Omaha to LAX and back

**eternalnyte** · 04-Sep-2007, 07:07 PM

I've never flew nonrev before and looking for a little advice..

We are going to Australia for our honeymoon next week (wow, time really is sneaking up on me!) and I want everything to be as smooth as possible..

Well, my cousin works for Southwest Airlines and he gave my fiance and I two "buddy passes" to take care of the leg of the trip from Omaha to LAX and back. We already have the international portion of the flight booked and paid for so that should be OK. I'm just a little concerned about how to make sure I don't miss the booked flight since the buddy passes apparantly set us as dead last on the standby list.

I called the number on the tickets and was sent to an automated system that lets me know the chances of getting on the flights I want and gives me the option to "list" on them. Now, getting to LAX seems ok.. I see 6 flights on 9/12 (Wed) that should work (I don't leave until 11:40PM that day) and the system tells me most of them "look good" for nonrev travel.

My problem is on the way home. I arrive in LAX at 9:45AM on 9/21 (Fri) and that leaves me 3 flights (according to southwest.com) that all have connections. The system tells me each of them have one that "looks good" with the other connection that "looks bad".

Now I don't really have to be back until 9/24 and wouldn't mind (would actually prefer) stopping by somewhere interesting for a day or two layover but I have no idea if this is actually allowed with the "buddy pass"..

So my questions are: Can these "buddy passes" be used to pick-and-choose flights or do they have to be used with connections determined by Southwest? Also, do I need to "list" with the system beforehand or can I/should I do it at the airport? And finally, should choose the earliest flight out so I can keep my options open, or would it be safe to get on one that arrives a little closer to the international one's departing time?

**scoop** · 04-Sep-2007, 07:39 PM

With respect, it's a bit dim to depend upon nonrev travel for a honeymoon. Ain't it? Oh well, people only get married five or six times in a lifetime.

**Migflanker** · 04-Sep-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi Eternalnyte, welcome aboard and congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I'm not with WN so can't help with your WN questions, but in answer to your question about choosing a flight, as a general rule when non-reving you want to travel mid-week and early in the day. Those late flights are like the last elephant in the procession at the circus, she ain't got a lot of options.

Since your new to non-reving you might want to read "How to Nonrev" lots of great tips.
Also be aware the security at LAX is a "bear", give yourself plenty of time; last Wednesday I was in line for an hour.

Keep'em flying

**eternalnyte** · 04-Sep-2007, 08:54 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scoop:
With respect, it's a bit dim to depend upon nonrev travel for a honeymoon. Ain't it? Oh well, people only get married five or six times in a lifetime. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh, trust me.. there was plenty of "rev" for the international portion...

My cousin just thought he'd help out and give us a wedding gift of a bit of the fare.. I didn't quite realize it was any different from a normal ticket, though, until I got to reading into it further...

Well, I like adventures so we'll see how it goes...

**eternalnyte** · 04-Sep-2007, 09:30 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Migflanker:
Hi Eternalnyte, welcome aboard and congratulations on your upcoming marriage. I'm not with WN so can't help with your WN questions, but in answer to your question about choosing a flight, as a general rule when non-reving you want to travel mid-week and early in the day. Those late flights are like the last elephant in the procession at the circus, she ain't got a lot of options.

Since your new to non-reving you might want to read "How to Nonrev" lots of great tips.
Also be aware the security at LAX is a "bear", give yourself plenty of time; last Wednesday I was in line for an hour.

Keep'em flying </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to it!

Theres lots of good tips in there and I'm making a pretty long list of backup flights, but one thing is still unclear to me: should I be listing on multiple, possible flights in advance? Or just the one I want to try first?

I don't want to create a headache for anyone, but I also don't want to be left behind if I can avoid it

!

**Migflanker** · 05-Sep-2007, 07:48 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by eternalnyte:
"... but one thing is still unclear to me: should I be listing on multiple, possible flights in advance? Or just the one I want to try first? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

List only once, if you're bumped (don't make the flight) you'll be rolled over to the next flight. Trust me, the punishment for mulitple listing is quite severe.

Keep'em flying

**eternalnyte** · 05-Sep-2007, 11:35 PM

Well, all listed and ready to go! Oh, and I finally figured out how to talk to a human at Southwest's automated nonrev line: just start talking unintelligibly until it gives up and spits out a # that goes right to a real person (who was extremely helpful, by the way). Don't ask how I found this out, though

**nonrev1** · 06-Sep-2007, 04:32 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Can these "buddy passes" be used to pick-and-choose flights or do they have to be used with connections determined by Southwest? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You should be able to pick and choose. Making the connection to your international flight will be YOUR responsibility.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Also, do I need to "list" with the system beforehand or can I/should I do it at the airport? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Beforehand, definitely.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">And finally, should choose the earliest flight out so I can keep my options open, or would it be safe to get on one that arrives a little closer to the international one's departing time? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

DO NOT risk going close to the international one's departing time. Any number of things could happen. South West could have a delay or cancellation or they could end up protecting a bunch of passengers from another carrier that would bump you from the flight. Go early, early, early if not the day before to ensure you get to LAX for your international leg.

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