Interline travel
Encyclopedia
Interline travel refers to airline employee discounts for travel. Interline is a term used in the airline industry indicating travel between airlines http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:Interline&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title. Though it would sound that the travel involving multiple airlines is interline, the actual interline travel when it comes to employee (staff) travel would mean that staff of one airline is travelling on another airline. The interline travel benefits are often available for employees, spouse, parents, dependent children and retirees of the airlines.
Airline employees often travel on discounted airfare with other airlines. These benefits are often negotiated by a select department at the airline, called the pass bureau or can be obtained by using independent companies (This is a term specific to the American region. There are regions that call this department as staff travel or rebates office). Generally the applicable fares are called ZED fares. http://asutravelguide.com/page.cfm?PageID=246&CategoryID=28. ZED stands for "Zonal Employee Discount". These are mileage based prices that various airlines have agreed will be the cost for any airline employee with one of the participating airlines can purchase for travel. Sometimes the Zone fares can be based on city pairs as well.
The ZED program was designed to make it easier for airline employees travelling on other carriers with their leisure travel arrangements. The old system of ID discounts (ID90, ID50, etc.) was based on a percentage discount off the published full fare price (either coach or first class) for a route given a specific origin and destination for each ticket. To allow for more predictable fares, easier trip planning and ticketing for employees and their families, the ZED program created travel zones with specific pricing.
Interline travel discounts on other suppliers varies by the supplier and travel time. Interline discounts on cruises and hotels can be booked by the employees, parents and retirees thru select interline travel agencies which are authorized by the various suppliers. To qualify for these discounts the employee, parent or retiree must provide proof of eligibility such as a copy of their airline ID badge or letter of employment on airline letterhead.
There are only a handful of fully qualified interline travel agencies in the world and most are in North America. The largest being Perx by Interline Vacations.
Some interline agencies also offer military travel discounts for active and retired military.
Usually defunct airline employees, (Ozark Airlines, Braniff Airlines, Hughes Air West, etc) do not qualify for any discounts. The exception is typically TWA
as they were merged with American Airlines
before they went out of business.
Interline discounts are typically offered close in to departure dates, however some vendors (hotels) will offer them farther in advance, sometimes as much as a year in advance.
When airline employees are flying on their interline travel discounts, they often are flying Standby
which means they only get on the plane if there are any seats left after all paying passengers and those flying on frequent flyer miles have been boarded on the plane. For this reason in the recent years this benefit has become less valuable as many flights run full and thus employees cannot get on the plane. Usually there is a possibility for off-duty crew to use free jump seats
either in the cabin or the cockpit should all passenger seats be taken.
E-ticketing for interline travel however, still remains unsolved from a technical point of view. There are a few solutions in the market who try to solve this problem.
Airline employees often travel on discounted airfare with other airlines. These benefits are often negotiated by a select department at the airline, called the pass bureau or can be obtained by using independent companies (This is a term specific to the American region. There are regions that call this department as staff travel or rebates office). Generally the applicable fares are called ZED fares. http://asutravelguide.com/page.cfm?PageID=246&CategoryID=28. ZED stands for "Zonal Employee Discount". These are mileage based prices that various airlines have agreed will be the cost for any airline employee with one of the participating airlines can purchase for travel. Sometimes the Zone fares can be based on city pairs as well.
The ZED program was designed to make it easier for airline employees travelling on other carriers with their leisure travel arrangements. The old system of ID discounts (ID90, ID50, etc.) was based on a percentage discount off the published full fare price (either coach or first class) for a route given a specific origin and destination for each ticket. To allow for more predictable fares, easier trip planning and ticketing for employees and their families, the ZED program created travel zones with specific pricing.
Interline travel discounts on other suppliers varies by the supplier and travel time. Interline discounts on cruises and hotels can be booked by the employees, parents and retirees thru select interline travel agencies which are authorized by the various suppliers. To qualify for these discounts the employee, parent or retiree must provide proof of eligibility such as a copy of their airline ID badge or letter of employment on airline letterhead.
There are only a handful of fully qualified interline travel agencies in the world and most are in North America. The largest being Perx by Interline Vacations.
Some interline agencies also offer military travel discounts for active and retired military.
Usually defunct airline employees, (Ozark Airlines, Braniff Airlines, Hughes Air West, etc) do not qualify for any discounts. The exception is typically TWA
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
as they were merged with American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
before they went out of business.
Interline discounts are typically offered close in to departure dates, however some vendors (hotels) will offer them farther in advance, sometimes as much as a year in advance.
When airline employees are flying on their interline travel discounts, they often are flying Standby
Standby (air travel)
On most modern airlines, flying standby occurs when a passenger travels on a flight without a prior reservation for that specific flight.- Why fly standby? :...
which means they only get on the plane if there are any seats left after all paying passengers and those flying on frequent flyer miles have been boarded on the plane. For this reason in the recent years this benefit has become less valuable as many flights run full and thus employees cannot get on the plane. Usually there is a possibility for off-duty crew to use free jump seats
Jump seat
A jump seat , in aviation refers to an auxiliary seat for individuals — other than normal passengers — who are not operating the aircraft. In general, the term 'jump seat' can also refer to a seat — in any type of vehicle — which can fold up out of the way; vehicles include carriages, automobiles,...
either in the cabin or the cockpit should all passenger seats be taken.
E-ticketing for interline travel however, still remains unsolved from a technical point of view. There are a few solutions in the market who try to solve this problem.
External links
- Perx Interline Vacations for Trip Planning
- Dargal Interline - password protected, cruise, tour and resort pricing not available to the general public
- InterlineTravel.com website - Travel center for airline employees, cargo employees and their families (password protected for members use
- ZED Fare description