Thread: New to non-reving

You do have to call CO to list.

Get to the airport at very least an hour prior to departure. Go to the ticket counter and check in. They will print you a seat request card and attach your flight coupon(that you purchased from your own airline) to it. Then head up to the gate, pray for no-shows and sweat it out. Whenever I check in a nonrev, I always pull up all the flights in there PNR and let them know how they look. Most agents won't automatically do this, but if it's not too busy, it would be no problem to ask.

Check the wonderful forums at nonrev.net to see if someone from CO will look up loads for you a few days prior to your trip. And if you get no response, I think it's ok to call CO res with your record locator and just kindly ask how the flight looks.

The industry standard for dress code is business casual. I'm pretty certain that is CO's dress code. DL made the mistake of relaxing theirs, and I don't know if its just buddy passes, or if some employees really don't care, but I've seen some nonrevs dressed like slobs(in FC no less).

If you needed loads for LGA or JFK to MCO on DL, just PM me.

Good luck

Welcome aboard Newbie, you also might want to take a look at the forum's How To Non-Rev article.

and to help that first trip go smooth as silk a few of my own tips.

1-- Arrive early, one of the golden rules of non-reving is to allow yourself plenty of time.

2-- Check-In
Note: If your airline allows online check-in skip down to step 3
At the counter identify yourself as non-rev, present all related travel documents and smile, smile smile. The agent will give you a quick glance to make sure you've followed the carrier's dress guidelines, then will give you your paperwork and send you on. (EASY!)

3-- Security
For some reason non-revs are frequently chosen for the extra screening, it's commonly believed this is because of the way most non-revs travel (one way tickets); personally I think it has to do with our shoes, but since I can't support my theory with any scientific data, I'll just advise you to allow time for the extra screening.

4-- The gate (where the rubber meets the road)
If you weren't given a seat on-line or at the counter, this is where you'll get your seat assignment. If things are runnning smoothly and you are lucky, you'll be given a seat right on the spot. If however, you are told "wait until you're called", find yourself a position far enough from the counter to be out of the way of other passengers, but close enough to hear your name called, and start thinking good thoughts.
Now many first time non-revs find the waiting nerve racking, but you won't, BECAUSE, you've read the guidelines, planned ahead and have contingency plan A, B & C, ready to fall back on.

5-- Boarding
The mad dash down the jetway, the hurried rush to locate your seat (usually it's a middle seat in the rear of the aircraft) and the realization that not only are all the overheads full, but there's a plane full of pax watching your every move and wondering if they'll be the unlucky one having to get up to let you in. (you'll get use to this by the way)

6-- The wait
Once you sit down and buckle up you're still not out of the woods, as a late arriving pax or an employee with a higher priority can have you gathering your things and marching back up the jetway in a New York minute
--REMEMBER--Non-revs breathe easy only with "wheels up".

Basically that's it, sometimes you may be asked to change seats to accommodate a pax, but that's nothing in the grand scheme of things. Just sit back, relax and start planning on how you're going to spend all the money you saved by flying non-rev.

Have fun.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (newbienonrev @ Oct 27 2008, 03:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

That&#39;s brilliant - thank you. I&#39;m a little nervous about the whole thing, but excited too!

If you don&#39;t get on the flight that you&#39;ve listed for do you have to head back landside to re-list for the next one?[/b]

No, you will stay in the gate area and go to the next departure. They should automatically list you for the next flight.

Another thing I can&#39;t emphasize enough.

Be EXTRA polite to staff, especially if you&#39;re a guest on another airline. You are effectively representing your fellow &#39;visiting team&#39; and fellow Non Revs, and gate agents have a looooooooong memory!

Some gate agents *HATE* non revs. I&#39;ve seen &#39;the look&#39; from gate agents of my own airline go sour when they find out my status, and one was a real dragon! But after a few trips where I just smiled, shut up and minded my manners each time, she eventually really warmed up - I&#39;ve even got comp upgrades to first on some flights now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumper @ Oct 27 2008, 07:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

...... she eventually really warmed up - I&#39;ve even got comp upgrades to first on some flights now. [/b]

Well that&#39;s nice to hear. I thought comp upgrapes had gone the way of free meals in coach. Glad to hear the "family" spirit is still floating around, even if it did take a while to kick in.
Jumper you must have some smile *sparkle girl, sparkle*