Originally Posted by Lambourne

What are you referring to regarding paying first? Pass travel charges are payroll deducted and are paid post travel. Also, once you hit 25 years of service all pass travel is without surcharge (you will pay for customs fees).

If you are referring to companion passes the reason you are charged in advance is the credit card issue. There is always the chance a person conducts travel then cancels the credit card account thus leaving the company on the hook for the charges. Would you as the employee want to pay for a companions fees if they balked after they traveled? I have friends at US and DL, all companions pay in advance at both those carriers also.