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We have just "joined", it's the first time I have ever held a Flight Pass Card, so it is with quite a bit of trepidation that I attempt my first flight. Some ques:
1. What do I do first? For example, if I wanted to go from Providence to Myrtle Beach, on July 30th, where do I begin to even guess if I will get on an airplane within the next 5 days?
2. Is it true that you can fly on other airlines, even if your pass card says "DELTA"
on it, and if so, how on earth do I do that?
I'll post the rest of my ques. as they arise, and thank you so much. I am so glad to have found all of you!!
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Hi Liason,
Do you mean to have a Delta Pass Card?
Who gave it to you? Or do you have it because you are a companion or a dependent/non dependent?
Flower
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Yes, I have a Delta card. My son is a relatively new pilot with ASA, and we have not had a chance to do anything with the cards yet, but of course this is the chance many people wait a lifetime for...if we can figure out how to use them. As I said, I'm concerned about being stuck at an airport and never reaching my destination!
Thanks
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Oh, yes, I found that, thanks. I guess I was wondering more about other people's experiences in being able to get flights to destinations that they wanted, and if they sometimes waited forever to move around.
Also, is the card good for other airlines? Do they honor it..ever?
Thank you for that attachment!
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Hi, I do not work for Delta but have worked for a major airline for the past 9 years in reservations. I think that some of my helpful hints will probably apply for all airlines as I often get lots of questions from "clueless parents, companions or dependents" I ment no disrespect.
First of all, since your son is the employee, try to get him to do the research as to how you list for the flight, check flight loads and what other airlines you can non-rev on.
Try not to travel on the weekends (almost impossible, especially during the busy travel times such as holidays and summer) and if you can pick an off time such as the first flight out (6am) or redeye (1255am) or late at night 10pm when genrally no one want to travel or fly Tues and Weds, then you may increase your chance for getting on the flight.
Pick an off destination such as try flying into John Wayne if you can't get into LAX, Sacromento instead of Reno, LAX instead of Las Vegas, Oakland instead of SFO.
Have a back up plan 1, 2. and 3. I have had to change my plans many times while in the airport and if I was not prepared, I more than likely would not have made my flight. For example, I was non-reving from Baltimore to Montego Bay Jamaica. The flight was delayed by more than 4 hours and when I checked around 12 noon, I was told that the flight would be leaving at 3pm but they could not tell me if my husband and I would make the flight. So I put my back-up plan in effect. I called American (because I had called earlier that week and was told that they had a connecting flight out at 2:30pm) and I listed both my husband and I on the flight. American also had a another flight out at 5pm that we would have listed on if we were unable to make the earlier flight.
Sometimes there is only one flight out per day and you don't have the option of listing on other flight then you will have to list for the next day (I hope this never happens to you, but it does happen I have spoken to other folks that was 2 or 3 days getting to or from their destination.
Pack as light as possible. If you can get everything into a carry on then do it. My luggage has gone to Hawaii while I was in Seattle. I can tell you that even when you pay, the airlines loose your luggage. So when I have to check my luggage, I always pack a change of clothing, personal items and if I am going to a beach, I put my swim suit in my carry on bag.
Patience, Patience, Patience...... Non-Rev travel is a privilege and not a right. Have patience and be kind to the gate agents (I am sure that you will),,,,,, I have heard horror stories about folks that were acting less than professional, demanding to be put on the flight and I do know of one agent that had his privileges suspended for one year because of an incident at the gate. So he will not be able to fly any airline for at least 365 days!!!
On the up swing: I have been extremely lucky and have made every flight (except for the one in Baltimore and that was because the plane broke and they sent a smaller aircraft). So you can non-rev and be very successful......I have been to Hawaii (8 times), Europe twice, traveled the caribbean many many times and througout the US. I think that you will have fun with your new flight privileges once you learn the ropes.
Hope you find this information helpful
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You should ask your son to get you some information from his pass bureau for nonrev travel. It will be extremely helpful for you. As a rez agent, I want to remind you to always identify yourself as a nonrev when calling to check flight loads. Have an pen/pencil and paper handy and know the flight times/numbers before you make that call. The rez agents want to be as helpful as possible but have to take nonrev calls fairly quickly and move on to a revenue call.
Personally, I not only check out my back up plans but print out flight times (and write down loads and nonrev lines on the same page) for every alternative airline I have a back up ticket for. If there is a connection possibility, I do a little research into hotels and print them out as well. Better to be safe than sorry. I don't hesitate to check my luggage but still keep enough in my carry on to be on the safe side.
SMILE at the gate attendant and every single employee you come into contact with. It may not help you get on the plane but it will make their day a little brighter and airport personnel these days could use that. Like everyone else, I have a horror story of getting stuck but only once in 8 years of nonreving and that one was totally my own fault (well, my husband's since he HAD to visit his sister in Florida during spring break). If you start with the first flight of the day, you have a much better chance of getting on even if the flight is booked to capacity because more people oversleep than you could possibly imagine.
HAVE FUN with your new priviledges. You have been given a gift that most people never even know exists. Use it and enjoy the heck out of yourself!
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Hi Liason,
As a fellow ASA traveler, I hope I can help. You need to get the Delta pass rider 800 number from your son. Through this number you can check flight loads and wait list yourself on any flight. Alternatively, your son can use his Travel Net logon to get you even more detail on flights as well as wait list you.
Once you are wait listed on a flight, simply go to the airport and use your pass card to check in at one of the kiosks. You will be asked what priority you want to use - be very careful to use the appropriate priority code. As a parent traveling without your son, you must select S3B rather than S3. If you select the S3 your son could be charged $150 (per trip or per segment - I'm not sure which).
The advice given by others earlier is all excellent. Be especially aware of the advice to smile at all times. My wife tells me that ASA is VERY strict about their non-rev travelers. Even a small argument can cause you to lose all your flight benefits. Whatever the crew says, go along with it. If there is a seating problem, offer to change seats, etc. Keep in their good graces and you will have all kinds of good things happen to you.
As far as traveling on other airlines, you have ID?? travel available. The ?? can go 96, 90, 70, 50, etc where the numbers are the percent discount given. Yes, 96% discounts are sometimes available although I believe those are reserved for the employees. The best way to find out what is available is to go to the airport and pick up the Delta Direct phone. These people seem to be more up to date on non-rev travel than the regular 800 reservations number (the 800 number I referenced above is an automated number for Delta travel only). Identify yourself as a non-rev parent and tell them what airline, origination and destination. They will tell you what ID level you qualify for and what the fare will be. Just remember that on the other airline you will be boarded only after all their employees and non-rev travelers are accomodated. Even so, I have traveled on other airlines a number of times and, with appropriate planning, have not had a major problem.
Good Luck.
