Hi Liason,

As a fellow ASA traveler, I hope I can help. You need to get the Delta pass rider 800 number from your son. Through this number you can check flight loads and wait list yourself on any flight. Alternatively, your son can use his Travel Net logon to get you even more detail on flights as well as wait list you.

Once you are wait listed on a flight, simply go to the airport and use your pass card to check in at one of the kiosks. You will be asked what priority you want to use - be very careful to use the appropriate priority code. As a parent traveling without your son, you must select S3B rather than S3. If you select the S3 your son could be charged $150 (per trip or per segment - I'm not sure which).

The advice given by others earlier is all excellent. Be especially aware of the advice to smile at all times. My wife tells me that ASA is VERY strict about their non-rev travelers. Even a small argument can cause you to lose all your flight benefits. Whatever the crew says, go along with it. If there is a seating problem, offer to change seats, etc. Keep in their good graces and you will have all kinds of good things happen to you.

As far as traveling on other airlines, you have ID?? travel available. The ?? can go 96, 90, 70, 50, etc where the numbers are the percent discount given. Yes, 96% discounts are sometimes available although I believe those are reserved for the employees. The best way to find out what is available is to go to the airport and pick up the Delta Direct phone. These people seem to be more up to date on non-rev travel than the regular 800 reservations number (the 800 number I referenced above is an automated number for Delta travel only). Identify yourself as a non-rev parent and tell them what airline, origination and destination. They will tell you what ID level you qualify for and what the fare will be. Just remember that on the other airline you will be boarded only after all their employees and non-rev travelers are accomodated. Even so, I have traveled on other airlines a number of times and, with appropriate planning, have not had a major problem.

Good Luck.