Non-rev travel

**Cindy404** · 01-Jul-2009, 10:21 AM

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!

**SpainFlier** · 01-Jul-2009, 11:22 AM

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.

**mrs767er** · 01-Jul-2009, 12:21 PM

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.

**Nick** · 01-Jul-2009, 06:27 PM

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

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.[/b]

You could take SWA to IAD, or LGA and train it to JFK. Catch is it's hard to get past MDW on SWA on weekends especially out of DAL, or at least that's how I remember it. During the week was another story. As was positioning myself to HOU the night before

**BRITSKI99** · 02-Jul-2009, 05:29 AM

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.

**Cindy404** · 02-Jul-2009, 08:52 AM

We are prepared to travel in two's. My son has the confirmed seat and even though he is 19, I don'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'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't that always true no matter what airlines you'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't have to worry. At least we'll still be getting excellent deals on tours, hotels, etc. with my daughter'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's always a gamble, I guess.

**Cindy404** · 02-Jul-2009, 09:20 AM

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
: (

**spongebue** · 02-Jul-2009, 01:53 PM

what about IAH-LHR on Continental? It can't be that hard to get to IAH from OKC, I'd imagine. There are only 2 flights compared to 3 on AA, but if there's anybody on CO that sees this (I'm pretty sure there are a couple that drop by every now and then) you never know if there's a lighter load elsewhere. Plus, there are two BA flights, rather than one (probably wouldn't help much, but you never know... if anything, that's one more alternative airline for everyone else)

**Cindy404** · 02-Jul-2009, 06:27 PM

Thanks, Spongebue, we will consider CO. No it isn't difficult getting to Houston.

**Nick** · 02-Jul-2009, 10:39 PM

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

what about IAH-LHR on Continental? It can't be that hard to get to IAH from OKC, I'd imagine. There are only 2 flights compared to 3 on AA, but if there's anybody on CO that sees this (I'm pretty sure there are a couple that drop by every now and then) you never know if there's a lighter load elsewhere. Plus, there are two BA flights, rather than one (probably wouldn't help much, but you never know... if anything, that's one more alternative airline for everyone else)[/b]

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

Thread: Non-rev travel

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions