through WestJet somewhere WestJet can print them off?