The Marriott Airline Leisure Program: A Guide to the Z31 Rate

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 specific benefit designed for this group called the Airline Leisure Program. This program provides discounted rates for airline staff when they travel for fun, not business.

This guide explains how the program works, which airlines are likely 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 for your personal vacations.

To access these rates, you will generally use the promotional code Z31.

Eligibility: Who Can Book This Rate?

Marriott previously published a definitive list of participating airlines. While that specific public list has been removed from their main landing page, the program remains active for 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 is not listed, contact your Human Resources, Corporate Travel department, or Marriott customer service to confirm before booking. Alternatively, you can try booking the rate, but you must ensure you have 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 count as Qualifying Rates. This means:

1. You Earn Points: You will earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your room rate and incidental spending, just as you would with a standard booking.
2. Elite Night Credits: The nights you stay count toward your elite status qualification (Gold, Platinum, Titanium, etc.).
3. Elite Benefits: If you already hold status with Marriott, your benefits (such as late checkout, room upgrades, or welcome gifts) apply to these stays.

This makes the Z31 rate particularly valuable if you are 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.

There are two primary ways to search for and book the Airline Leisure Rate:

1. Direct Link: Use the official promotion page.
2. Promotion Code: Manually enter the code Z31 when searching for hotels on the Marriott website or in the Marriott Bonvoy app.

Applying the Code Manually:

• On the Marriott.com website: 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.
• On 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 will see it listed as “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 current standard daily rate, which can be significantly more expensive.

• Identification is Mandatory: You must present valid airline employee identification at the front desk when you check 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 this rate inventory.
• Room Limits: The rate usually applies to one room per eligible employee per night. If you are 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 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 night credits, it is often a 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 ensure you are getting the best possible deal for your stay.