ZED Travel for Dummies (Oct 2019)

#ZED #RoyalAirMaroc #Iberia #BeBrave

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For anyone reading who isn’t an airline employee: ZED flying is flying on another airline that is a partner with your employer at a discounted rate.

I have always been afraid of ZED flying. I mean, listing on AA is so simple: you can see loads, seats, etc. I never thought I would have to travel on another airline. But then the hubs decided he would really like to go to Morocco! AA is supposed to go there in 2020 but in the mean time...

Everyone always talked about how “easy” ZED flying is but it was never dumbed down enough for me. My recent trip to Morocco had me ripping off the bandaid of fear.

Here’s ZED for (AA) Dummies:

A few days before we left, I purchased ZED tickets for my husband, son and I from JFK to CMN, Casablanca, Morocco (and for my daughter AGP-CMN) by clicking on MY IDTravel. (Of course I obsessively checked the flights for weeks but you can skip that part.)

To select your particular flights, you will choose NEW FLIGHT/TICKET. I decided which one to purchase based on city codes, timing, and whether it was a green smiley or an orange (somber?) code.

You can get approximate loads by clicking on SHOW DETAILS under each flight. You will need to actually complete the process with a credit card. Our tickets JFK to CMN were $100 each. My daughter's was $40 from Malaga.

Now you will need to click on ID Agreements and follow the steps to list. I found that taking a picture or screen shot of my ticket numbers is helpful. Read and follow the information carefully as each carrier has their own rules.

With Royal Air Maroc I actually had to CALL THEM ON THE PHONE. I know, who makes phone calls anymore??? I actually ended up calling them THREE times until I had ALL of my listings correct. The agent on the phone told me I could check in online. Nope, not true for ZED fares for Royal Air Maroc (or Iberia, for that matter).

When we arrived in JFK (3 hours prior to the flight) we went to the Royal Air Maroc ticket counter with our passports. The nice agent weighed our carryon bags -- which were restricted to no more than 10 kg (22 pounds) then checked us in, and gave us boarding passes complete with seat assignments.

When we ZED on Iberia, they didn't give seat assignments until the very end of boarding but gave us passes at the ticket counter so we could get through security so we were able to wait at the gate.

Pro tips:

1. Some non-AA carriers weigh your carryon and our carryon WAS our luggage! Keep your baggage light so you can keep your travel plans flexible.

2. Iberia wanted our actual ticket numbers! When we checked in at the Iberia ticket counter in Malaga later in this trip the agent wanted our actual ticket numbers so the photo I took of our listing came in handy!