Staff Travel, how much of a discount can you get? How does it all work?

[Treeshaver]

Hi there,

I am about to start work in my first airline job, the airline has I think reciprocal staff travel arrangements with a load of airlines, BA, Virgin etc.
I am excited at the prospect of getting away for a decent holiday later on in the year, hopefully the USA or the Caribbean and am just wondering how cheap I might be able to get a flight using my potential staff travel privelidges.

Also, how does the system work in general, and can you also get discounts on hotels or package holidays?

Cheers for any replies,

treeshaver.

[parabellum]

Not always , but usually you can get discounts with your employer after six months of employment and with any airline they have a reciprocal agreement with after twelve months work. Your best bet is to go and see your own staff travel office and ask them.
Again, usually but not always, you will get as a reciprocal agreement whatever your employer is prepared and able to give to others, if your employer is able to give ID90% discount on worldwide long haul routes you may get similar from other carriers, if your employer only gives 50% discount on some European routes then that is most likely what you will get in return. Go see your own staff travel office.

[Aussie]

All depends from the airline mate! I work for an airline that gives no staff travel benefits until 12months employment!

[blueoreas]

Unlimited 0% fare plus tax for Y class, $100 plus tax for J class, which kicks in right away.
ID90, which kicks in 6 months.
Discounts on hotel, cruise, tour, etc.

[hapzim]

Many variations depends on the airline your joining. They will supply you with the details. Most of it subject to load so be prepared for last minute changes. No certainty of actually traveling to where you want to get to or back from.

More often than not you can get better rates of the normal travel outlets etc, with guaranteed seats and compensation when it does go wrong.

[Zeppelin]

Agree with hapzim

Always found staff travel more trouble than its worth -especially if you are way down the seniority list.

For two weeks leave you can spend a couple of days trying to get on the flight and after 10 days have to think about getting back. All takes a bit of fun out of the holiday for me. And worse if you do it with wife kids etc.

Plenty of confirmed seats and holidays around that give a more stree free hol

[Fliegenmong]

Lost count of the times I've hung around stand by desks waiting for the last minute boarding pass, and dash to the gate to be last to board. Plenty of times I've gone back 2 - 3 days in a row, spent the saving on the ticket on hotels and meals waiting to get a flight.
Going up to LAX on Saturday, and I'll be doing it all again...............

[wiggy]

Sorry, have to agree with Fgle****mong

I hate to rain on your parade but if you've got kids and are stuck with school holiday dates you are stuffed - in this day and age Staff Travel is an absolute con....the great unwashed, who don't work rosters, know their holiday's way ahead and can hoover up tickets on t'internet can can get a much better deal than crew - and fill up all the f**** seats for less than the staff standy by rate.

Your's, in the departure lounge till further notice!!!

[non iron]

Absolutely right.

Tried it twice and never again.

Any normal person would have left it alone after the first time.

Boarding cards in hand ( mrs and baby ) and told " Sorry, positioning crew have those seats "

That was one hell of a hire car jaunt.

Look on the bright side, the traffic person glowing with vitamin D after their third sunny break of the autumn, and booked three more during the summer, will be operating at peak efficiency despatching your flight.


You see, every cloud . . . .

[Yebo]

Worked for an Europeian LowCost, had staf tickets for me and family, every time I ask for, no standby at the desk, just pay taxes. only low! Limited to company network.

[206cc_jim]

Never used Standby tickets and never intend to! sounds too much like hassle. Just book a connecting rather than direct flight and 9/10 you will get it for a few quid over the standby rate once you've paid the sky high taxes/surcharges(pardon the pun)

My company gives me 6 heavily discounted confirmed tickets after 6months on our network and also money off(rising with service) against a group holiday - now this is what you call a concession, none of this standby lark the scheduled airlines have to put up with.

[boeing_bananas]

It all depends on whether you can be flexible with your travel dates, and if you are able to travel outside of school holidays.

I have used my ST a fair bit in the last few years, virtually all long-haul, and all over the world. Managed to get quite a few flights in comfy seats and every trip I have arrived where I wanted to on the day I chose to travel - just make sure you have got plenty of backup tickets so you can vary your routings and fly with other carriers if necessary. Also, you need to be able to check the loads on your planned flights, so you can change your travel dates at short notice to aim for the emptier flights.

Enjoy it!

[er82]

have also never had a problem. choose travel dates/routes wisely. managed all the way to LA and back from San Fran (stop overs on route to Hawaii and back) in Club - £5000 of seat for £130!!
Orlando in Club for £130. Am off there again in a week - have checked the loads and am 99% guaranteed of getting on.

Staff Travel can be great for some and crap for others. Take it for what it is, plan wisely and you'll enjoy the benefits.

[beamender99]

just make sure you have got plenty of backup tickets so you can vary your routings and fly with other carriers if necessary.

Good advice. Especially for longhaul.
It can be quite surprising the carriers that link up to solve your offload problem.
Take details of schedules too as it reduces the risk of choosing a bum connecting point or wrong flight frequency.
Annoying details like BA flights to South Africa operating from different terminals can affect plans.
Rival airlines often operate from diffent terminals so that too reduces options.
Keep a sense of humour you may well need it.
I had three round trips to LHR for my last longhaul flight and only got away due to a "suspicious package scare" that caused in coming connecting pax to remain seated ( not allowed into the terminal ) while I got their onward seats.

As has previously been stated, many airlines dictate a years service prior to concessions although I think the industry says minimum of six months.

Hopefully the company may provide load predictions for its own flights.
Else if you are not allowed access to reservations data then you need to find someone who can else you are going to be planning blind.

When it works it is great. enjoy.

[TheRed(lfc)Baron]

I work for a cargo company, the managment don't thinlk its worth setting up any recipricol agreements (as it would'nt benefit them!!)

We are offered "touchdown" which whenever I have tried to use have been of no use what so ever!! every flight is booked or not available - waste of time!!

I spoke to an ex Pan AM Mechanic who told me stories of globe trotting just using his company id!!!

I guess working for a major is the only was forward

Red