Ever notice.....

How many airline employees don't use the travel benefits?
It is amazing to me.

The usual excuse is "I can't afford it".
Well, we are a family of three, with an income of about $20,000 a year and we travel monthly, with at least three trips overseas in the year as well.

The other excuse is "I don't speak the language".
I am lucky if I can get proper english out of my mouth.

Another excuse is safety. We have been to over 25 countries and I have never felt less safe than I do at home. I actually felt safer in Beirut than in most large American cities.
When we went to South Africa the first time, I was told by some fellow employees, thing like "It was nice knowing you" or "don't let the lions eat you" or even "watch out for the race riots".
I am thinking, are you kidding me? If you only knew.

Anyone else have similar stories?

I actually have met a few UA employees that always buy regular tickets because they are too traumatized at the idea of not getting to where they need to go when they want to go. Some of them are even elite level mileage members. Good thing they get a 20% discount off of the fares.

I have noticed that a large number of the people in my office do not use their benefits. They either don't like to travel or they are worried about not getting on their desired flights. Me, I don't worry that much. The only time I've ever had trouble was getting out of Tampa during spring break. Okay, that wasn't the smartest move I've ever made but, to me, part of the reason I accept a lower salary than I might make elsewhere is the fact that I can jump on a plane anytime with no notice!

I wish I traveled as much as you do, vulindlela, but I can't do much during the school year.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I wish I traveled as much as you do, vulindlela, but I can't do much during the school year </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Donna,
We will be joining you on that one as our daughter turns school age this year.

Yes, I've heard the excuses too.
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
--- Too expensive (exchange rate)
--- I might catch some weird disease
--- I can't figure out Travel Planner
--- Just can't do 10-12 hours in a middle seat
--- Don't want to end up on a cot at DFW. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/list]
Personally I don't mind the middle seat, or a cot in DFW http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

BTW Vulindlela, you've been nonreving 15 years and have never been stuck in another city...I am impressed. You must know somebody. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emotic...on_biggrin.gif

Welcome aboard Vulindlela, I see you hit the ground running. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Keep'em flying

I completely concur! I just can't stand it that very few of us actually use our benefits. Or the other thing that bothers me are the one's that only go to LAS! They would never consider any other place in the country not to mention overseas! People in my office are always asking me what exotic locale were off to next. I quickly remind them that they have the same opportunities.

But on the other hand, if everyone used their benefits then we would have a tougher time getting a seat. Maybe we should be grateful they don't travel!

People always question me about safety when we travel abroad. I am quick to point out that we live in Chicago, which has had the distinction of being the murder capital of the U.S. off and on for years! Statistically we are much safer when we leave Chicago than when we're home!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">But on the other hand, if everyone used their benefits then we would have a tougher time getting a seat. Maybe we should be grateful they don't travel! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Good point!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">BTW Vulindlela, you've been nonreving 15 years and have never been stuck in another city...I am impressed. You must know somebody.

I have been lucky.
I did have a few close calls though.
One that I remember is in ATL late one night. I was waiting for the flight and the Agent told me it was over by 40 and that I was better off getting a hotel and trying the next day.
I waited and did get on, with seats to spare.



Welcome aboard Vulindlela, I see you hit the ground running.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks for the welcome!
I am happy to check loads for NW, XJ, and 9E.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by uainhnl:
I actually have met a few UA employees that always buy regular tickets because they are too traumatized at the idea of not getting to where they need to go when they want to go. Some of them are even elite level mileage members. Good thing they get a 20% discount off of the fares. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>It could be becaue the system wide load factors are in excess of 83%!

Hey, it may suck for us non-revvers, but it is good for the industry's bottom line, which means a slightly better chance of our jobs not disappearing.

Hi Vulindlela,

I just wanted to extend my welcome as well. Thanks for your participation. You were the top poster in April with 16 posts. http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Thank you Chris!

I think this site is great and it will get better as more people discover it.

I have been at the NRSA game a long time now and always appreciate load info and tips.
I am happy to give them out whenever possible too.

Mmmm....try living abroad for a few years, come back and see the ignorance bloom. Traveling is no big deal. We as non-revs get on a plane, come back and talk about our trips. Try living in an island with constant power outages, try taking baths using a pan to water yourself down and try using buckets to flush a toilet. How about boiling water so you don't come down with dysentary? How about dodging Pacific typhoons that knock out power for weeks even months and living with mosquitos, since you have to open the windows, because there is no airconditioning because there is no power? See what kind of a good rest you can get. For many days, weeks months. Then come back to the states and face a winter after being gone five years in the tropics. Then explain to your piers where you been. Do you think they even give two fks? Saipan? Where is that? They couldn't even point it to you on a map. I've heard it all. "I aint leaving this USA for nothin". "I aint lost nuthin in them countries". The truth of the matter is that most people don't want to leave their comfort zone. Language, fear, too much effort. Fox news has everyone here scared, they think they'll lose their head going down to even close by Mexico. After listening to the news media that constantly bombards us day and night, its a wonder people are afraid to travel. I know a guy that all he does is work on cars. A real motor head. Never been outside the USA. Couldn't care less. Most wouldn't know anything about money exchange, getting around in public transportation, or even renting a car in another U.S. city. They just haven't been exposed, and don't care to leave their comfort zone. But like a previous poster mentioned. That's good for us non-rev serious types. Keeps them away from the standby list and that is a good thing for me. Leave the travel to the non-revers that have a pair. That's my take.

Here is a good one. Just ask your co-workers how many of them have passports. Aint this a joke?

Then there is the fact that some people have large families, and makes traveling that much more complicated. I guess it depends on your situation and what you're in to. Maybe some feel that renting an RV camper and staying in the woods is a better bet. Nothing wrong with that. To each his own.

We can afford to GET there, but can't always afford to STAY there!

It's taken us a year to save up for our trip to France next month...

Sure you can. It depends where you go and where you stay. I stayed in a 15 dollar a night room in Antigua Guatemala with my wife, clean bed, sheets. Just no TV nor bar lounge. In Europe, bed and breakfast is the way to go. Hotels run an arm and a leg. The airlines gives good rates for airline employees. Food in some of these countries run very cheap especially in Philippines, China, Costa Rica for instance. I can agree that a Hawaiian vacation, New York City, San Francisco can run you a few bucks. Here is a tip. What I do is whenever I check into a hotel, I take a back pack and do some local shopping for water, beer and snacks so if you wake up in the middle of the night hungry, you don't use the hotel mini bar or restaurants. I usually eat away from the hotels. Some hotels in these countries a breakfast is included especially around Latin America. I use public transportation alot. Much cheaper to take public transportation than renting a car or taking cabs. Some countries, the cabs are very inexpensive like China, Philippines, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala....and one last biggie for me. The wife works in the hotel industry, so we stay from FREE to VERY LOW rates. But we planned it that way. I do the airline work, she does the hotel work. It has worked for us for ten years and we hit mega joints.

You can find inexpensive hotels if you try.
Here are the hotel rates of our last three International trips:
Warsaw-$35 a night.
Mexico City- Free, stayed with friends.
Cozumel-$30 a night.
We've had rooms under $50 a night in Amsterdam, the UK, and Paris.
Thanks to Priceline, we have not paid more than $50 a night in the USA for sometime now.
Our best hotel yet was a suite in Vegas for $40 a night.
We only use public transportation.

There ya go!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by vulindlela:
You can find inexpensive hotels if you try.
Here are the hotel rates of our last three International trips:
Warsaw-$35 a night.
Mexico City- Free, stayed with friends.
Cozumel-$30 a night.
We've had rooms under $50 a night in Amsterdam, the UK, and Paris.
Thanks to Priceline, we have not paid more than $50 a night in the USA for sometime now.
Our best hotel yet was a suite in Vegas for $40 a night.
We only use public transportation. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Great advice! Even if I could afford the more expensive options, I'd go for the less expensive so I could travel more often!!
http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Way to go!
Being able to travel in some conditions I could never afford is the GREAT benefits of working for an airline going to a new country every year is what we are trying to do.
The reality is most of the time different that what it described by the medias or the guides.
Flying nonrev is for me an addiction (positive space becomes boring) the key is a good knowledge of the routes and netwoorks plus of course a good back up of ZED tickets on other airlines.

Not only is flying PS boaring but can be EXPENSIVE too. When you play the game and win, its a great feeling. Let me tell you. Getting back to IAH via MNL/GUM/HNL/IAH was a trip and a half. Took us 37 hours by the time we made it, no extra expenses on our part, all FREE. We made it by the skin of our teeth especially the GUM/HNL route with a non rev list longer than my arm, but the NON REV GODS were looking after us.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by z:
Way to go!
Being able to travel in some conditions I could never afford is the GREAT benefits of working for an airline going to a new country every year is what we are trying to do.
The reality is most of the time different that what it described by the medias or the guides.
Flying nonrev is for me an addiction (positive space becomes boring) the key is a good knowledge of the routes and netwoorks plus of course a good back up of ZED tickets on other airlines. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Funny, I have a lot of fellow employees who buy regular tickets just of fear of getting stuck and not getting on a plane.. I ussualy tell them: "You go ahead and buy you WN tickets, that leaves more seats for me http://www.nonrev.net/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif"