UPS and Fedex travel benefits

Trip7

Trip7

Well-Known Member
What are the travel benefits like for these two airlines compared to the PAX airlines? If there are no travel benefits do you think it is worth going PAX just for the benefits or do the extra $$$ at the Cargo airlines more than make up for it?
 
BobDDuck said:
With 85%+ load factors travel benefits aren't really worth that much.
Click to expand...

Unless you're heading to Jamaica this week and the load factor is barely 25%-30% each direction :) . It is a rarity though. I pretty much just got lucky.
 
I've been working for the airlines for about a year, and I'm going to use travel benefits for the first time next week, to try to get to Daytona Beach ... wish me luck.

As I understand it, the pilots can fly on the UPS, or FedEx plane, if there is space, similiar to pax airline employees. I am not sure about any agreements with pax airlines.

The FedEx guys who fly into BTR, have a long layover here, and will sometimes fly home to MEM, instead of hanging around BTR during the layover. They always had a confirmed ticket, when I worked for NWA, but I am not sure if that was bought by FedEx, or personally. Never seen any of them stand-by, such that they had any kind of benefits.
 
jon1424 said:
Unless you're heading to Jamaica this week and the load factor is barely 25%-30% each direction :) . It is a rarity though. I pretty much just got lucky.
Click to expand...
Flights to Madrid were wide open this past weekend.

It really depends on the bennies and WHO you can fly.
 
ChrisH said:
The FedEx guys who fly into BTR, have a long layover here, and will sometimes fly home to MEM, instead of hanging around BTR during the layover. They always had a confirmed ticket, when I worked for NWA, but I am not sure if that was bought by FedEx, or personally. Never seen any of them stand-by, such that they had any kind of benefits.
Click to expand...

They weren't avoiding BTR (who would? lovely city :D), they were positioning back to base. Airlines like FedEx and UPS sometimes deadhead their crews on pax carriers to position them. I'm sure Don can shead more light on it.
 
ERfly said:
They weren't avoiding BTR (who would? lovely city :D), they were positioning back to base. Airlines like FedEx and UPS sometimes deadhead their crews on pax carriers to position them. I'm sure Don can shead more light on it.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but there are also weekend layovers. Could have been either.
 
777forever said:
What are the travel benefits like for these two airlines compared to the PAX airlines? If there are no travel benefits do you think it is worth going PAX just for the benefits or do the extra $$$ at the Cargo airlines more than make up for it?
Click to expand...

You'd be nuts to make a choice based on that issue.

First, we do get discounted travel, and we can jumpseat, etc. Non-rev is ok if it's just you, or maybe you and a spouse, but with kids, you have to be a glutton for punishment. SOOO much better to have real tickets, be able to dress like you want, not wonder if you'll get a meal or worry about kissing up to everyone (you aren't representing your company). No worries about getting bumped, stuck someplace, and if the flight cancels, diverts, etc., they take care of you, instead of you being on your own.

Oh, and the job security alone more than makes up for any advantage you could conceive on the issue.
 
My last couple of years in the airline business I bought tickets rather than try to non-rev. It seemed like flights were always booked full, and what with fares being as low as they were, I felt I was better off just spending a few hundred dollars on the ticket.

Traveling single, you can probably do ok, but if you are trying to travel with a spouse and children, forget it. It's tough enough to get one seat, let alone 3 or 4. Of course once you have that spouse and kids you won't have the time to travel so I guess it balances out.

Not that it will ever happen, but I think airline travel benefits should be more like discounts that employees of other industries get. Instead of paying a service charge for for a space-A pass, employees should be able to pay something like an ID90, but be guaranteed a seat. LIke I said, I don't think that will happen.
 
ERfly said:
They weren't avoiding BTR (who would? lovely city :D), they were positioning back to base. Airlines like FedEx and UPS sometimes deadhead their crews on pax carriers to position them. I'm sure Don can shead more light on it.
Click to expand...

Do you fly through BTR often? You'll have to let me know next time you do. I work for XJT out there, so I'm sure I'll see you around, if you do.
 
When people leave the airline industry to go and make more money elsewhere, many are quick to say "what the heck are you going to do without your flight benefits?!?!?!" The simple and usual answer is "uhhh, buy a ticket, because now I'll be able to afford it."
 
After a few years of trying to use pass travel benefits, my family has gone back to buying tickets, even for leisure trips. Jumpseating is really the only pseudo-reliable travel benefit anymore. Like someone mentioned earlier, the superior compensation at both FedEx and UPS more than makes up for the lack of pass travel possibilities.
 
ChrisH said:
Do you fly through BTR often? You'll have to let me know next time you do. I work for XJT out there, so I'm sure I'll see you around, if you do.
Click to expand...

I doubt I'll be headed that way too much more. I'm out west now with the branded stuff. Who knows if I'll be there on OE or something, though.
 
If you're flying alone, I don't think Nonreving is that bad... back when I worked for US Airways, based in Vegas (notoriously bad to nonrev) I flew on average at least one RT a week or two and only got stranded one time... and that was weather related, and the revenue pax were in the exact same boat. I ended up renting the car and just driving from Vegas to LA.

It's all a matter of planning. Just a few places I flew to in 9 months: LAX/BUR/ONT (at least 3-4 times a month), San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, NYC (multiple times), London UK, Manchester UK, Paris, Bangkok, Tokyo, Austin, Hawaii...

I always had a Southwest nonrev ticket in my suitcase ready to go incase I got bumped on a US flight... and ZED tickets are a godsend if you're traveling overseas.
 
After several years with the airlines one of the last things you're gonna want to do is to travel either non-rev or full fare while on your days off. It's just not worth the hassle anymore. Less than 500 miles I'd rather drive or ride my Goldwing and enjoy the peace of mind.

And, as seagull said, I certainly wouldn't hedge my future employment based simply on travel benefits. You'll get all the traveling you can stand while at work.:crazy:
 
What about eating and resting while on long international trips? I know Doug was in Business Class seat with a several course meal on his break. What do the cargo pilots do? Bring their own food? Cook themselves?
 
777forever said:
What about eating and resting while on long international trips? I know Doug was in Business Class seat with a several course meal on his break. What do the cargo pilots do? Bring their own food? Cook themselves?
Click to expand...

We're catered with both hot and cold meals. Yes, some guys bring their own to snack on and yes, we have to warm up the hot meals. I hear the meals out of some of the international gateways is pretty edible.:p
 
Gotta be careful international as if you eat everything the girls throw at you, you're going to end up with a HUGE rear end.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top