ZED Fare – What is a ZED Fare? A Guide for Airline Employees
What is Non-Rev Travel? | What is a Buddy Pass?
Welcome to another edition of Passrider.com Q&A—I’m Kerwin, and I help airline employees and their families get the most out of their travel privileges. Today’s question comes from Albert, who asked:
A ZED Fare is a special fare/agreement between airlines to allow employees to travel on a space available basis.
The next question in the Passrider Q&A series is from Albert Via e-mail, he asks:
“Not familiar with ZED fares. Where can I get info and prices?”
I’ve prepared a video with the information he requested.
Let’s break it down in case you don’t want to watch the video.
✈️ What Is a ZED Fare?
ZED stands for Zonal Employee Discount. It’s a special fare program designed for non-revenue travel (non-rev travel) between airlines that have interline agreements. These discounted tickets are not open to the public and are strictly for airline employees and sometimes their eligible travelers.
Rather than pricing being based on market demand, ZED fares are based on distance traveled, and the world is divided into nine zones. The further the distance, the higher the zone and the higher the fare.
🎫 ZED Fare Classes
There are typically three fare levels, depending on the agreement between your airline and the airline you want to travel on:
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ZED Low
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ZED Medium
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ZED High
In addition, some airlines offer ZED fares not just in Economy, but in Business or First Class, depending on their agreement with your carrier.
📍How to Get ZED Fare Pricing
Here’s the thing: You can’t just Google ZED fare prices. Each airline has different agreements and rates with other carriers, so Airline A’s ZED rates might differ from Airline B’s, even for the same route.
To find out your fare:
✅ Contact your airline’s pass bureau – also sometimes called your “employee travel” or “staff travel” office.
They’ll give you:
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Pricing info for each partner airline
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Fare class options (Low/Medium/High)
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Zone-specific rates
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Ticketing instructions
🧾 Ticketing Instructions: E-Tickets vs. Paper Tickets
This part can be tricky: How you get your ZED ticket depends on your airline and their processes.
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Some airlines allow you to book online and get an e-ticket using MyIDTravel or ID90
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Others may still require you to get a paper ticket.
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You may be directed to your airline’s pass bureau headquarters or a ticketing office to complete the process.
Again, your pass bureau will walk you through the correct steps for your specific case.
Prague, Czech Republic Prague Airport China Eastern Airbus A330
📝 How to List for a ZED Flight
Once you have your ZED ticket, you’ll need to list for your flight with the operating airline. You may be able to do that on ID90 or MyIDTravel websites depending on the airline agreement. Otherwise, you will have to contact the airline for which you are holding the ticket. This usually involves:
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Calling the non-rev listing number or using the airline’s internal platform
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Providing your ticket number
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Your employee ID
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Date of hire
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Dates of travel
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Names of the passengers
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In some cases, even passport information
Your pass bureau will have the details you need.
The Rock of Gibraltar from the airport
🧠 Pro Tips
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Plan ahead: Listing too late can hurt your chances, especially on popular routes. Plus for international flights, the airlines need to know 24 hours in advance so they can have a meal for you. As a matter of fact, this is why it’s called a meal listing :-).
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Have all your documentation handy: Missing one detail can delay your listing.
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Understand your airline’s policies: Every carrier handles ZED tickets differently.
Dublin, Ireland – Dublin Airport (DUB)
🙌 Final Thoughts
ZED fares are one of the best-kept secrets in non-rev travel. Once you understand how they work, they open up the world for spontaneous and deeply discounted travel. Whether you’re a new hire or a seasoned airline employee, always work closely with your pass bureau to ensure you’re following the right process for ticketing and listing.
Thanks again for the question, Albert!
Have more questions about non-rev travel? Leave a comment or check out more Passrider.com Q&A episodes.
🧭 Want to learn more about non-rev travel tips, tools, and destination ideas?
📩 Subscribe to my newsletter for weekly insights!
📺 Watch the original video: Passrider Q&A: What Are ZED Fares?
Comments 46
Are parents of active pilots eligible to join this program?
Typically, yes. The rules re different by airline you wish to travel though, so ask your child to tell you which airlines their airline has a ZED agreement with for parents.
Are parents of active pilots eligible to join this program?
Typically, yes. The rules re different by airline you wish to travel though, so ask your child to tell you which airlines their airline has a ZED agreement with for parents.
if you have a round trip zed fare tkt.and us miss a flight,can you standby for the next flight to the same destination?
Hi Ray,
Thank you for your question.
Yes, as long as the agent rolls you over to the next flight.
Thanks.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
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if you have a round trip zed fare tkt.and us miss a flight,can you standby for the next flight to the same destination?
Hi Ray,
Thank you for your question.
Yes, as long as the agent rolls you over to the next flight.
Thanks.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.FB.com/Passrider
Do you know if express Jet has decided what 2015 will look like for it’s pass riders. I don’t think it has even had open enrollment for 2015. Our status is only good till Feb. 1st.
Good question Nancy. I have no idea.
Maybe an email to the Pass office may suffice?
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Do you know if express Jet has decided what 2015 will look like for it’s pass riders. I don’t think it has even had open enrollment for 2015. Our status is only good till Feb. 1st.
How do non rev list from airport if bumped
How do non rev list from airport if bumped
Can you purchase ZED guest passes for friends?
Hi Josh,
Thanks for your question.
This is a question for your airline’s Pass Bureau. Typically, only members who are registered in your profile are eligible for the ZED agreement.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Can you purchase ZED guest passes for friends?
Up till what age do the children of retired employees benefit from ZED tickets?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the question.
I think it’s 26, but just verify with your Pass Bureau as it may be different.
Kerwin
Thank you.
Up till what age do the children of retired employees benefit from ZED tickets?
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the question.
I think it’s 26, but just verify with your Pass Bureau as it may be different.
Kerwin
Thank you.
Hi,
How do we classify who gets checked in first according to ZED? is it the fare basis or the zones??
Please advise.
Kind regards,
Sela
Hi Sela,
That’s a good question indeed. I’d say that this will vary by airline. I think that its usually by the relationship that each airline has with the host airline coupled with your time of check-in. So if its say a Star Alliance carrier then other Star Alliance airlines would be first and within that some sort of priority.
Hi,
How do we classify who gets checked in first according to ZED? is it the fare basis or the zones??
Please advise.
Kind regards,
Sela
IIs a retired flight attendant eligible for a Zed fare on another airline ?
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for your question.
I’d say that this depends on your airline. Give your Pass Bureau a call or an email for clarification on the OA Policies.
IIs a retired flight attendant eligible for a Zed fare on another airline ?
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for your question.
I’d say that this depends on your airline. Give your Pass Bureau a call or an email for clarification on the OA Policies.
Kerwin,
Nice website. Thank you for your time. I can buy a ZED fare pass DFW-SLC. If I make it to SLC on my carrier, can I use that pass in the opposite direction SLC-DFW?
Thank you,
Tim
Tim,
Thanks. Sorry about the delay.
Usually the passes are only valid in the direction/routing its written.
I’d get another pass just to ensure you have no issues.
Kerwin,
Nice website. Thank you for your time. I can buy a ZED fare pass DFW-SLC. If I make it to SLC on my carrier, can I use that pass in the opposite direction SLC-DFW?
Thank you,
Tim
My companion is planning to go to CDG from LAX using ZED on XL Airways, I wonder if he will need to be with me in order to travel or he can go straight to the gate of XL Airways?
Hi Carlos,
As long as the ticket is issued, they can go to the check-in counter and check-in.
The staff will then advise the next steps.
Good luck.
My companion is planning to go to CDG from LAX using ZED on XL Airways, I wonder if he will need to be with me in order to travel or he can go straight to the gate of XL Airways?
Hi Carlos,
As long as the ticket is issued, they can go to the check-in counter and check-in.
The staff will then advise the next steps.
Good luck.
I,am a retired worker from Fed Ex express; ho would I proceed to get space confirmed tickets for my wife and I ?What is a good starting point for some one new with all of this nonrev,ZED things?
Thanks, Ken
Hi Ken,
Great question. First, I suggest contacting the pass travel office at FedEx and they will let you know with whom they have a relationship and how they book them.
I can answer general questions, but none specific to FedEx.
Let me know if this helps in any way.
Thanks.
Kerwin.
I,am a retired worker from Fed Ex express; ho would I proceed to get space confirmed tickets for my wife and I ?What is a good starting point for some one new with all of this nonrev,ZED things?
Thanks, Ken
Hi Ken,
Great question. First, I suggest contacting the pass travel office at FedEx and they will let you know with whom they have a relationship and how they book them.
I can answer general questions, but none specific to FedEx.
Let me know if this helps in any way.
Thanks.
Kerwin.
hi kerwin. I found a site that is very helpful when sitting on the ramp and trying to determine your position in the lineup and location on the airfield. as a ground worker i can tell when my aircraft enters and leaves the deicing pad or gate. it gives real-time location according to your flight number. hope you enjoy. http://airportviewer.com/
hi kerwin. I found a site that is very helpful when sitting on the ramp and trying to determine your position in the lineup and location on the airfield. as a ground worker i can tell when my aircraft enters and leaves the deicing pad or gate. it gives real-time location according to your flight number. hope you enjoy. http://airportviewer.com/