Memphis based parents (new)

Hi

Son works for Spirit. He just got us signed up for non-rev travel on myidtravel and id90. Both have different airlines. I have been spending time on the sites to familiarize myself with the process!

Because we are in Memphis, nothing is easy. So I am working with not a great starting airport (with very few airlines/flight options).

I am going to do my first "test" flight, sometime in the next month or so to Sarasota to get a feel of the whole process.

ANY tips, hints, thoughts would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to learn enough so that I can get myself to Africa this September/October.

Thanks so much!

Welcome aboard Stan, and welcome to the thrill a minute world of non-revving.
As a first time non-rev traveler my advice is to put in plenty of research, plan meticulously and be ready to improvise.
Have a plan, A, B, C and D ready to go, it will save both your nerves and your time.
Plus as a general rule you’ll want to travel mid-week and try for the first flight of the day. And you’ll definitely want to print out the Non-Rev Prayer and carry with you.
http://nonrev.net/open-discussion/17...vs-prayer.html

You mentioned that your first test flight would be to fly out of MEM. Does Spirit even fly out of MEM, or are you talking about taking another carrier?

There are an excellent group of people here that can help, but your primary source of information is your son and the Spirit Travel Dept. - read that Spirit Pass and Free Travel Policy backwards and forward. :cool:

Welcome to the whacky world of nonrev travel. Aside from the fact that some of us are a bit on the whacky side, we can definitely assist. As Migflanker mentioned, read the company travel policy thoroughly then ask how it actually works.
We have some very knowledgeable folks here. Some actually fly just to experience certain aircraft. Some fly overseas and come right back after a day. I'm probably the most experienced nonreving to Africa with 6 trips South Africa + Egypt, Morocco to boot. Mostly on DL but have experience w/OALs, too.
I'll be curious to know which OALs you can use.
Happy to help as you navigate your new adventures. Cheers!
M7

Hi

Thanks for the welcomes! No Spirit does not fly out of MEM :( I will try another carrier that they have agreements with. When I travel normally, I always have back-up plans, now I understand how even more important they are now. Last year, we were "stuck" a big delay of our flight to Venice, well, I already knew that there was a flight going to Verona, switched flights, short train ride to Venice. Done!
I have read a lot, and I think I have a pretty good handle on the do's and dont's and the how's and why's. Like for my trip to SRQ, I would be willing to go to TPA or RSW and to go north to go south.

I plan to try not to check a bag. I travel pretty light usually. A 21.5" carry-on and a small canvas purse/tote. Have even do this for a 10 night Med cruise!

Because my airport is MEM, I understand getting to South Africa will be a "challenge"... OAL (other airlines?) are Lufthansa, United, AA, Virgin Atlantic, among others. I think LHT will prob be my best bet??? I think getting to Europe and then to JNB? Trip is not til September/October so lots of planning going on.

MEM is the challenge for me!

LHT... do you mean LHR? London-Heathrow? You're better off looking up airport codes, not guessing.

I would say to keep an open mind. Africa via Europe is indeed a common route, but LH is larger than you may think, with flights from FRA to JNB and seasonally, MUC to CPT.

As for your upcoming trip, WN has a nonstop MEM-TPA as well as MEM-MCO. If loads permit, consider those options. Better yet, take a look here: Memphis International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - pretty much every airport has an "Airlines and Destinations" page to help you figure out where you can get to and on which airlines.

I meant getting to JNB via Lufthansa. Getting across the pond from MEM could very well be an adventure.

I am actually pretty well travelled, but MEM is a terrible airport to have as your home base. DL has reduced their flights drastically (DL isn't even one of my choices) AA, Frontier, WN, UA, not much for choices. And not easy routings.

I'll figure it out...

Ah, LH in that case. Airlines generally have a 2-digit abbreviation that may or may not make sense. For example, when I mentioned WN, that's Southwest. Spirit is NK. But AA (American), DL (Delta), and UA (United) are fairly intuitive. Not trying to lecture, just informing you!

There are much worse airports to be based in. I used to work in an airport that had 2 scheduled flights to ORD per day. That was it, no other destinations. And they're getting a new schedule soon, which will make connections even worse! MEM could be better, sure, but it could also be a lot worse!