The Adventures of BJ and Tony Morris
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Essential Rules of Non-Revenue
Travel
1.
Never do anything that might jeopardize your pass benefits. Avoid loud, boisterous behavior in the gate area
or on the plane. DO NOT identify yourself as a non-revenue passenger to the paying
customers. If you need to identify yourself as to the flight attendant or gate
agent, be discreet. DO NOT ask a paying customer to swap seats with you. If
you have been given a seat on a full aircraft and you hear an announcement that the
airline is offering denied boarding compensation to paying customers, make sure you
discreetly identify yourself as a non-revenue passenger. Do not argue with the gate
agent. If you have a problem that needs to be resolved, find a supervisor and
discuss the issue discretely.
2.
A non-rev always eats and drinks complimentary
items. When traveling stand-by, one never knows when one might get
stuck somewhere without access to amenities. Also, airlines have really cut back on
their meal service, so be sure to eat or drink whenever food or drink is offered!
However, if it looks like a flight is running short on meals, be sure to let the staff
know that you are a non-revenue passenger so that they can serve the paying customers
first. When offered a choice of meals, we usually state our preference followed by,
"if you have enough". It is an easy way to endear yourself to the flight
attendant. Sometimes when they run out of meals, you may be offered a special meal
that has not been claimed. Take it! These are usually very good!
3.
It is better to be in the air than on the ground. Even if you
have to travel in the wrong direction, sometimes it is best to just get out of a city
where the flights are full.
4.
Never check a bag unless you can get by without what
is in it. Government regulations
require that airlines ensure that checked bags travel on the same aircraft as the
passenger. Checking a bag can prevent you from being able to change to another
flight at the last minute. Learn to pack light. Try to find some comfortable
waterproof shoes that can be worn with business casual clothing for the plane, but are
also comfortable for walking so that you will only need one pair. Learn to like
synthetic fabrics. Microfiber clothing can be washed and dried quickly in your hotel
room. (Sometimes it is necessary to check a bag if you have such items as guns, skis
or golf clubs, but checking bags should be avoided if at all possible.) Use our Packing Lists when packing for a trip.
5.
Be flexible. Be willing to change your destination at the
last minute. To be able to do this, you need to pack for any eventuality. When
purchasing your travel wardrobe, always choose function over fashion. A lightweight
raincoat, a fleece jacket, nylon pants with zip-off legs, a swimsuit, and long underwear
will allow you to change your destination to any climate.
6.
Plan carefully, but only at the last minute. Checking for
flight availability more than a week ahead of a trip is wasted effort. If you know
several months out that you absolutely have to be in a particular place at a particular
time, and you cannot travel several days early, buy a ticket.
7.
Charm (and an airline ID card) will get you everywhere. Be polite. When you are stranded,
find an airline employee who is not busy and ask for assistance, but whatever you do, DO
NOT BOTHER THE GATE AGENT who is busy trying to get a full aircraft out. If you have
an airline ID, you can sometimes get access to a restricted area to use a computer
terminal where you can look at flight availability. Avoid using a computer terminal
behind a gate or ticket counter. Passengers will assume you are an agent and will
ask for help.
8.
When told to take any available seat, assume
that includes first or business class. Just make sure that the empty
seat is not occupied by a passenger in the lavatory. This situation can be like
playing musical chairs. When the staff is trying to make an ontime departure, they
don't always have time to follow the rules, so hurry to find an available seat and don't
be the last one standing.
9.
Decide before you are asked whether you will split
from your party. When being assigned seats on an aircraft, the gate
agent may say there is only one seat in first class and ask if you want to split your
party between first class and coach. (Splitting in this situation is
recommended. Chances are that you may not get to sit together in coach either, and
if you split, at least one of you will be comfortable.) You may instead be told that
there is one seat left on the plane and asked if your party wants to split, meaning
someone gets left behind. (Splitting in this situation is sometimes necessary, but
never leave a minor child behind alone.) Discuss these possibilities ahead of time
and have your answer ready so as not to delay the boarding process. Never do
anything that might delay the departure of an aircraft.
10.
Never leave the gate until the plane has pushed back.
Even when it looks hopeless, after the gate agent has taken the paperwork down
the jetway, stay put until you see the aircraft push away from the gate. There is
always the possibility that the agent might open the door and say there are open
seats. Even if you are not next in line, if you are the only one remaining, you
might get on.
11.
Dress for first class. Its nice to
be comfortable, but if you are dressed in jeans and there are only first class seats
available on an airline whose dress code does not allow jeans in first class, you WILL NOT
be traveling on that airplane. Research the standby dress code for all classes of
service for the airline on which you will be traveling and be sure your attire is
acceptable for any seat. If you are dressed for first class and you get seated in
coach, it is acceptable to change into more comfortable clothes as long as you adhere to
the dress code for the cabin in which you are seated. It is NOT acceptable to change
into coach attire if you are boarded in first class.
12.
Keep your essentials packed and ready to go
at a moment's notice. Buy extras of all of your toiletries so your
overnight bag will always have what you need in it. You might even want to keep a
bag packed in your car. Use our Packing List
when you pack to make sure you have everything you need.
13.
Learn (and follow) the Rules. In addition to these rules,
each airline may have specific rules for standby travel. Be sure to study and learn
the rules before you go. Delta has an "Employee and Guest Travel Guide"
which has information for Delta Employees and Retirees, eligible dependents and Family
& Friends Guests. Please visit http://www.deltadt.com/dlnonrev/TravelGuide.htm
for more information.
14.
Be Patient. No matter how well you plan as a standby
traveler, chances are that you will at some point have to spend some time waiting in an
airport. Bring a book, a gameboy, cards or crossword puzzles for these occasions.
Here's a link to some card and dice games we enjoy playing while we wait. Games
15.
Meal List for Flights. Most airlines require that you have a
PNR (Passenger Name Record) before you arrive at the airport for standby travel.
This is also known as "Meal Listing". This can either be done online, via
a VRU (Voice Response Unit) or by speaking with a Reservations Agent. With a login
and password, Delta Employees can use the TravelNet site at https://dlnet.delta.com/deltapassport/login.jsp.
For Austrian Airlines, Blue1, Braathens, Condor, Finnair, Lufthansa, Scandinavian,
Thai International and Wideroe, visit http://www.flyzed.com/.
Contact your airline to find out how to meal list.
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BJ and Tony Morris
www.bjandtony.com
bjandtony@bjandtony.com