Flying Non-Rev, with Another Non-Rev

[MissMindi]

If I am an employee of the airline on which I am traveling using MY benefits, and I want to travel with a friend who has his OWN benefits via his parent being an airline employee, are we able to approach the counter and list for flights as traveling "together"?

If so, can we/do we request to be seated next to one another? (for first or business class seats.)

How easy is it for two non-revers to travel together, sit together (in first or business) using their own seperate benefit plans?

Thanks everyone!!

[mrs767er]

SENIORITY?
loads?
OAL?
destination? options?
sep pnr/sep list

loaded question...

[Jumper]

Yeah - ditto!

[MissMindi]

Hahah, ok ok ok! I get it- vague! Let me explain further and maybe get your advice...

I was asking more in general what the situations are like for two non revs to be flying together. To elaborate on why- I am a prospective new flight attendant (assuming I pass all tests in training) and wish to add my significant other as my travel companion. However, his parent works for the airline through which I will get benefits, so he already has privileges.

I am wondering if I should add him as my companion, or a friend instead. If traveling with him on MY benefits would be any easier/smoother/more efficient/better in any way, than traveling together but using our own separate benefits.

Basically, will being on the same "benefits plan" make it easier for us to make the same flights/sit together/etc. Or does who's benefits plan you are on make no difference- can we just tell the gate agent we are traveling together. Obviously priority plays into it, so I'm not sure how that would work either- I am not certain who's would be higher or how that would work with traveling "together" but on different benefits.

That is all. Any advice would be amazing!

Ciao!

[spongebue]

Assuming significant other does not mean married, I'd definitely have him use his benefits. Companions (even designated friends) are charged, albeit at a discount compared to a normal ticket. Additionally, the parents will have better seniority than you, and dependents of workers tend to have better priority than companions. You might also have an age maximum on that one, though.

I'm not 100% sure how Skywest (United, I assume, otherwise Delta?) works, but the general rules of seniority and type of nonrev are pretty standard. You might be able to choose your seats at check-in (depending on loads) or talk to the gate agents (just don't bug 'em too much, especially if they're busy)

By the way, I might have to ask you benefits questions once you get in (I'm trying to get a job as a cross-utilized agent at EAU; stop by and say hi if you ever go through)

[BRITSKI99]

In general if you have two non-revs travelling together using different concessions ( and priorities ) and want to be treated as travelling together then the traveller with the 'better or higher' priority has to be prepared to drop to the priority of the other passenger ... and both be treated as having that priority.

[MissMindi]

Yeah, that wouldnt be a problem to drop priorities. I just wanted to know if we could say we were traveling on the same priority, I guess. Because when we go places, we are going to want to sit together.

We went to Sydney, Australia in 2007 and I was flying on a buddy pass via his dad, and he was flying on his privileges, and we were able to be in business sitting right next to one another from ORD to SFO to SYD and all the way back again too.

Maybe he is just really good at planning out flights that look the most promising?

Which makes for another GREAT question, can a person be on two different peoples benefit plans? (Mine and his fathers)

[MissMindi]

Haha, he is 24, and will be 25 in the fall. So yeah, he has been in college and just finished so I guess he keeps his benefits until he s 25. But if he goes with the higher seniority then that would not be good for when WE travel together. We would need to be on the same priority.

Can you be on two different peoples plans?

[mrs767er]

I am getting so confused!! Hope someone here can figure it out for you!

[heidilynn]

Mindi if you are traveling on UA or Skywest, you can not be in the same reservation. Unless you have him traveling under your companion pass otherwise if he is using a retirees passes he will be a 8c you Use your passes
and he will be a 8a (which is a higher seniority) So as far as requesting seats together you can ask at the gate...but you are pretty much going to get what is left. Hope that answers your question, Heidi