Retiree & Survivor Pass Travel Enhancements in 2025Buddy Passes Why is Delta discontinuing buddy passes after 2025? We have data about low buddy pass utilization:
As a result, Delta is replacing the buddy pass program with other options that are more highly valued. Employees and retirees will have the option to add a Secondary Travel Companion who may travel unlimited and unaccompanied with S3B standby code. Retirees will enjoy an increase in their S3A annual allotment from six to eight.Why aren’t we being provided with the option to keep buddy passes or elect something else?These changes are based on survey responses and in-person focus groups conducted over the last year, and supported by the low utilization of buddy passes across the operation. The combination of feedback and the technological changes required to manage multiple offerings guided decisions about the program.Who does this change impact?All primary pass riders who are eligible for buddy passes will have four buddy passes, effective with their next pass anniversary on or after Jan. 1, 2025. No buddy passes will be allotted after 2025.Will the four buddy passes for 2025 continue to be roundtrip?Yes, buddy passes will be valid for one-way or round-trip travel. There are no changes to the policy or usage parameters for buddy passes issued in 2025. The process to add, authorize and ticket buddy passes will not change. The only change is the number of buddy passes being allotted.Does this mean buddy passes will go away starting Jan. 1, 2026? Or throughout the year as the authorization expires?Effective Jan. 1, 2026, buddy passes will no longer be allocated. Buddy passes issued on your 2025 anniversary that have not yet expired may continue to be authorized and ticketed in 2026. Any unused buddy passes during your current pass anniversary year expire on your next pass anniversary date.What will happen if I’ve already authorized and ticketed eight buddy passes in my previous pass anniversary year that have travel planned during my current pass anniversary year in which the buddy pass allotment has changed?Buddy passes that have been authorized and ticketed, and have not expired, can continue to be used for travel.This change affects my ability to plan travel with family and friends that aren’t eligible to be a part of my pass rider list. Will there be any changes to our pass travel policy to replace this change?Based on employee feedback and low utilization of buddy passes, Delta is replacing the buddy pass program with other options that are more highly valued. In 2025, employees and retirees will have the option to add a secondary travel companion who may travel unlimited and unaccompanied with S3B standby code. Later in 2025, employees and retirees will have the opportunity to extend their Fly Confirmed For Less discount to individuals who are not currently included in their eligible pass rider group, allowing employees to fly with family and friends. Both the employee and their companion must be flying on purchased Fly Confirmed For Less tickets.S2 Allotment Increase/S3B & S3AWill retirees now receive S2 passes?No. Retirees are eligible for S3A flight days that are comparable to active employee S2 flight days and offer a higher priority among other retirees or S3B pass riders. Beginning in 2025, all pass riders eligible for S3A allotments will increase to eight S3As per year, renewed on the anniversary date.For example, if your anniversary date is on July 15, 2025, you will have four buddy passes to authorize and issue before your next anniversary date on July 15, 2026. The buddy passes ticketed in that period will follow the normal ticketing and issuance guidelines. You will not be given a new allotment of buddy passes after 2025.Is it going to be harder for me to get on a flight with the increase in S3B pass riders?Currently. 81% of retirees have higher seniority dates than 88% of active employees. This means that you will maintain priority over these new unaccompanied S3Bs. Additionally, only retirees and eligible riders will receive an increased allotment of S3As, keeping the retiree group competitive from that perspective as well. The new secondary companions will not be eligible for S3As.Can I exceed my S3A allotment?No, you cannot exceed your S3A allotment. If you or a pass rider exceeds their S3A for priority allotments in an unauthorized manner, the primary pass rider will be penalized $150 per day exceeded for domestic travel and $300 per day exceeded for transoceanic travel. This may also result in suspension of pass travel privileges and/or administrative action, up to and including termination of employment.Secondary Travel CompanionWho is eligible to have a secondary travel companion?Full- and part-time employees, Seasonal Agents, Res W@H, co-op students, interns, employees on disability, voluntary leave participants, furloughed employees, retirees and survivors.I already have a primary travel companion designated; can I add a secondary travel companion?Yes. You can add a secondary travel companion along with your spouse/domestic partner/primary travel companion.What pass priority will the secondary travel companion have?The secondary travel companion will fly at a standard boarding priority of S3B.Is the secondary travel companion eligible for the Fly Confirmed For Less program?No, secondary travel companions are not eligible for the Fly Confirmed For Less program.Is the secondary travel companion eligible for ZED (OAL) travel?No, secondary travel companions are not eligible for ZED (OAL) travel per our agreements with our partner carriers.Can I add or remove my secondary travel companion at any time?The addition/removal of a secondary travel companion will follow the same rules as your primary travel companion. You may add a secondary travel companion at any time if:
Once added, if your secondary travel companion travels, you may not add a new one until the anniversary date. You may remove them at any time, but you will not be able to replace them until your following anniversary date.Can I designate my secondary travel companion as a primary travel companion?Yes. You can designate your secondary travel companion as a primary travel companion if:
Who can I designate as my new secondary travel companion?You can designate whomever you choose. Remember, your travel companion must be someone you know well. You are responsible for educating your pass riders about Delta’s policies, procedures and behavior expectations when traveling as a Delta non-rev. Misconduct by you or your pass riders could result in suspension of your pass travel privileges and/or termination of employment.Will the secondary travel companion travel at imputed income or yield fare?The value of the flight segments flown by the secondary travel companion (based on the yield fare) will be reported as taxable income (imputed income) to the employee after travel is completed. Applicable international departure/arrival fees and taxes will be payroll deducted (or invoiced for retirees). This is the same process applied to travel by domestic partners and primary travel companions.Example: If the base out of pocket yield fare for travel on a particular route is $100, the $100 is taxable and subject to the employee’s normal federal/state/local/FICA withholdings. For example, if your total tax rate adds up to 30%, then you will be responsible for $30.00 in taxes for that trip.Is my secondary travel companion eligible for emergency travel?Yes. In the event of a life-or-death emergency, S1A emergency pass travel can be used with your manager’s approval. Inactive employees and retirees should contact the Travel Call Center (1-800-MY-DELTA). Additional information on Delta’s Emergency Travel policy can be found here.Fly Confirmed Discount Program – Travel Companion EligibilityOnce implemented in late 2025, will my primary and secondary travel companion be eligible for the Fly Confirmed Discount Program?In the second half of 2025, your primary travel companion will be eligible for the Fly Confirmed Discount Program and can travel unaccompanied. Your secondary travel companion will not be eligible for the Fly Confirmed Discount Program.How will the imputed income be calculated and reported?More information on this will be shared as the program launches in 2025.Why aren’t non-dependent children eligible for the Fly Confirmed Discount Program?Offering the Fly Confirmed Discount Program to primary travel companions more closely aligns with privileges offered to spouses and domestic partners, for those retirees who are not married or in a domestic partnership. Because of the high number of non-dependents and the potential for revenue loss and additional cost to Delta for the FICA tax obligation for imputed income, we are not considering expanding FCFL eligibility to non-dependents.Is there a limit on how many times my primary travel companion can use the Fly Confirmed Discount Program?No. There is no limitation on how many times your primary travel companion can utilize the Fly Confirmed Discount Program.Are there any blackout dates or restrictions on when my travel companion can use the discounts?No, there are no blackout dates or restrictions.Fly Confirmed Discount Program – Non-Pass Rider SlotsHow do I add and ticket a non-pass rider to the Fly Confirmed Discount program?Information about the new process will be available closer to the launch date later in 2025.Do I have to accompany my non-pass riders when using Fly Confirmed For Less?While we believe this new offering will be highly valued by employees, even with the accompaniment requirement, this feature helps reduce opportunities for program misuse. The accompanying passenger can be anyone (except a secondary companion or nondependents) in the employee’s PPR pass rider list. It does not have to be the employee/retiree.Delta reduced our buddy pass allotment from eight to four, and there are only four tickets in which a non-pass rider can utilize the Fly Confirmed Discount program. Has Delta considered increasing it to more available slots?This is a new offering that was considered based on employee feedback. Because these are confirmed tickets, the potential for revenue dilution is greater than for buddy passes so the number of available slots is four. After the program is in place, it will be evaluated as part of ongoing reviews of Delta’s pass travel offerings and employee feedback.How will the imputed income be calculated and reported?More information on this will be shared as the program launches in 2025.Non-dependent children are not eligible for the Fly Confirmed Discount Program. Is my non-dependent child eligible to travel in one of the slots even though they are considered a pass rider in my pass rider list?Yes, they may use any of the “slots” or tickets – as long as they are accompanied in the same PNR by one of the eligible PPR riders.Are there any blackout dates or restrictions on when non-pass riders can use the discounts?No, there are no blackout dates or restrictions. |