DanielW

My friend works for EK, and has offered me one of his discounted fares he gets (he gets a certain quota each year he can use for friends and family). Has anyone ever used these before? From what I understand, you basically fly on standby, but at a very cheap rate? I guess the same deal EK employee's get themselves when the want to do personal travel? Any experience appreciated.

eternaltransit

It's a standard ID90 ticket - so subject to space available, at 10% of the full fare ex-taxes, and assuming you are leaving ex-DXB, you'll find out at T-60 whether you made it on to the flight. Your friend should have access to portal/FABS to tell you the chance of making it onto the flight closer to the time. He will get an e-ticket once it's all processed and email it to you in the normal fashion.

Note that as an ID90 Special Ticket you'll probably be first to be kicked off the list if there are last minute revenue passengers who need to be accommodate on the flight.

eternaltransit

Oh - sometimes the ID50 or even ID90 fares are actually more expensive than any special offers that might be going on at the time!

Additionally, your sponsor will be responsible for you following the dress code and behavioural standards expected by EK employees on staff travel - and of course there will be STF on the manifest so they will know who you are on board

CalFlyer

... and you will most likely receive the best on-board service you ever had ;-)

Regarding fares: I used to fly ID90s (mostly on EY) many times, although not recently. I cannot confirm that the ID90 fares were anywhere close to discounted economy, they were much cheaper. If I recall correctly, a return ticket AUH-Europe was in the range of AED 500 all-in for economy class and AED 1500 all in for business. I maybe wrong here, but for sure much cheaper than any available market fare.

DanielW

Thanks! Will see if I can take him up on his offer.

I guess the key is to be flexible, and maybe book on flights where they fly frequently (in case I get bumped).

desertweasel

Specials for non-relatives are not standby, they are firm only, as such they are expensive and frankly almost unobtainable on popular routes.

Family tickets can be standby but only for near named relatives and although there has been "ways" of getting them in the past, if caught you'll end up walking home or buying a full fare.

RTW1

And better ask him these questions... he will know what kind of ticket he is giving or selling you.

DanielW

Yes, will have to have another chat. From what I can gather it was an ID90 ticket he was talking about.

eternaltransit

Definitely the best advice - without knowing who your friend his and what his entitlement to all the different sorts (sub-load/firm, discount level etc.) of concessionary fares is (it varies amongst different grades of course), it is difficult to tell you any conditions of travel.

Regarding specials for non-relatives being firm, do bear in mind that as with all air travel, revenue or non-revenue, the load controller may have need to offload people, and whereas a firm ticket has a better chance of getting on board and will be ahead of the queue than sub-load, getting a seat is not guaranteed and you'll behind revenue pax. Hence why availability (and price!) is restricted. But this is nothing different to when a Y/J or even F pax (generally not on EK) gets offloaded due to overbooking in the normal course of operations.

On an aside, I bet some clever person in revenue management has worked out the profits made from "concessionary" travel! I bet the yields aren't dissimilar to the more saver Y fares for connecting through DXB. I mean, you've got a captive audience, whose friends and family love it that they know someone who can get them a "special" ticket to visit them, or whatever. Ensures additional incremental revenue and good word of mouth marketing, makes the staff member they know and by association the airline a bit more glamorous...people think they get a good deal but actually yields are just typical (and profitable). Just a loss of the O&D premium to DXB. No big deal!

I suppose I am quite cynical these days...

ckendall

[Apologies if I am reviving a dead thread so mods please put this in the right place if this is not it]

A relative has worked for Emirates for a while and I have heard about the 50% off (id50?) flights. How does it work? Do I just book and enter a code? Do I earn miles?

FlyerRed5

Its 50% of the highest published fare in the respective cabin plus taxes. Its not always so cheap actually for ID50. ID90s are better of course.

Its works by your friend/family giving you one of their quota, or adding you to their staff travel list if its not limited. They create booking via their internal staff travel booking system. There is no code, you don't earn miles, and as its a subload ticket, you aren't entitled to any customer care (hotels, meals etc) should the flight cancelled/delayed. furthermore, if there isn't a seat on the flight, you don't go.

ckendall

Many thanks. I was under the impression that the ID50 got you a reservation, but if that is not the case then it is not so interesting (especially if it is not cheap).

skywardhunter

It makes almost no sense to ever use this fare. I have access to these fares through a relative working at EK and he has told me before it's not worth the hassle. We worked it out once and it was about 3% below the regular Flex fare but obviously with lowest priority etc so makes no sense.

ckendall

Thanks; the employee's mother had recommended that I use this "privilege" but I can see that it's not really worth it.

krazieman

Am I correct in that ID50 for family can't be used on Business class fares?