Non-rev travel

Our family want to go to London in October via our daughter's airline privileges. Our current plan is to travel non-stop from Dallas DFW to Heathrow flying American Airlines. AA does not include her brother in their ZED travel, so we will have to purchase him a confirmed seat while the rest of us (me, husband, daughter) fly standby. Is this a really risky thing to do? We thought traveling in October will give us more availability and non-stop no chances of being bumped before heading out over the Atlantic. Has anyone ever mixed confirmed seat travel with standby? Has anyone traveled non-rev in October to London and how was your experiences? We are in the beginnning stages of our planning, so we are able eto change our dates somewhat, but once my husband has requested time off of work, that's pretty much a done deal. Please reply! We are anxious to know everthing about nonrev travel to London. Thanks a bunch!

Are you willing to split your party in case you all dont get on the same plane?

If you dont, consider it very risky...

If you dont really mind taking other plane before or after the person who has a confirmed seat, or even the next day, you will be better than in heaven looking at the rest of passengers who have pay a much larger amount of money that what you have paid, and you will feel a priviledge person.

But I dont think that anyone could answer your question about how full are flights... one day can be wide open, then the next day oversold.

And remember, the worst part has not started yet. At the gate you will see how passengers are boarded and there are many nonrevings waiting for the same chance than you, so be prepared... Even at the most remote flight thay you could think you will be alone there will be staff traveling.

That doesnt mean that it is bad, which it is not at all... I consider nonreving very attractive and exciting...

At the beginning of my employment I did the same, I asked and called months in advance... But I learned that I always changed plans the last two days, because that days you will feel the "real sensation" of how full are flights, and how is weather, and everything... but this is just my opinion.

you got some great advice from spainflyer.
question--why not get as far east as possible for your gateway using SW? then add your zed from there?
I guess the biggest risk is flying standby from AA hub as OAL, competing for seats with their employees.
Just a possible consideration...you may find a much cheaper fare for your conf'd pax out of NYC or DC?
I'm pretty ignorant of SW destinations on the east coast, so i may be waaaay off base.
Rule one: Flexibility!!
Another consideration--those zeds could be pretty $$--maybe you should all look at rev tkts.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ Jul 2 2009, 03:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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Just a possible consideration...you may find a much cheaper fare for your conf&#39;d pax out of NYC or DC?
I&#39;m pretty ignorant of SW destinations on the east coast, so i may be waaaay off base.[/b]

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You could take SWA to IAD, or LGA and train it to JFK. Catch is it&#39;s hard to get past MDW on SWA on weekends especially out of DAL, or at least that&#39;s how I remember it. During the week was another story. As was positioning myself to HOU the night before http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif

Do you have ZED on carriers out of DFW other than AA ( e.g. BA ) as they will probably not be as busy as AA and you will have the same priority as AA staff when not travelling on AA.

We are prepared to travel in two&#39;s. My son has the confirmed seat and even though he is 19, I don&#39;t feel comfortable with him going all the way to London alone being the unskilled traveler that he is. We thought about buying another confirmed seat for my husband and that would leave my daughter and I possibly traveling later that day or the next.... The reason we chose flying out of DFW was (1) it&#39;s an easy flight from OKC where we live (2)we can fly nonstop decreasing our chances of being bumped. I understand we will be competing with other AA employees, but isn&#39;t that always true no matter what airlines you&#39;re on? And then I think, I might as well just bite the bullett and buy confirmed seat for all 4 of us so I won&#39;t have to worry. At least we&#39;ll still be getting excellent deals on tours, hotels, etc. with my daughter&#39;s perks. I was really hoping, I guess, that traveling in the low shoulder season we would have good chances of getting on a flight. But it&#39;s always a gamble, I guess.

Paul,
Can you give me any idea on flight loads in October compared to July or August? This is probably the time of year airline emloyees do all of their traveling! We have traveled nonrev quite a lot here in the US. There have been 3 seats left on the plane and we still get on, with my daughter in jump seat. But international travel might be an altogether different story. Thanks for you help
Cindy

Also, I might add we would be traveling on British Airways if they allowed parents - but employees, retirees, and spouse only
: (

what about IAH-LHR on Continental? It can&#39;t be that hard to get to IAH from OKC, I&#39;d imagine. There are only 2 flights compared to 3 on AA, but if there&#39;s anybody on CO that sees this (I&#39;m pretty sure there are a couple that drop by every now and then) you never know if there&#39;s a lighter load elsewhere. Plus, there are two BA flights, rather than one (probably wouldn&#39;t help much, but you never know... if anything, that&#39;s one more alternative airline for everyone else)

Thanks, Spongebue, we will consider CO. No it isn&#39;t difficult getting to Houston.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spongebue @ Jul 3 2009, 04:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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what about IAH-LHR on Continental? It can&#39;t be that hard to get to IAH from OKC, I&#39;d imagine. There are only 2 flights compared to 3 on AA, but if there&#39;s anybody on CO that sees this (I&#39;m pretty sure there are a couple that drop by every now and then) you never know if there&#39;s a lighter load elsewhere. Plus, there are two BA flights, rather than one (probably wouldn&#39;t help much, but you never know... if anything, that&#39;s one more alternative airline for everyone else)[/b]

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Only catch is y&#39;all would have to road transport from HOU to IAH... prob a decent cab fare. But then again, you&#39;re doing the same from DAL to DFW I assume

That, or I&#39;d be shocked if Continental didn&#39;t fly from OKC to IAH (too lazy to check for sure, but it&#39;s too much of a given). Maybe the ZEDs would be worth the convenience, otherwise like you said, it&#39;d be just like the DAL/DFW situation.

Also, Cindy, don&#39;t be too quick to underestimate your son&#39;s abilities to go alone. When I was a senior in high school (17 years old) I flew MSP-SLC-HNL-CVG-MSP on my own (confirmed). I had never flown on my own before, and when I did travel prior it would always be with family and usually a nonstop flight (except for when we took AirTran MSP-ATL-MIA-ATL-MSP). A year later, I did UA MSP-DEN-SAN-HNL-SFO-DEN-MSP. Again, on my own (and again, confirmed). Not to mention the non-rev trip to HNL the day before I turned 20 and all the other places I&#39;ve been that summer, figuring out public transportation and everything in advance.

I know it&#39;s a bit different with international flights, but if your son is 19, he can still get through customs without parents or notes from parents. Come to think of it, I&#39;ve only crossed the border with my parents once (on a cruise in the Bahamas, starting and ending in Miami) and my dad did all the talking with CBP while the rest of us were a few feet away. I&#39;ve since been to Canada by air and car 4 times without parents, never had a problem with customs or anything. Anyway, if you talk to your son ahead of time, come up with plans for every possible scenario (including you guys not even making it up) I can&#39;t see *too* much of a problem. Oh, and one other story if it helps: My 17-year-old cousin flew from MSP-SEA-HNL on her own recently, too. Only flew nonstop MSP-IAD-MSP with us once before 8 years ago. We helped her at MSP, but she was on her own once she stepped on the plane in MSP, and did just fine.

Of course, it all depends on your comfort level, as well as his, but don&#39;t be too quick to worry just because of age. Everyone is different, but don&#39;t be too quick to shut out the idea just because of age alone.

Just my $.02, take it how you want... not trying to meddle http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/smile.gif

Thanks, everyone, for all your advice. I really appreciate it. I have to admit, I&#39;m a worrier. I&#39;m sure my son is quite capable of traveling alone. It might be good for him! But now, I&#39;m kind of chickening out, thinking we might ALL just need to buy confirmed seats. My husband&#39;s job is not flexible with time off and he has to put in for it soon. My job is more flexible, though. We would definitely use Interline for hotel, tours, and airport transfers. My daughter has agreed to pay for as much as half of the trip. I&#39;m just thinking of the worst case scenario, which would be purchasing the great deals on Interline and then having to cancel it all because we couldn&#39;t nonrev in our time frame. Not to mention the whole disappointment of it all. I still have a month or two to think it all through - in the mean time I will do all my homework. Thanks again.
Cindy

Hi Cindy, you&#39;ve gotten some really great advice.
I&#39;ve done quite a few revenue/non-rev combo trips and the key as all have stated, is flexibility (departure/return airport - travel day) and everyone understanding that your revenue pax (your son) could end up traveling alone and possiblity be in London for a few hours or days alone. If everyone is comfortable with these two key components, I thnk the trip is doable. Hey, I&#39;ve done LAX/LHR/LAX in the fall with 5 nonrevs and we only had the one LA flight (2 came back through ORD) http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
DFW- I try not to send my D3&#39;s through DFW. Sure there are lots of flights, but there are also lots and lots of non-revs. And you my "Zed fare" friend, board after AA&#39;s D1, D2 & D3&#39;s. Since you&#39;re in OKC, besides JFK, you might also consider ORD as a departure/return aiport. Remember it&#39;s better to be in the air than on the ground. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif
Bottom line- if you&#39;re a &#39;severe worrier&#39;, then look for a good fare, but if you&#39;re more of a &#39;moderate worrier&#39;, you can look at it as DFW(3) + ORD(4) + JFK(5) =12 flights a day to/from London, + flexible travel days ( I do a 2 day cushion for London) in a month with no holidays (check London calender to be sure) + a daughter that can jumpseat. As I said, seems doable to me.
Let us know what you decide.

Totally agree with Mig... all comes down to how comfortable you are.

I work with a person who never uses her flight benefits. Well at least in the 2 years I have been there she always buys confirmed tickets because she a) can&#39;t be bothered, http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif is worried about not making flights, c) doesn&#39;t quite understand the staff travel system. If I hear someone at work describe a ZED as an ID90 one more time... http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/angry.gif Unfortunately that worry has filtered down to our newest employee, but what can you do.

The key is information, a plan and a backup plan. I&#39;ve been burned before on my first trip, and it cost me dearly - $600 (which AA so nicely later refunded) to get back to work on time. That taught me several lessons that I haven&#39;t forgotten to this day. Plan ahead, be ready to change that plan in the last few days or on the day, have backups but don&#39;t go overboard, plan a day off before you return to work. I normally plan a day in lieu (don&#39;t know if y&#39;all get them in the US) so if i am home in time, I go to work and can save that day to use again later. If i don&#39;t make it back - all good.

Anyways... just raised spongebue&#39;s 2cents with my 10 http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/wink.gif