Thread: AA non-rev load/experience from ORD-DEL, please!

Originally Posted by Migflanker

Welcome aboard Desimunda and welcome to the nerve wracking world of non revving.
Your flight is looking very iffy. See your PM.

What to expect, well Spongebue has given you the basics.

I-- Flight List- I’m assuming you or your sponsoring employee have done this. If not, do it now.

The airport
2-- Arrive early, one of the golden rules of non-revving is to allow yourself plenty of time.

3-- Check-In - Because you’re traveling internationally you must be present to be placed on the Priority List. At the counter identify yourself as non-rev, present your travel documents and smile, smile, smile. The agent will make sure everything is in order, give you a quick glance to make sure you've followed the dress guidelines, return your paperwork and send you on.

4-- Security - For some reason non-revs are frequently chosen for the extra screening, why -who knows- just allow time for the secondary screening and you won’t be a nervous wreck.

5-- The gate (where the rubber meets the road) - When you reach the gate take a seat bring out that lucky charm start thinking good thoughts and wait for your name to be called.
Now many first time non-revs find the waiting nerve racking, but you won't, BECAUSE, you have planned ahead and have contingency plan A, B & C, ready to roll.. You do have a backup right?

6-- Boarding
The mad dash down the jetway, the hurried rush to locate your seat (usually it's a middle seat in the rear of the aircraft) the realization that there's a plane full of pax watching your every step and a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that there’s absolutely no room in the overheads. Packing note- Expect your carry-on to be stowed at least 15 rows away from your seat, so pack items you’ll want on the flight on top.

7-- The wait
Once you sit down and buckle up you're still not out of the woods, as a late arriving pax or an employee with a higher priority can have you gathering your things and marching back up the jetway in a New York minute --REMEMBER--Non-revs breathe easy only with "wheels up.

***Note---Sometimes you may be asked to change seats to accommodate a pax, but that's nothing in the grand scheme of things. Once in the air it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy that first non rev trip.

Wow, this is awesome, Migflanker, exactly what I was hoping to find out. Thanks so much! I feel much more confident now that I know what to expect there.

My plan B is to just take up a hotel, I don't have any alternate routing available for DEL which is not the best part but atleast I'll find out this way.

And when you say Flight List I think I am on that, I have an email from AA and Buddy Info email and one of them contains all kinds of cryptic information such as my flight numbers, my AA friend's name, my info etc so I am guessing I should be set there.