NWA/Delta Merge Non-Rev Travel

[clippyrip]

As part of the merger announcement, Doug Steenland and Richard Anderson announced that one of the early benefits for employees would be reciprocal pass privileges on both airlines’ worldwide networks, beginning as soon as possible.

I’m excited to share with you that starting May 6, our employees will have reciprocal pass privileges on Delta Air Lines. This new travel benefit opens up hundreds of new nonrev destinations for both Northwest and Delta employees.

Beginning May 6, when you nonrev on Delta Air Lines, you’ll fly for free and at a higher boarding priority.

The reciprocal pass privilege process will take effect in two phases. The first phase uses existing interline paper ticketing processes, similar to Zonal Employee Discount (ZED) ticketing, but without the fare. This phase also uses date of travel as your ‘seniority’. In the coming months, the second phase will make the process paperless, include self-service capabilities, and date-of-hire seniority.

Please see attachments for more information. Further details can be found on Radar and the Intranet.

Tim Meginnes
VP, Compensation and Benefits

 

[clippyrip]

It is interesting that they easily came to an agreement on DOH seniority for non rev travel.

 

[Occam's Razor]

It is interesting that they easily came to an agreement on DOH seniority for non rev travel.

With modifiers.

Ever watch a "3" board ahead of you, even though they were hired 10 years after you?

The "basis" is DOH.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Disappointed that this does not include First Class / Business Elite. Hopefully soon.

 

[DTW320]

Disappointed that this does not include First Class / Business Elite. Hopefully soon.

For who? The info we got at NWA said that DAL will list us in coach and upgrade for no charge if available.
Are you referring to DAL benefits on NWA?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Yes, the DAL side was told we'd be put in back.

We go to Asia every couple of years and at least this makes it easier than DL55 to NRT.

The best non-rev deal in Asia is JAL. They let you have any seat that is open on the day of travel. Last time we got our seats 6 hours before departure.

 

[DTW320]

Yes, the DAL side was told we'd be put in back.

We go to Asia every couple of years and at least this makes it easier than DL55 to NRT.

The best non-rev deal in Asia is JAL. They let you have any seat that is open on the day of travel. Last time we got our seats 6 hours before departure.

Ok, I see what you mean now. Yes, unfortunately, that's how its always been here, i.e. first class has always cost a nominal fee even when coach is free. We can list for first and will get it if available, but it does incur a charge. They feel the offset is that we don't pay any annual service fee for the pass program (actually they tried that for a year then retracted it).

Are you guys being told that first class is not available to you even with the fee?

 

[IXLR8]

This is typical, get the employees pass travel and ooh wow..."that will get the employees behind us on this merger"...Dougy/Richy.

 

[IXLR8]

Funny they cannot negotiate a contract that fast!!..

 

[~~~^~~~]

Are you guys being told that first class is not available to you even with the fee?

There are not many details out yet, but, the first mention of it was specific that DAL was in back. No mention of the fee was made. It could be they have not yet figured out how to work that through the system.

On DAL we even put the buddy pass riders up front if there is room, so I'm pretty sure our new NWA friends would be more than welcome.

I've bought ID96's based on FC fares, but never used one on NWA. Folks on the old DAL non rev board used to say it was hit and miss depending on which NWA Gate Agent / Crew was working that particular day.

 

[ugasucks]

Is it true the NWA retired folks travel on the same priority as the active ones?

 

[IXLR8]

Is it true the NWA retired folks travel on the same priority as the active ones?

No...they have an "R" attached to their listing number and that puts them at a lower boarding priority. That puts them below active parents traveling.

 

[CVG72]

Does that include buddy passes as well?

 

[another cfii]

It is a step in the right direction. At DAL, buddy pass/parents/non-rev get First class if available. I think they should be able to do the same on the NWA side as well. They will find a way to make all the nwa employees to pay the $50 annual travel fees that all DAL folks have to pay each year to enjoy the pass benefits.

 

[DashTrash400]

The PDF that was attached said NW employees will pay the annual registration fee ($50) once the systems are integrated and it's all paperless. For now we're getting a better deal than the DL employees, though. Given that, it's ridiculous NW doen't put them in first.

Here's something funny: Parents nonreving on NW incur charges that are deducted from the employee's paycheck, yet they fly for free on DL. I'm sending them to DL as much as possible!

 

[IXLR8]

So, do Delta employees get first free?

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Do you guys have ways of checking flights to see what nonrevs were let on/denied/etc? Just wondering since I'd be expecting shenanigans from one po'd gate agent side toward the other, especially when it comes to groups (parents) that likely wouldn't know better what is going on...
Airlines are known as being notoriously nasty as it is to their own nonrevs (what the h*ll for anyway? Fire those kinds of gate agents..they're the ones...ids always backward...that are equally nasty to pax)...nevermind the heated situation that will be developing with the merged ones.

 

[JohnQ]

So, do Delta employees get first free?

Yes...assuming of course that they get on at all! Also, you have to be at least 8 years old to sit in first class.

Also, I was surprised that if we wish to nonrev on NWA we have to revert to the ancient technology that characterized DAL nonrevving ten years ago--paper tickets, mandatory check in at the ticket counter etc. Is that still the procedure for current NWA employees, or is it just because the DAL folks are not in the computer databases yet?

At DAL all domestic nonrev procedures are paperless. You "meal list" (an ancient term: there are few if any meals boarded on domestic flights any more) online to get your name on the list of nonrevs. You then "airport list" via the kiosks to confirm that you actually wish to fly on the flight you meal listed; the kiosks will spit out a paper standby boarding card which you then use to check bags (if any) and get through security. If and when you get a seat, your name is listed on the "cleared list" on the monitor above the gate. You then hand your standby card to the gate agent, who scans the bar code and then prints out another slip of paper with your assigned seat. Ideally the only time you ever talk to a ticket or gate agent is when you get your standby card scanned.

Of course that is at the bigger stations with all the bells and whistles. For international flights and/or smaller cities, you may actually have to interact with a ticket or gate agent!

 

[DTW320]

Yes...assuming of course that they get on at all! Also, you have to be at least 8 years old to sit in first class.

Also, I was surprised that if we wish to nonrev on NWA we have to revert to the ancient technology that characterized DAL nonrevving ten years ago--paper tickets, mandatory check in at the ticket counter etc. Is that still the procedure for current NWA employees, or is it just because the DAL folks are not in the computer databases yet?

At DAL all domestic nonrev procedures are paperless. You "meal list" (an ancient term: there are few if any meals boarded on domestic flights any more) online to get your name on the list of nonrevs. You then "airport list" via the kiosks to confirm that you actually wish to fly on the flight you meal listed; the kiosks will spit out a paper standby boarding card which you then use to check bags (if any) and get through security. If and when you get a seat, your name is listed on the "cleared list" on the monitor above the gate. You then hand your standby card to the gate agent, who scans the bar code and then prints out another slip of paper with your assigned seat. Ideally the only time you ever talk to a ticket or gate agent is when you get your standby card scanned.

Of course that is at the bigger stations with all the bells and whistles. For international flights and/or smaller cities, you may actually have to interact with a ticket or gate agent!

The paper tickets on both sides are part of the "phase 1" of this benefit. NWA employees traveling on DAL under the new system have to get paper tickets too. NWA employees on NWA have been paperless, e-tickets for quite a few years now too. We list on the flight then verify at the gate or on nwa.com or at an airport kiosk. If the load is light enough (not sure the exact level) the kiosks or nwa.com will allow you to pick your seat and print a boarding pass just like a revenue pax. On NWA the age for first class is 6 domestic and 8 intl I think. Unfortunately, NWA employees have always been charged a nominal fee for first class. Not sure how that is working for DAL employees on NWA since they can't payroll deduct it from you.....yet.

As posted in this thread earlier, phase 2 of the program is supposed to make it all paperless.

 

[JohnQ]

NWA employees on NWA have been paperless, e-tickets for quite a few years now too. We list on the flight then verify at the gate or on nwa.com or at an airport kiosk. If the load is light enough (not sure the exact level) the kiosks or nwa.com will allow you to pick your seat and print a boarding pass just like a revenue pax. On NWA the age for first class is 6 domestic and 8 intl I think. Unfortunately, NWA employees have always been charged a nominal fee for first class. Not sure how that is working for DAL employees on NWA since they can't payroll deduct it from you.....yet.

As posted in this thread earlier, phase 2 of the program is supposed to make it all paperless.

Good to hear. And believe it or not, I actually believe that the merger will be a good thing for all sides. The SLI will eventually be resolved and we can bash mgmt together.