Marriott Airline Leisure Program
Airline industry employees spend a significant amount of time in hotels for work. However, when it comes to personal vacations, finding a high-quality hotel at a reasonable price can still be a challenge.
Marriott offers a special perk designed specifically for this group called the Airline Leisure Program. This program provides discounted rates for airline staff when they are traveling for leisure rather than business.
This guide explains how the program works, which airlines are typically eligible, and the specific rules you need to follow to secure these rates.
What Is the Airline Leisure Program?
The Marriott Airline Leisure Program is a partnership between Marriott and various global carriers. It allows airline employees to book rooms at participating hotels at a discounted rate, offering savings of up to 25% off standard rates, though the specific discount varies by property.
The most important feature of this rate is that it is strictly for leisure travel. You cannot use this program for business trips or crew layovers covered by your employer. It is intended solely for your personal vacations.
To access these rates, you'll use the promotional code Z31.
Eligibility: Who Can Book This Rate?
Marriott used to publish a definitive list of participating airlines. While that list is no longer publicly available, the program remains active for employees of a wide range of global carriers.
Based on historical data and current partner lists, employees of major carriers in North America, Europe, and Asia are typically eligible. These include, but are not limited to:
- North America: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and Frontier.
- Europe: British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, and Turkish Airlines.
- Asia/Pacific: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, ANA, and Japan Airlines.
- Others: Emirates, Qatar Airways, and LATAM.
If your airline isn't listed, contact your Human Resources, Corporate Travel department, or Marriott customer service to double-check before booking. Alternatively, you can try booking the rate, but you must make sure you have a valid airline ID to prove your employment upon arrival.
Key Benefits for Loyalty Members
For frequent travelers who track their points and status, the Airline Leisure Program offers a significant advantage over booking through third-party travel agency sites.
Even though these rates are discounted, they still count as Qualifying Rates. This means:
- You Earn Points: You'll earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your room rate and incidental spending, just as you would with a standard booking.
- Elite Night Credits: The nights you stay count toward your elite status qualification (Gold, Platinum, Titanium, etc.).
- Elite Benefits: If you already hold status with Marriott, your benefits (such as late checkout, room upgrades, or welcome gifts) will apply to these stays.
This makes the Z31 rate particularly valuable if you're trying to maintain or earn status while on vacation.
How to Book the Airline Employee Rate
These rates are "capacity controlled," meaning they are subject to availability and may not be offered on every date or at every property.
To search for and book the Airline Leisure Rate, you'll need to manually enter the promotion code Z31 when searching for hotels on the Marriott website or directly in the Marriott Bonvoy app.
Here's how to apply the code:
- On Marriott.com: After entering your destination and dates, click on the "Lowest Regular Rate" drop-down menu, select "Corp/Promo Code," and enter Z31 in the text field.
- In the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app: On the main search screen, tap the "Special Rates" field and enter the code Z31.
If the rate is available for your dates, you'll see it listed as the "Airline Leisure Rate" (or similar phrasing) in the search results.
Important Rules and Restrictions
To ensure a smooth check-in experience, you must adhere to the specific terms of this rate. Failure to follow these rules can result in the hotel changing your reservation to the standard daily rate, which can be significantly more expensive.
- Identification is Mandatory: You must present a valid airline employee ID at the front desk when checking in. A business card is usually not sufficient; you need an official badge or ID card.
- Subject to Availability: Not every hotel participates, and participating hotels may limit the number of rooms available at this rate. If the hotel is expected to be full, they may close off this rate inventory.
- Room Limits: The rate generally applies to one room per eligible employee per night. If you're traveling with a large group requiring multiple rooms, the additional rooms will likely need to be booked at the standard rate.
- Personal Use Only: As mentioned earlier, do not attempt to use this rate for official company business.
Final Thoughts
The Marriott Airline Leisure Program is a straightforward way for airline industry professionals to save money on personal travel. Because it allows you to earn points and elite night credits, it's often a much better option than using generic travel discount sites.
Before you book your next vacation, take a moment to compare the Z31 rate against other options—such as AAA rates or Member Prepay rates—to make sure you're getting the best possible deal for your stay.
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