GrandmaAuntie asked:


10 point for best informative answer.

CHESTER

2 Responses to “Do people who work for the airlines fly free or get huge discounts. 2nd, what is an airline pass?”

1. tlworkroom on November 2nd, 2008 9:39 pm

   Well, in today’s high costs and reduced markets, where the airlines aren’t making as much as they used to, you might or you might not.

   But usually yes, you do get some kind of benefits to cheaper flying.
   Some airlines might give you mileage to fly for each week or month you work. Others might indeed give you a cheaper rate, just depends.

   Decades ago, it was completely different. The prices for flights were fixed by federal govt, so the airlines charged huge prices and were very wealthy. So even a janitor for an airlines got free flying all around country. But those days are pretty much gone. Look at the big car companies who are begging for bailouts. Used to be that working for Ford or GM was proof that your life was taken care of, because you’d work there for 25-30 yrs and retire with a good pension, almost better than the federal govt. But now, all the pensions can be lost if the companies go under. Same with the airlines.

   I used to have a cousin who’s husband flew for Delta Airlines, back in 1970′s. She’d get a certain amt of free flying miles because of hubby being a pilot. She’d get on at Atlanta where they lived and fly to other big cities. One time, she and friend flew Atlanta to Dallas for a day’s shopping. She and friend were only ones on a huge Jumbo jet 747, but because of fixed prices, the airline could run that huge jet and still make money from other runs. Plus, cost of gas was incredibly cheap back then, about 55 cents a gallon.

   An airline pass can be just a boarding pass, what you pay for to get on the airline. But I think you probably mean it to be a free pass onto an airline. They might still have those for certain people or reasons.

   I live in Albuquerque, NM, and have tried several times to work for the airlines here, so I could get free flights to see parents, etc. But never could get hired. Too bad—would have been fun.

2. Platinum Bride 2B on November 6th, 2008 3:05 am

   Yes, airline employees fly what’s known in the industry as “non-rev” or free. The employee flies free, their spouse, children, parents all fly free. They also get on average 8 “buddy passes” to use per year for friends. It doesn’t entitled the friend to fly free, but they simply pay the sales tax amount for the ticket. Typically, an employee can fly with up to 3 other carriers for free as well.

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