NonRev "Black Holes" - your list?

**AL-SYD** · 07-Nov-2005, 11:11 AM

During a discussion in one of the threads in the Australia/Oceania forum, I mentioned how HNL was a nonrev black hole where many went in and found it hard to escape.

Another forum moderator was of the opinion HNL wasn't that bad, so I thought what a good thread to start discussion on.

My "Top 3" black holes for nonrevs (in no particular order) are HNL SIN BKK. In 26 years of nonrevving, I've only ever been stuck 3 times - HNL twice and FRA once. Both HNL adventures took 3 days each before I got out - once on a revenue fare DL midnight special to SAN and once by one of the numerous backups I always carry coming through at the last minute.
I know my own carrier quite often has people waiting days to get to/from HNL. despite back-ups with the U.S. carriers.
I think SIN is bad because the home player (SQ) doesn't really give good discounts to OAL's so everyone is always trying for the other carriers. When I was at QF, it was not unusual to see alerts or embargos suddenly appear as 80 or more nonrevs had been trying to get out of SIN for several days.
BKK is BKK - usually okay to get through, but often chokes up with nonrevs.

Be interesting to see anyone else's lists - generic black holes like Trans-Atlantic in August don't count!

**luvs2travel** · 08-Nov-2005, 05:32 AM

Hi again Al! After stating that you were going to start a "black hole" list, I remembered one that I think is a great candidate for your list based on my and other's non-revving experience that fails almost every time. FCO is my pick. Not only during obvious peak summer travel season, but what surprised me was when non-revs were getting stuck or denied in October as if it was summer season. My personal experience happened in March which is just before peak season starts. With only a couple of months window to travel there (in winter...

), I thought this would be a good candidate for your list.
Thanks for starting it..I am sure it will come in handy to our fellow non-revvers.

**Igna** · 10-Nov-2005, 07:11 AM

To me the worst has to be EZE. It’s always fine to go there but getting out (specially to Europe) it could be a nightmare.
I am probably one of the worst Nonrevs since I always fly during Xmas time and Easter. But the adrenalin of getting on a flight at peak season is immeasurable.

I would say my best story was flying on the last Friday before Xmas from CDG to EZE on a 772. I nonrev from LGW to CDG all fine, then I got to the check in desk for the EZE flight (The day before the flight was oversold by approx. 20 but because of my experience with AF I had chances) and the agent says: “The flight looks perfect”.

I waited patiently and I didn’t only made but I got upgraded at the gate after I went to thank the captain for taking me home for Xmas (He said: “ Can I see your boarding card?” and then after glancing at it he just spoke to the purser and I got an upgrade) and all for GBP50 one way.

Just delightful

**Migflanker** · 10-Nov-2005, 11:08 AM

My top three black holes-
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
HNL--I've got to go along with you Al, Honolulu is tough. I have heard more sad songs about HNL than any other place.
I've been stuck there twice, both times traveling off-season, mid-week and with my 'lucky charm' too

DFW--(AA Black Hole) More times than not I have trouble connecting through DFW and I always try to route my D3's around it.

LAS--Believe it or not, at one time Vegas was a shining star, you could non-rev in/out last minute even on a week-end...NOW, you do not non-rev LAS Fridays or Sundays period.[/list]

Al, any places you consider "shining stars"?

Keep'em flying

**AL-SYD** · 10-Nov-2005, 11:53 AM

Even shining stars lose their lustre at times.

I have to admit though, when I was at AN I would always go to Europe using our flight up to KIX and then onwards from there. Never had a problem at KIX and always got out on my preferred flight every time without even having to worry about the back-ups. I wouldn't have tried it through Golden Week or similar though!
The other bonus with KIX was the neatly staggered departure times of the Euro carriers to their hubs (in case you needed to do the back-up dance) and the fact that they were daylight flights over Siberia and Russia into Europe, arriving in the late afternoon/early evening. Jetlag was never a factor.

Nothing else stands out from my experiences as consistently easy and hassle free to get through as KIX has been.

**osflyer** · 11-Nov-2005, 07:05 AM

i had my worst experience on the routing ATL-MIA-ATL. i was stuck nearly one day each way. it was midweek, no holidays, nothing, but not a chance to get a seat. a lot of dead head travel and much much more nonrevs from DL.
i am with you Al. i avoid SIN. very hard to get out there as SQ has no agreements with other airlines.

**aztimm** · 11-Nov-2005, 11:16 AM

I'd have to agree with Migflanker on LAS... Even though it is a hub for HP and WN, getting out is nearly impossible, especially Sundays and Mondays.

I was there twice this year, the first time flew in on a Sat night (got 1st class) and out on a Wed, had to change the return time because my preferred was getting risky. The other time I just bought tickets (with the employee discount), was going for a show just for an overnight and didn't want to risk it (return flight was full on a Thurs morning).

Some other 'Black Holes' that seem to pop up for people here at HP:
ORD
MSP

PHL: especially now since the merger. Don't even try to nonrev on US/HP between PHX or LAS and PHL. A gal I work with was trying for the PHX/PHL red eye a few weeks back to get a flight to CDG. She ended up on the PHX/JFK red eye, rented a car and drove to PHL.

Tim

**PNSnonrev** · 11-Nov-2005, 06:27 PM

I also agree that LAS should top the list. Not only did we not get out even with passes from 4 different carriers but we could not find a hotel room and slept on the floor. This was after checking the flight loads the day before when the computer system said there were 30 available.
My second choice is ATL. I never get out if I am trying for a DL flight, though I have had better luck with FL.

**Migflanker** · 12-Nov-2005, 10:30 AM

Tim, Coyne

Inside tip--Always check for conventions before you non-rev Vegas. [96,000 attendees expected], never a good sign.

Vegas conventions

Keep'em flying

**venusfan** · 14-Nov-2005, 06:17 AM

What about Heathrow? I was stuck there overnight after I missed all the united flights to Chicago,Washington and New York.

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