ID fares vs. ZED fares: the difference
4 min read
ID and ZED fares both describe reduced-rate interline standby travel. Learn how they relate, how they're priced, and which you'll use.
ID fares and ZED fares are the two terms you'll hear most when flying standby on a partner airline. They're closely related — both are reduced-rate interline staff fares — but they're calculated differently.
The core difference: how the fare is set
| ID fares | ZED fares | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Industry Discount | Zonal Employee Discount |
| Priced by | % off a reference fare (ID90 ≈ 90% off) | Fixed amount by distance zone |
| Levels | ID90 / ID75 / ID50 / ID00 | ZED Low / Medium / High |
| Both are | Standby (space-available), interline, priority-ordered | |
Which one will you use?
It depends on the agreement between your airline and the carrier you want to fly. Many interline relationships are now built on the ZED framework, so ZED fares are extremely common. Some routes and agreements still use ID-style percentage fares. When you list through a platform like myIDTravel, it shows you the fare options available for that specific airline and route.
Picking a fare level
Within either system, a higher fare level usually means higher standby priority. On a busy flight, paying for ID75 (instead of ID90) or ZED High (instead of ZED Low) can be the difference between clearing and rolling to the next flight. On a wide-open flight, the cheapest level is usually fine. Always weigh the fare against the loads.
The bottom line
Don't overthink the labels: ID and ZED are just two ways of pricing the same thing — cheap, space-available travel on another airline. What actually decides whether you get on is the load and your priority.
myIDBuddy brings the people and the loads together so you can plan smarter. Join the waitlist.
Fly standby with a crew, not alone
myIDBuddy shows you who's flying where, the loads, and who to travel with. Join the waitlist to be first on the map.
Join the waitlist