WHAT TICKS OFF THE GATE AGENTS ABOUT NON-REVS???

We've had the ID badge discussion before; it's a no-no on DL to identify yourself in any way as employee except for check-in/secured areas. That said, my husband always introduces me when the crew is boarding and I'm on a trip with him. Wonder if that's okay? hmmm...

I had my $7.00 (yeah, you read THAT right!!) for a split of cheap white wine but the FA discreetly "shushed" me and didn't take it. I feel sorry for some of the FA's on feeder lines because they have 3 diff prices for beer as per airline--$5, 6 and 7 (for DL) Pax seem to freak at $7 and I don't blame them!

$7 beer http://bestsmileys.com/fainting/1.gif

One time while up in first class, some idiot FA, male by the way, was taking dinner orders, and when he got to me, he blurted out "YOURE STANDBY RIGHT"? Well, needless to say, he identified me right there as an employee. I may as well had my badge on. I don't know why he did that, my only guess is that he wanted me to know that he knew I was a nonrev pax so I wouldn't be as demanding???

If I am flying with a carrier that assigns seats at the gate, the first thing I do is approach the Gate.
If there is another passenger along side me, I generally waive them in before me. I don't want to advertise the fact I'm ' staff '.
I show them my boarding card, if it is not visible that I'm standby, I tell them I'm a sub load and ask them what time they would like me to
return to the gate.
Once I'm told, I steer clear and don't bother anyone. Either my name is called, or if I think it's getting tight, I'll make myself visible.

Likewise, if seats are assigned at check in, I always ask what time they would like me to return and if I should return to any specific desk.
I then disappear until the designated time.

The only time I make myself visible is if I'm in a chaotic city, like Beirut, staff are shoving their tickets under their noses at check in, not wanting to be left out, I join in. It's rare !

On UA, standby's are added to the DM ( Departure Management List ).
The list also consists of passengers without seats etc ....
The check in mode automatically assigns our priority. On standby, we are boarded by seniority - regardless of years of service.
When the flight closes, the gate Agent works the DM List and they either automatically onload the standby's or manually work it.
I have never been bypassed by anyone with less seniority to myself, the system works well and ok, I have access to past dated check in, so I can check.
I have also signed into flights to assist colleagues sitting on their cell phones and I have never seen anyone ' jump ' the list.

On other carriers, I have never been mistreated onboard by a F/A. In fact the reverse, several times on BA I've been informed that there may not be a meal for me and the F/A's always manage to rustle something together.

By the way, if there is anyone online that works for Air Trans or TACA, I managed 9 flights in 10 days some 3 weeks ago and I thought both carriers were fab, first time on each and oversold flights, but managed to get on everyone and treated well:-)

As for paying for drinks onboard full service carriers .... Errrrrrrr, Aer Lingus & BMI spring to mind ! ( LHR-NAP is not a 60 minute flight !!! )

So I see it from both sides, both when I travel, and as a gate agent. Employees are usually better "behaved" than buddy passes. When I announce a payload restriction and start soliciting for volunteers, and then I get 5 buddy passes bugging me to see if they cleared yet.

Another thing, nonrevs can speak among themselves. Don't aggressively argue with me why I didn't MAKE the nonreving pilot sit in the flight deck so that you can have a seat too. Don't yell at me that the nonrevs above you(Man, wife, infant) took 3 seats(for 3 pax) and used a car seat instead of juggling baby for 3 hours. I don't give many buddy passes, and when I do, I travel with them. I once had to ask a commuting pilot for the favor of him taking the jumpseat. He said it's fine and that he's been there before w/buddy passes. Don't tell the gate agent to send him to the jumpseat. Don't approach me upon me closing the door, raise your voice, and call me a liar and tell me you checked the flight yesterday and it had at least 3 seats and that I sent the plane out w/ empty space.

Most nonrevs are fine, and I try to look out for them w/exit row, bulkhead, empty seats around them, etc.

Happy travels

Wow, after hearing that I am thinking "have I ever done any of those things?" but I can't recall ever behaving that way. When I travel I always approach the gate agent when I first arrive and let them know I am there (often they seem to get minimal info from my checking in at the counter) and check the flight loads at the same time. After that, I leave them alone and do not approach the podium again unless a) my name is called or b)they close out the flight and I need to be rolled over to another one. I admit that I do, however, hover a bit within 10 minutes of departure. http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...IR#>/laugh.gif

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mrs767er @ Nov 24 2008, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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I had my $7.00 (yeah, you read THAT right!!) for a split of cheap white wine but the FA discreetly "shushed" me and didn&#39;t take it. I feel sorry for some of the FA&#39;s on feeder lines because they have 3 diff prices for beer as per airline--$5, 6 and 7 (for DL) Pax seem to freak at $7 and I don&#39;t blame them![/b]

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I hope this does not change with the merger but I am sure it will.
NW gives free booze in coach class across the pond. I think it may be the only US carrier that still does.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (29Palms @ Nov 20 2008, 07:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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In Little Rock for instance, they were not handled by our airlines so I had to ask the person to PRINT the non-rev list because I felt he bypassed me on a couple of flights until I made him print the list. Maybe he did, maybe he didn&#39;t but I didn&#39;t trust him as I would OUR OWN AGENTS.[/b]

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Hey Palms thought you might like to know that you can view the list on your cell phone. I know that they just announced this but it has been available for months. If you pull up the list it shows everyone in order by pass class just like the list.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ColoAvs19 @ Dec 1 2008, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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Most nonrevs are fine, and I try to look out for them w/exit row, bulkhead, empty seats around them, etc.[/b]

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Most gate agents are great and we appreciate you guys. This is one thing that I have often wondered. As a nonrev I often sit in first class or if not then exit rows or bulk head. This is much appreciated because I am 6&#39; 3". Sometimes after my name is called and I approach the counter because of my height the gate agent will give me the pre-assigned seat and then ask if I would prefer exit or bulk head instead. With all the times that I have been wronged at the gate I definitely been treated better than a paying pax the majority of the time. It&#39;s terrible to think that when I quit I will have to pay for my tickets and then sit in a less desirable seat than I do now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vulindlela @ Dec 2 2008, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

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I hope this does not change with the merger but I am sure it will.
NW gives free booze in coach class across the pond. I think it may be the only US carrier that still does.[/b]

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DL gives one included with meal service for revs--varies w/FA and nonrev