US Air (Piedmont) Flight Benefits
 

Got a job as a cross-trained ramper and ticket counter.

I am sure I will figure this all out in time in orientation and all, but I can't help be curious until then. So I have some questions:

What priority do I fly on US Airways? AA? How about my parents and registered guest? Do I get same priority as any other US Airways emplyee who actually working mainline and not regional, and is it FCFS or seniority?

Can anyone explain a little better how the cost is for my parents or registered guests? Something about my parents pay a certain amount per leg, and registered guest something about 90% of fare price, then they pay 25% of that or something?

Do my parents and guest get international privileges too?

Do I get buddy passes, and how many each quarter?

When can I access the flight benefits? (I go to orientation Tuesday)

For me on international travel, for who we have a codeshare with (so say BA), do I still fly free on them with taxes of course, or is it zed fare?

Most info I read on this is pre-merger or right in the thick of it so I am not totally sure how things are since then. Thank you in advance!

SD2E; SD1V when you use a vacation pass (six one-ways available per year)

D2

Same as you

Yes, FCFS based on check-in time

Parent fees can be seen on NRTP (NonRev Travel Planner) for AA flights or TravelUS (For US flights). You'll have access once you start the job, and it'll give you exact info for each flight. Generally, US domestic is $35+taxes, US international $100+taxes, AA domestic varies on flight distance but approx $10-$30 for coach. AA international $35 for coach to Europe/South America, a bit more for Asia. Upgrades extra on either airline. Registered guests are free, but you will have to pay income tax on the value of their flights. You can see the value for any flight on NRTP/TravelUS, but generally speaking, value of US flights is 10% of the lowest Y fare; value of AA flights is equal to the cost for a parent to fly coach.

Yes

Yes, I believe it's 16 one-way passes per year. They're only valid on US until the computer systems are aligned, which is planned for late 2015.

Yours should be available immediately upon employment. Your parents/registered guest/dependents will have access within a few days, when the company gets their info into the system.

ZED fares, generally available after 6 months of service. Some, but not most, also allow your registered guest. Almost all allow your parents. Also available on airlines we don't codeshare with.

Thank you so much for your help!

So for example if say hypothetical flight 1850 was able to be booked for pax on us airways, if an employee wanted to non-rev on that exact same flight, it would be zed fare since even though it's booked (by pax) on US it's operated by BA?

So if it's a codeshare operated by lets say BA it's zed fare, but if it's a flight actually flown on US or AA metal, it's regular standby right? I think I understand it now. So if I want to go to say Europe w/o Zed, i'd have to get a flight operated on US or AA metal and not a codeshare.

All correct

I thought with the recent change registered guests dont move up to your travel seniority. ....

Seniority is no longer relevant for travel... Under the new system, buddy passes no longer move up to the employee's priority, but registered guests/spouses/dependents always fly at the employee's priority, whether or not the employee is travelling.

Another question for you guys.

So lets say I a returning from Europe or something into CLT. Getting back to CAK is my first choice, but if I have to I can fly into CLE or at worst case scenario CMH. So am I allowed to list for flights to two or even all three? Since it's FCFS, that obviously would help my chances if I desperately needed to get back to Ohio but was having trouble.

Is this ok, or is this something that you could get a call for and very well even lose your flight benefits?

Not a smart thing to do. You will lose your privileges doing this.

How much does a guest pass generally cost?

So say CLT-PHX and back nonstop?

PHL- DFW and back nonstop?

CAK-CLT and back nonstop?

Or if you could at least give me a general idea of how much these cost.

I am surprised to find how expensive guest passes can be to use sometimes. Not complaining, just wasn't aware. Seems other airlines (WN) have free guest passes (or used to) right? Is this common now to pay or no?

Guest passes are not what they used to be. You may actually find confirmed seats on those routes at a lower price then what a guest pass would cost you. I honestly wouldn't waste my time with those passes. I have not given any of those out in years because I hear all the horror stories about them.