z Fares

ronnocs

I'm new to this so apologies if I'm making any mistakes.

Does anyone know anything about how to get Z fares on airlines?

I've been looking at booking a long haul trip next year and this has come up as a discounted way to get a business class fare.

Moonchild

Hello ronnocs, and welcome,

There are two possible answers to your question (maybe more, but this is my answer!).

Z is a heavily discounted sub-booking Business Class used by some airlines (KLM springs to mind) which they use for special offers, and tend to be the cheapest. Whether it's Z or something else (i.e. British Airways use I class as their cheapest Business Class fare). You still get the same Business Class service, but tickets are more restrictive (i.e. fixed dated) than other Business Class fares. However, whether it's Z or I shouldn't really make any difference to you, as it's just a way of saying 'cheapest business class on specific airlines', so I suspect you don't care which sub-booking class you travel on.

That's why I think you mean ZED-fares (Zonal Employee
Discount) which is a system that airlines use for allowing their employees to travel on other airlines at massive discounts (free, 90% and 50% discounts are standard), and you might have heard of them. However, you don't get access to them if you are not working for one of the 140+ airlines that offer them to each other's staff. I guess you don't work for an airline? If you do, contact your staff concessionary department, as I doubt anyone on here will be able to help you with them!

ronnocs

Thanks Moonchild.

The ZED Fare info you gave is something I've alreay picked up on but I'll check KLM, at least for part of the journey.

I'm just trying to get as far, as cheaply and as comfortably as possible!

dmg24

As you are planning a long way ahead, have you looked at ways of collecting frequent flyer miles? If you can give us an idea of your route, we may be able to point you in the right direction.

Moonchild

I think what I would say in that case is don't worry about 'Z' or 'I' or whatever, it's largely irrelevant to you. Just focus on the cheapest for your route! As DMG says, just say what and when and why, and people here will help you.

M4RKM

one airlines "Z" is another airlines "I", just search on something like kayak, for "business" class, and you might find that an airlines offer an "S" class cheaper than another airlines "I" or "Z"..

ronnocs

Thanks to all for advice. I'm hoping to organise UK to Perth/Sydney around April/May next year, and given that it's so far in advance I guess I'll be able to find some good fares.

Have used Kayak before and will be looking again and I'll let you all know how I get on.

Thanks again.