Non-Rev Angst

As successful pass riders we know the importance of planning and options. We have backup flights, alternate routing mapped, and check weather forecasts like seasoned meteorologist. We understand & accept that weather-related ripple effects/ a mechanical, any number of things can throw our well-made plans right out the window and have the Non-Rev prayer memorialized.
But even the most unflappable/chill among us can have a moment of angst and what gives me angst are GATES!

Why does the shortest connection time always require the longest race between gates?

Why is it that when I have a short connect time SKYLINK (DFW) is down for “Unscheduled Maintenance”?

Why is it, that when I’m trying to catch that ‘last chance to get me home flight’, the moving walkways at ((PHX) aren’t moving and I have to make an Olympic sprint from concourse B (gate 2) to the second B concourse (gate 19). Donna I'm telling you it takes alot more than 5 minutes when everything works. *wink*

So what gives you non-rev angst?

Two flights at 6 am. Both are red. Different airports (in my case Lga vs Jfk). You choose one, don’t get on only to find out I could’ve gotten on the other oversold flight.

Everything looks bad so you decide to no go. Only to discover you could’ve gotten on... in first.

All set to go. Flight looks great. Already decided what to have for predeparture drink, dinner and dessert. At the last minute, sorry, this flight is weight restricted.

One time at Dfw when a new agent is being trained. Assured all of us we’d be rolled over. Get to the new gate and we weren’t rolled over. No time to add us to the list. After the flight leaves, I’m even lower on the list because the computer thinks I was a no answer and loose my original check in time. At least two flights leave that I could’ve gotten on had I been properly rolled over.

Like mig, have also run marathons at Dfw and Phx. I’m sure there are plenty more.

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Originally Posted by isppilot

Two flights at 6 am. Both are red. Different airports (in my case Lga vs Jfk). You choose one, don’t get on only to find out I could’ve gotten on the other oversold flight.

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Been there, except my airports were LAX vs LGB. I remember thinking LAX was definitely the better way to go - it wasn't.

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Originally Posted by Migflanker

As successful pass riders we know the importance of planning and options. We have backup flights, alternate routing mapped, and check weather forecasts like seasoned meteorologist. We understand & accept that weather-related ripple effects/ a mechanical, any number of things can throw our well-made plans right out the window and have the Non-Rev prayer memorialized.
But even the most unflappable/chill among us can have a moment of angst and what gives me angst are GATES!

Why does the shortest connection time always require the longest race between gates?

Why is it that when I have a short connect time SKYLINK (DFW) is down for “Unscheduled Maintenance”?

Why is it, that when I’m trying to catch that ‘last chance to get me home flight’, the moving walkways at ((PHX) aren’t moving and I have to make an Olympic sprint from concourse B (gate 2) to the second B concourse (gate 19). Donna I'm telling you it takes alot more than 5 minutes when everything works. *wink*

So what gives you non-rev angst?

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Sky Harbor terminal 4 can definitely be a challenge. There is always something not working.

I am only bothered when other people are with me. I can hang out waiting without difficulty and make alternative plans on the fly when I am alone but add someone else into the mix and instant angst. The go/no-go decision is generally easy for me. I have to admit that I have been pretty blessed and gotten onto flights that I had no business getting a seat on through sheer luck. Not to jinx myself but the non-rev gods, like the parking gods, seem to like me. Or it could be that I simply choose no-go when I suspect I will get stuck. ;) I'll let you know which it is since I am non-revving to BOS the Friday before the 4th of July. It should be interesting.

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Originally Posted by MRSDS1DONNA

I have to admit that I have been pretty blessed and gotten onto flights that I had no business getting a seat on through sheer luck.

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One of many that comes to mind was two winters ago, day after a major blizzard. Had plans to attend a wedding in PHX. Originally going for the 6am day prior. JFK doesn't open til noon. My friend on a rev ticket asks if I'd be interested in driving all night to PHL for a 6 am out of PHL to ORD to PHX. I say, thanks but no thanks. Try for anything going west - LAX,SFO,DFW and of course PHX. Even find a RDU-LAX connection that might work. After the last PHX flight leaves, I head over to LAX. SFO across the way is on final boarding. Hmm, calling names and no answer. I walk over and ask if there are any seats left. They said they would walk me down, maybe. I get a window in Y. After a quick 4 hour nap at the hotel, head back to SFO for the 6am to phx day of. Luckily, it's an evening wedding so I catch some more zzz when my room finally became available. P.S. Couldn't find it in my heart to tell the folks back in NY dealing with 0 degree temperatures that I had to use the AC in the rental car while in PHX.

Or the time I bought a rev ticket from SEA-LAX to get back to JFK as I really had to get back to NY. The nonstop flight to jfk was way oversold but I'm early for my flight down to LAX so I go by the gate as they call my name. Nonstop trumps maybe getting stuck in LAX.

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Originally Posted by MRSDS1DONNA

Sky Harbor terminal 4 can definitely be a challenge. There is always something not working.

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That I can believe. As many times as I've sprinted between the B concourses, I've never seen both the east and west walkways moving. I thought it was me.

When while after running because your domestic flight was delayed you see your international flight where you were supposed to be up front is there but the is closed. Another thing, when you flight is delayed, a lot of time we have to wait at the gate because there is nobody to move the jet bridge.

PHL is unbelievable it takes so long to the terminal for international depertures. Going to the eagle terminal can be quite a challenge in LAX. Nowadays if I do not have at least 90mm to connect I get affaid, specially if I am in the extreme back of the plane.

Flights are quite unpredictable nowadays.

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Originally Posted by zedman

Going to the eagle terminal can be quite a challenge in LAX.

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Ah yes LAX and the shuttle to/from the Eagle's nest - not a fan; although the kids do seem to like the ride on the tarmac.

:-))

I'm back and I did make it to BOS on the day I wanted even though I had to reroute myself and got in at midnight. Return nonstops were a no-go so I rerouted and then rerouted again the night before through PDX. AS flight PDX-PHX went from decent to packed during my actual flight out of BOS so I looked around and managed to find space on WN (thanks y'all) home only to find out that 4 nonrevs actually made that packed flight after all! No matter, I got home all in one day so I'll take it.

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Originally Posted by MRSDS1DONNA

Not to jinx myself but the non-rev gods, like the parking gods, seem to like me. Or it could be that I simply choose no-go when I suspect I will get stuck. ;) I'll let you know which it is since I am non-revving to BOS the Friday before the 4th of July. It should be interesting.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MRSDS1DONNA

I'm back and I did make it to BOS on the day I wanted even though I had to reroute myself and got in at midnight. Return nonstops were a no-go so I rerouted and then rerouted again the night before through PDX. AS flight PDX-PHX went from decent to packed during my actual flight out of BOS so I looked around and managed to find space on WN (thanks y'all) home only to find out that 4 nonrevs actually made that packed flight after all! No matter, I got home all in one day so I'll take it.

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So you made it to BOS and back (with a slight detour) over the holiday - no call a friend, no car rental, no donuts at the 24 hour place (outside of security) because that's all that's open and no sleeping at the airport in a rocker. Donna the non-revs gods don't just like you- they LUV you. Now the parking gods, they're a whole different animal, they like to tease - always moving the shade around.

Next in line for a seat assignment and gate agent says 'if these two do not show up in the next minute you are on'. You then look down the terminal to see two people running as fast as they can knowing these are the two you wish did not show up. Sure enough, they get their seats, door closes and now you wait for the next flight.

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Originally Posted by offroader

Next in line for a seat assignment and gate agent says 'if these two do not show up in the next minute you are on'.

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Definitely know the feeling, as I hold the NR record for being bumped twice off the same fight in under five minutes (record set Nov. 2015..... the door was still open)

Donna and/or anyone that has ever connected through PHX
AA is showing a SFO/PHX/LHR fight with a "25/30" minute (PHX gate A29 to gate B25) connection time. Now as one that has had my share of misadventures with connecting flights in T4, I gotta ask, is this flight a NR should even consider?

What is your minimum connection time?

Technically you could make it but it will be nearly impossible. Takes 10 minutes or more to get off of the plane then you'd have to flag down one of those carts to take you to the next gate to have a shot at being at the gate by 15 minute prior. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have another option for getting to LHR afterwards. If there is any possibility of going between A/B/C/D (not staying in the same gate area) in T4 PHX, I would give myself a minimum of 1 hour.

The last time I connected in PHX, even though my flight landed 20 minutes early, we ended up at the gate a few minutes late as we had to wait for the prior aircraft to push back which gave me less than an hour to get from the middle A gates to the low A gates. Out of breath, I ended up not making it so it was off to the opposite end of the airport to catch a flight on UA.

Update for those wondering what happened.
The Options
An "all in" flight with good numbers but an impossible connection time and a D3 with an unshakable belief that he's lucky and things just magically work out for him. Backup plan- a friend's couch
Or
A two flight option both with 'cross your fingers numbers'. Backup plan - my couch.
Went with the numbers put Lucky on an earlier flight- breakfast in PHX
But alas the trip was not to be, as "Lucky" injured his hamstring....again and never left his bed, which as it turns out was fortunate as his early SFO flight was cancelled - talk about things just magically working out for Lucky. *wink*

Thanks Donna and isppilot