Yes, you do have to have a ZED ticket. But the fact that any employee or their dependent/parent can occupy the flight deck jumpseat while traveling to and from the United States is proof the restriction U.S. carriers have is just plain stupid. We, as pilots, are totally known entities to the United States government. We have passed background checks and are handed the controls of large airliners. They know who we are, were we are from, and what we do for a living and totally trust us to do our jobs. That they prevent us from occupying the flight deck jumpseat on a U.S. airline when crossing the U.S. border, but will allow foreign airlines to have any Tom, Dick and Harry occupying the jumpseat should have us up in arms.