Staff travel

[Talewind]

Can someone tell me about the staff travel benefits for emirates pilots.

Specifically, how much is a return ticket Dubai to Sydney?
Does the price change depending on the day etc
FO gets economy upgrade able to business, is that at a cost or just dependant on availability in business?
Popular routes such as the one above, how likely is it that you can't get on?
Is staff travel only on Emirates flights, if not what others?

Any further info or gotchas appreciated.

Thanks
TW

[felixthecat]

All on TRIPS if you have a nose around on there.

[Talewind]

Thanks Felix

Hadn't heard of TRIPS before, just had a look. I'm not an emirates employee as of yet so don't have access.

Anyone could give me some idea of how it works and what it costs?

Thanks
TW

[Eau de Boeing]

It works you extremely hard with zero respect and it costs years off your life, a crazy cost of living and now no duty-free.

Oh were you talking about TRIPS?

[dustyflightdeck]

Staff travel is fine. Besides, you'll hardly use it anyway especially to somewhere like Sydney. There are many more pressing issues here that you should be worrying about if you are considering joining. If staff travel is at the top of your list then I fear for you, friend.

[BigGeordie]

What dusty said. Unless you are planning on commuting. In which case forget it. It simply isn’t possible and the company wants it and keeps it that way.

[break dancer]

Geez the guy or gal just wants a plain answer not the other vitriol found on the other posts.
As an FO the only ticket upgradable to Bus is the annual leave ticket locked to your nominated home country for 3 years after which can be anywhere on the network, but not upgradable for kids below 13(??) You have the option of buying for yourself and immediate family unlimited standby or firm tickets to anywhere on the network after probation. SYD return DXB econ standby is USD240 incl taxes. Bus USD500. Firm econ USD 650 and bus USD1300. Firm tickets on availability but outside peak times (not school hols and northern hemisphere summer) generally ok. These also apply to extended family on your approved list you can avail 2 standby and 2 firm tickets at the same price. There are also special tickets which aren’t really that special as almost the same price as found on some bucket websites for the econ tickets. Business are a much better option if they have the bucks as way cheaper than on the market rate. 12 (??) of these a year can be given to any friend or family member.
All your tickets of course need the time off to be usable!!
good luck

[Talewind]

Break dancer thanks a lot for the reply, exactly what I was looking for.
Could you also tell me if it's just Emirates flights or can staff travel be used with other carriers?

thanks
TW

[HiflierEK]

For sure we have staff travel with nearly all major international airlines. Not sure if its only economy tickets though or if J class is available.

[burkster]

For sure we have staff travel with nearly all major international airlines. Not sure if its only economy tickets though or if J class is available.

Except BA, for reasons unknown to mankind.

[Toruk Macto]

Attempted to use Emirates staff travel out of Dubai recently ( I’m not EK ) . Got confused with what was expected . For future reference I go into staff travel room and list then go to that waiting room , once the flight closes the lights change colour I go back to other room and wait for my name to be called ? I heard nothing so lined up again to talk to staff check in lady who told me I did not get on . Next flight I arrive at staff checkin counter 15 mins before allotted time , nothing heard so I just walk up to her and ask if flight closed . She tells me I’m now to late .
30 mins later I’m in T1 using another airline who use the old fashioned system of wait here and I’ll call your name .
Having had good success on EK over the years I’m not complaining , is there a app I should be using ? Any tips for non EK staff in Dubai ?

[Emma Royds]

For your name to appear on the screens in the waiting room, you have to have checked in first, (either online in advance or at the desk at staff travel check in) which you must do before 1hr prior to departure. If the flight is really quiet, you can be accepted and offered a seat when you check in on line but if that is not the case then you will effectively be placed on standby. Should this happen, then always go to the desk when you first arrive, regardless of if you have subsequently been accepted or not. Hold bags can be tagged at this point, which can save time later if you are accepted at the last minute.

Checking in online at the outstations can be a bit of a hit or a miss. Sometimes the flight can be wide open payload wise and you won’t be accepted in advance unlike Dubai. I think it is still worth doing as it can buy you a extra few minutes after the flight officially closes, should you be delayed getting to the airport.

Any apps which give the information you are wanting are restricted to EK staff only.

Hope this helps.

[danny_chi_1975]

Break dancer thanks a lot for the reply, exactly what I was looking for.
Could you also tell me if it's just Emirates flights or can staff travel be used with other carriers?

thanks
TW

Someone metion that we could do staff travel on Qantas business class, but not sure about detail since I never used it.
cheers

[Toruk Macto]

For your name to appear on the screens in the waiting room, you have to have checked in first, (either online in advance or at the desk at staff travel check in) which you must do before 1hr prior to departure. If the flight is really quiet, you can be accepted and offered a seat when you check in on line but if that is not the case then you will effectively be placed on standby. Should this happen, then always go to the desk when you first arrive, regardless of if you have subsequently been accepted or not. Hold bags can be tagged at this point, which can save time later if you are accepted at the last minute.

Checking in online at the outstations can be a bit of a hit or a miss. Sometimes the flight can be wide open payload wise and you won’t be accepted in advance unlike Dubai. I think it is still worth doing as it can buy you a extra few minutes after the flight officially closes, should you be delayed getting to the airport.

Any apps which give the information you are wanting are restricted to EK staff only.

Hope this helps.
thanks for that .

[Emma Royds]

Someone metion that we could do staff travel on Qantas business class, but not sure about detail since I never used it.
cheers

I have used standby tickets both in Y and J on QF. Y tickets are booked on MyIDTravel using a credit/debit card, just like any other airline. J tickets with QF can be bought through TRIPS using salary deduction, but you then need to list with QF staff travel. You can email or call them to list and the minimum listing time prior to travel, as published on the EK portal can be overlooked. I have found QF staff travel to be helpful with last minute listings after giving them a call, or maybe I was just lucky!

[givemewings]

Not lucky, this was my experience as well. Super helpful. They can't tell you exact loads, but they'll let you know whether it's worth bothering. Eh

ST lady: "Well I can't give you exact loads, but you and 11 of your closest mates should have no issue getting on this flight" 😂

[Eau de Boeing]

I think you'll find the sudden withdrawal of British Airways staff travel has something to do with the naughty neighbours, who happen to own a significant part of IAG and are in the OneWorld alliance.