Thread: How to fly Non-Rev

Have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C ..etc ...... and when you run out of letters ... start on the numbers

Keep a Credit Card, Know your countries holidays or festivals (October Fest , World Cup etc..) Have hotel sites ready (Agoda, Onetravel, Bookit..)

Here is how I do it, and I have flown over a million miles non-rev without getting stuck.

1. I do not do Hawaii.
2. I never HAVE to be anywhere, therefore, I can go anywhere. I go where open planes go!
3. I fly off peak and off season only. Moscow In January? sure it is cold, but I get there.
4. I only do Business class on flights over 6 hours. Whatever flight is open up front is the one I am on.
5. I would rather fly IND-SLC-CDG and get up front, than go IND-DTW-CDG in coach. I would also use ZEDs in Europe. Example: I would rather fly DTW-FRA up front and then ZED to VCE on LH, than fly direct JFK-VCE in coach.
6. I am always ready to change my destination last minute and have. I was in the ATL sky club watching a few flights and chose one an hour before departure.
7. I also will drive to another airport if my own airport is full. I am in IND and have ORD, MDW, SDF, CVG, DAY, EVV, SBN, FWA, and BMI all within a few hours drive.
8. I will be creative on routes. We tried to go to MCO a few years ago and MCO and TPA were full through the hubs. All non revs went home, but this guy found that we could go IND-DTW-BDL-MCO and we made it.......up front too!
9. I tend to avoid overseas hubs if possible. I do not like to fight it out at places like NRT or AMS, when I can fly to ICN and then ZED inside Asia, with little competition.
10. So far in 2014.....I have 14 segments on two class aircraft. I have been up front on 11 of them.

Non rev is the greatest perk in the world and can be done. Don't let a bad experience get you down. I have seen it often where a new non rev gets stuck and never takes another flight ever again. I have also see people do crazy stuff like fly to Rio during Carnival, then get stuck for a week, and they wonder how and why.

Originally Posted by vulindlela

Here is how I do it, and I have flown over a million miles non-rev without getting stuck.

1. I do not do Hawaii.
2. I never HAVE to be anywhere, therefore, I can go anywhere. I go where open planes go!
3. I fly off peak and off season only. Moscow In January? sure it is cold, but I get there.
4. I only do Business class on flights over 6 hours. Whatever flight is open up front is the one I am on.
5. I would rather fly IND-SLC-CDG and get up front, than go IND-DTW-CDG in coach. I would also use ZEDs in Europe. Example: I would rather fly DTW-FRA up front and then ZED to VCE on LH, than fly direct JFK-VCE in coach.
6. I am always ready to change my destination last minute and have. I was in the ATL sky club watching a few flights and chose one an hour before departure.
7. I also will drive to another airport if my own airport is full. I am in IND and have ORD, MDW, SDF, CVG, DAY, EVV, SBN, FWA, and BMI all within a few hours drive.
8. I will be creative on routes. We tried to go to MCO a few years ago and MCO and TPA were full through the hubs. All non revs went home, but this guy found that we could go IND-DTW-BDL-MCO and we made it.......up front too!
9. I tend to avoid overseas hubs if possible. I do not like to fight it out at places like NRT or AMS, when I can fly to ICN and then ZED inside Asia, with little competition.
10. So far in 2014.....I have 14 segments on two class aircraft. I have been up front on 11 of them.

Non rev is the greatest perk in the world and can be done. Don't let a bad experience get you down. I have seen it often where a new non rev gets stuck and never takes another flight ever again. I have also see people do crazy stuff like fly to Rio during Carnival, then get stuck for a week, and they wonder how and why.

#9. I do not avoid without question. AMS ? All my US and African options...PTY? All my Central and South American options...

Originally Posted by ddagencylv

#9. I do not avoid without question. AMS ? All my US and African options...PTY? All my Central and South American options...

I think you read me wrong.

PTY is not a DL hub, so no issues there. I just do not like fighting it out with tons of nonrevs at a place like AMS or NRT, where things can change fast.
You are set for an NRT-SEA flight but then LAX falls apart and all the nonrevs flood SEA. Now sitting up front is no longer an option.
At a place like ICN, you have two flights....easier to manage.
Same for AMS. So many flights, that it can fall apart quickly, but BRU or ZRH? A much smaller chance of things going sideways.
I also do not like that you cannot view the active stand by list for AMS either.

For my South American options, I love GRU.
Cheap and easy ZEDs on Gol, and not much competition since one needs a Brazil visa.

Originally Posted by vulindlela

I think you read me wrong.

PTY is not a DL hub, so no issues there. I just do not like fighting it out with tons of nonrevs at a place like AMS or NRT, where things can change fast.
You are set for an NRT-SEA flight but then LAX falls apart and all the nonrevs flood SEA. Now sitting up front is no longer an option.
At a place like ICN, you have two flights....easier to manage.
Same for AMS. So many flights, that it can fall apart quickly, but BRU or ZRH? A much smaller chance of things going sideways.
I also do not like that you cannot view the active stand by list for AMS either.

For my South American options, I love GRU.
Cheap and easy ZEDs on Gol, and not much competition since one needs a Brazil visa.

I did not read the post was referencing DL..

FlyAway

How to fly Non-Rev
Dear all,

Thanks for being such a great community!

I am fairly new to the non-rev lifestyle and as such, have never non-rev'd before.

Is there a detailed guide with tips/tricks one could use to get familiar with it? Specifically, things like where to check-in, things to do/no do at the airport, people who are the most helpful, things to ask for to help your chances, pre-airport information, and other tid-bits that as a rev pax I would never think of.

Thanks!