Ready to Travel the World for Free?
Dear Co-workers:
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and were fortunate enough to get a few days rest after a busy year. Today we’re sharing details of our new travel program, which will create the best non-rev system in the business. While implementation will take some time, when complete, American Airlines will offer free coach travel across the largest and best network in the industry, improved pass privileges for family and friends, and a consistent boarding system. With more than 6,700 daily flights to over 330 destinations, let’s go!
We’re building the best non-rev travel program in the industry. You’re going to have free access – no Coach fees for employees on all flights – to the largest network in the world, with more destinations at your doorstep than ever before. Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Athens or Tel Aviv… they’re all waiting for you. We’re putting parent and registered companion travel into the bucket of eligible travelers (so you no longer have to use your buddy/D3 pass bank for parent travel or your registered companion) and parents and eligible travelers can fly as much as they want. Legacy American employees will have earlier access to retiree travel – you no longer have to wait until 55 to travel if you meet the qualifications. And after we migrate to one reservation system, our travel program will be completely automated, meaning users will check for flight availability, list for flights and check in via the Web.
Beginning this summer, non-rev travelers will move to legacy American’s system of boarding, which is to board by check-in time. This approach gives all employees an equal chance at every flight, and is the system that the majority of employees use now. It’s also the right approach as we considered the technology platform upon which our employee travel system resides.
Before we move to a unified boarding system, there will be ample work done to ensure the right technology is in place so that any employee can check in via the Web. This will eliminate the concern that in order to check in 24 hours in advance, one must travel to the airport. Bottom line, all employees will have equal access to check in via the Web for non-rev flights.
The following information outlines our new travel program, and lays out the timeline to implement changes. I hope all employees have the opportunity to take advantage of this privilege and see the world, as well as share it with family and friends… it’s always been one of the best things about working for an airline and remains so today.
Safe travels,
Elise Eberwein, Executive Vice President, People and Communications
Read the entire article HERE – Travel Program