Pass Travel UPDATE July 25, 2015
1) “Order of Accommodation” boarding?
There has been a rumor going around about a new boarding policy wherein pass riders are denied boarding because a more senior pass rider was denied boarding due to an inability to check their bag (weight/balance or cargo is full). The ETC has responded to RAFA’s query about the policy:
“It appears since the recent implementation of positive bag match procedures to the island-hopper markets, the local teams received some conflicting information about the interpretation, specifically related to handling of pass rider bags on below-wing bulked-out flights. Based on this conflicting information they were temporarily not accommodating pass riders with bags or those boarding after the pass rider with the bag.
We have communicated immediate implementation of the correct bag procedures, which is to accommodate pass riders in seniority order without penalization for checked bags. Of course, this means the bags may not board that flight with the employee and be sent in a later flight.
We will continue to work with our airport teams to improve the pass rider experience.”
2) ZED Travel now available on Azul Brazilian Airlines
Posted on United Daily July 23, 2015
Employees, retirees and their pass riders may now travel to more than 105 destinations in Brazil with Zonal Employee Discount (ZED) tickets on Azul Brazilian Airlines (AD). Our interline travel agreement with AD comes in conjunction with our recent announcement of a new strategic partnership with AD in which we acquired an approximate 5 percent stake in the airline. AD is Brazil's third-largest airline, serving more destinations in Brazil than any other Brazilian carrier, including more than 50 daily flights from GRU (Sao Paulo).
Eligible employees, retirees and their pass riders may travel system-wide on AD in economy at the low fare level, and we expect premium cabin travel at the low fare level - a unique benefit thanks to our partnership with AD - also to be available in the near future.
For more information and reservation procedures, go to Travel > Travel Programs > Other airline/Interline travel and select Azul from the "Select an agreement" drop down.
See RAFA’s guide to “Other Airline” travel here.
3) ZED Travel now available on Scandinavian Airlines
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Posted on United Daily July 13, 2015
Employees, retirees and their eligible pass riders may now purchase Zonal Employee Discount (ZED) tickets to travel on Scandinavian Airlines (SK), a Star Alliance partner and Northern Europe's leading airline with nearly 800 daily flights to 120 destinations in Scandinavia, Europe, the U.S. and Asia.
Eligible employees, retirees and their pass riders may travel system-wide on SK in economy at the low fare level. Parents of active employees will travel in economy at the high fare level.
For more information and reservation procedures, go to Travel > Travel Programs > Other airline/Interline travel and select Scandinavian Airlines from the "Select an agreement" drop down.
See RAFA’s guide to “Other Airline” travel here.
4) Recent news snippets from the United Daily
(On Flying Together>News, click on “Recent news”)
To read these stories in-depth click the blue United Daily link above and scroll to the date.
- 06/20: New food is fresh & healthy in United Clubs at all US hubs
- 06/23: 5K on 10R: Run the new runway at ORD on Sept 27th!
- 07/10: Additional Caribbean/Central America flights from ORD & EWR Dec 19th
- 07/13: F/As use Customer Info app on their new LINKs (iPhone 6 Plus)
- 07/15: Delta reports $1.6 billion profit in second quarter
- 07/15: Pilot Mobile app on company-issued iPad Air 2 devices a hit with pilots
- 07/16: Remember: 1+1 carry-on bag rules applies to pax AND to pass riders!
- 07/17: UAL discontinues GUM-CNS, GUM-ICN and DEN-PTY in September
- 07/20: F/As like Cowshed Spa amenity kits
- 07/23: No joint contract for flight attendants by July 23rd deadline
- 07/23: UAL reports highest quarter profit ever: $1.3 billion
- 07/24: American Airlines doubles second quarter profit from last year to $1.7 billion
5) Have you seen our RAFA website?
Check out the Travel Benefits tab: http://www.rafa-cwa.org
Compiled by Kirk Moore, RAFA Travel Benefits Committee 7/25/2015
See previous Pass Travel UPDATES here.