Delta/NWA pass travel questions

[propdog]

How about some useful info. apart from the daily scheduled merger bitching!!

From a new DAL (ex-NWA) pilot, I have some questions on our new pass travel (I already tried the search function-could not get all the answers-especially parent travel):

1. How does pass travel work for parent's of married employees? (Do they get a certain number of international and domestic travel days? Are they free? Can parents go beyond the allocated allotments for an additional fee? )

2. How many domestic and international buddy passes do you get per year. How much do they cost?

3. Do you have to pay a yearly fee for pass travel?

4. How about the spouse and kids-do they get a certain amount of 'travel days' or is it unlimited? Can you exceed you allotments for an extra fee?

5. Finally, what is the definition of a 'travel day'?
(For example, on a through flight from MSP-NRT-SIN; even though your final destination is SIN, will it be considered two travel days because your connection departs on a different calender day?)

Thanks for the answers.

 

[regionalcap]

..............

 

[JohnQ]

1. How does pass travel work for parent's of married employees? (Do they get a certain number of international and domestic travel days?

I believe they get 18 "flight days" a year, and that can apply to either domestic or international segments.

Are they free?

Domestic is free. International costs $75 per person, per flight day.

Can parents go beyond the allocated allotments for an additional fee?

No.

2. How many domestic and international buddy passes do you get per year. How much do they cost?

You have unlimited flight days for S3 priority, which is "normal" priority. You also get six S2 flight days a year, which is a higher priority. You kind of get a feel for when to use S2 versus S3, though it is never an exact science. Domestic flight days are free, and no charge if you get a first class seat. You don't have to pay the $75 international fee like your parents do, but you will see a payroll deduction for taxes and fees, which still must be paid.

3. Do you have to pay a yearly fee for pass travel?

Until last year, the answer was no. However, since last year we have a $50 annual fee--but that covers your entire family, parents included.

4. How about the spouse and kids-do they get a certain amount of 'travel days' or is it unlimited? Can you exceed you allotments for an extra fee?

Unlimited for spouse and dependent kids. There is no exceeding for S3s, since they are unlimited. You can not exceed your S2 allotments. In fact you can pay a hefty fine and face the loss of pass privileges for trying to exceed your S2 allotments.

5. Finally, what is the definition of a 'travel day'?
(For example, on a through flight from MSP-NRT-SIN; even though your final destination is SIN, will it be considered two travel days because your connection departs on a different calender day?)

Thanks for the answers.[/QUOTE]

I think it is the first (only one flight day) but am not totally sure.

All in all, I find the DAL nonrev system to be pretty good, and very fair. The TravelNet website is very user-friendly and the kiosks work well.

Welcome to the newer, bigger, DAL!

 

[propdog]

Thanks for the informative reply. All in all....looks pretty good. I recently non-revved on DAL from NRT-ATL after finishing a trip here in NRT. "Ya'll" treated me really nice in spite of all the seniority bickering here in flightinfo!! Thanks.

 

[General Lee]

Would ANY of you like to hear my opinion on the SLI????? Just jokin....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[regionalcap]

2. How many domestic and international buddy passes do you get per year. How much do they cost?

You get 8 buddy passes a year. Price depends on the mileage. We also have a Family Fares program which is 20% off for a confirmed seat (employee, spouse, children, or parents).

 

[JohnQ]

You get 8 buddy passes a year. Price depends on the mileage. We also have a Family Fares program which is 20% off for a confirmed seat (employee, spouse, children, or parents).

What he said! I misunderstood your original question. To summarize...

1.The employee, wife, and dependent kids get unlimited S3s, and six S2s per year.

2. The parents get 18 flight days a year, with a lower priority than employees and dependents.

3. The employee gets only 8 buddy passes a year, and they do have a reduced fare. However, there are plenty of times I tell people not to bother with buddy passes (like summer and holidays). Buddy passes may be a good deal, but often times it may be more advantageous to buy a cheap fare with plenty of advanced notice--with those at least you get a guaranteed seat!

 

[Erlanger]

5. Finally, what is the definition of a 'travel day'?
(For example, on a through flight from MSP-NRT-SIN; even though your final destination is SIN, will it be considered two travel days because your connection departs on a different calender day?)

Thanks for the answers.

Travel day is from 12:00am to 11:59pm. You can fly as often as you like in that time frame and it counts as 1 travel day.

Answer would be yes; it's 2 travel days to the above quoted question.

 

[propdog]

Thanks for all the answers and clarifications.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Sure wish in laws could get something better than buddy passes.

The mileage rate for the yeild fare comes out to about 5 bucks for 100 miles. (Rough guess)

 

[DAL737FO]

All the above answers are pretty good, however parents can go above the 18 travel days. They have to pay what is called a yield fare. It is the same cost as a buddy pass but they keep their S3B priority instead of S4 like a buddy pass.

Parent Flight Day Allotments (for Active Full & Part Time Employees)
Upon the completion of thirty (30) days continuous service, each parent receives the below allotted number of flight days / mileage on the four route systems, including travel on Delta, ASA and Comair. An employee’s marital and dependent status determines his/her parents’ flight day allotment. Under the mileage option, each parent will have his/her own mileage allotment.

S2 Priority Flight Days

S3 Transoceanic Flight Days
(free of service charge)
S3B Domestic / Transoceanic Flight Days / Mileage for transoceanic travel there is a $75 charge per flight day​

Parents of married employees

or those with a travel companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse
​

not eligible
not eligible
18 flight days or 16,000 miles​

Parents of single employees

without dependent children, travel companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse
​

6
18
18 flight days or 16,000 miles​

Parents of single employees

with dependent children, but no travel companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse
​

6
shared by the parents
18
shared by the parents
18 flight days or 16,000 miles
each parent receives 18 flight days or 16,000 miles​

• Each parent of a single, widowed or divorced employee without minor children and without a Travel Companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse is eligible for the same number of allotted S3 Transoceanic flight days and S2 Priority Flight days as the employee.
• Parents of a single, widowed or divorced employee with minor children but without a Travel Companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse share the same number of allotted S3 Transoceanic flight days and S2 Priority Flight days as the employee.
• Parents of married employees or employees who have a travel companion or domestic partner/same sex spouse may only travel S3B. However, if parents are traveling with the employee who is using an S3 domestic flight day (S3 within the Domestic, European or Asian systems), they may upgrade to S3 priority at point of check-in. If the employee is traveling on an S2 priority flight day, the parent’s priority will remain S3B.
• Parents of employees who travel on S3 boarding priority and do not meet the preceding criteria may be assessed a flight abuse penalty (charged to the employee) and/or suspension of nonrevenue travel privileges.

Emergency Flight Days
Parents are eligible for emergency S1A flight days. See HRPM1014.10 for qualifying conditions for emergency travel.
Space Available Yield Fare Tickets
After parents use their allotment of flight days or mileage, they may continue to travel by purchasing space available yield fare tickets. Boarding Priority is S3B.

 

[Ridgeback]

DO you have to travel with your buddy?

 

[regionalcap]

DO you have to travel with your buddy?

no you do not