Flying Standby is an art. It isn’t easy and you have to develop some creativity, flexibility and skills with planning. The following questions will help you get ready to fly as a non-revenue passenger.
If you aren’t familiar with standby or non-revenue (nonrev) travel, you probably don’t have the perks that come with working for an airline. The job may not be glamorous, but the perks certainly are worth it!
My husband got a job at US Airways (since merged with American Airlines) 6 years ago. We started flying a couple times a month and have logged nearly 400 flights since then. The non-rev systems and rules change and vary, but we are learning to play along in a way that gets us where we want to be.
1. What is plan A, B, C and Z?
Always have a backup plan (or 6)! Inevitably, you will have to change plans and adjust your flying time, destination or itinerary. We were once at the airport when we realized our flight to Miami would be impossible, so we looked on the board for anywhere in Florida and ended up in Fort Myers. It was an awesome place that we’ve returned to. Many times our backup plans end up being better than our first choice.
Some backup options might be:
Can you fly from another nearby airport? Rent a car and drive to another airport.
Try flying backward or out-of-the-way to find open seats where you are going. We flew from Texas to Phoenix through Oregon!
Come home a day early or a day late if the flights are filling up.
Fly ZED fare on other airlines. As a non-rev, free flights are always the goal, but flying for a small cost on other airlines can get you where you want to go.
When we started traveling, we kept enough money in savings to buy a last minute ticket or rent a car one-way, so if we ever got really stuck we could at least get home. Luckily, we haven’t dug that deep into our back up plans. Make sure to have creative solutions to getting stuck!
2. How flexible is our return time?
Are you willing to cut your trip short if the flight load is getting small?
How difficult would it be on your job, school or other obligations if you don’t make it home? What would you need to cancel?
I usually never make solid commitments or plans the day after we plan on being home. this gives me a full day to do laundry, unpack and plan my week if we make it home on time. If we don’t make it home, I have no obligations I am shirking.
3. Can we travel without checking bags?
Checking bags to your destination isn’t a good idea when you travel standby because you never know if you will make it on. Cancellations, delays and other issues can make it hard when you are separated from your baggage. We always travel with only carry-on size luggage and pack as light as possible (with 4 kids it isn’t super light!). However, if we need to change the plan or have an unexpected layover, we have everything with us.
We only check bags if we are flying home or if we don’t mind not having the bag and contents with us if we don’t make it.
4. Am I willing to have {multiple} layovers to get to my destination?
Being set on a direct flight can be fatal to your standby success. If you are only willing to go on direct flights, you may end up waiting all day or worse, never make it at all. If you are willing to be creative in where you fly, you are almost always able to find something to get you where you want to go.
Read about my stubbornness in wanting a direct flight home here.
5. Is the anxiety and stress worth it?
Standby travel isn’t for the faint of heart. You never know until the plane takes off if you actually have a seat. My husband was on a flight where he was taken off last minute due to another paying customer showing up.
We once got tickets to San Diego and flew all the way there, only to not be able to land and turned around and came home. Read about that adventure here.
6. Are we willing to split up and sit in middle seats?
Flying standby you will typically get the last few seats on the flight. They will most likely be spread throughout the plane in the middle seats. Our kids are prepared with their own bag of entertainment and snacks so they can sit alone if no one trades with them. More often than not, my husband and I don’t get to sit together. We are just grateful to get to our destination, so we will take seats anywhere.
7. How quickly can I pack and re-pack?
I can’t count the number of times we have been planning on a later flight, but last minute, we have to leave earlier than expected. Now, I plan on having to leave earlier and pack days in advance so we are ready to run at a moments notice. Being able to pack and re-pack quickly is critical to making flights
I once decided to go to the airport 1 hour before a flight was scheduled to leave. I finished packing, drove 20 mins to the airport, herded 4 kids through security and still made the flight. Being able to pack quickly is critical.
On many occasions the flight we want is full, but then when I check as the takeoff time approaches, they have a few seats. Sometimes, the cause of this is that the flight is delayed. If you can hurry and pack up you can sometimes make it to the flight before it takes off.
Read about our literal ‘Last Minute Trip’ to Hawaii.
8. Is getting home likely?
Before you leave for a trip, figure out if the flights coming home are at least possible. We never go somewhere we aren’t fairly confident we can get home from. And have a backup plan (see #1) The return flight is a few days away and a lot can change, so you want as many seats open as possible before you head out.
9. What will I do if I don’t get a seat?
Flying standby is a privilege and a blessing. If a seat is not available for you, a throwing a tantrum isn’t an option. Have a good attitude about not getting on. A backup plan, like racing to another gate or going to the movies if you don’t make it can prepare your mind and heart for this disappointing outcome.
10. Is getting first-class with lay flat seats on a red-eye 7-hour flight from Hawaii flying standby possible?
Yes, Yes it is! The perks of getting on a free flight are amazing! We are always delighted with window seats, aisle seats, 3 seats together (!),bulkhead rows with extra legroom, exit rows and especially first class. Many non-rev travelers actually look for flights with first class available and go where ever that plane is headed! It’s cheaper to have food and a place to sleep on a plane that in an airport or at home, so maybe just take a red-eye for the fun of it.
Having your name called to get your standby tickets always feels like you won the lottery! Not only do you get on free, but you are headed somewhere incredible! I never get over the thrill of getting a ticket. My kids also will ask when we have ‘seats’ and jump up and down in excitement.
Where will your next standby flight take you? What do you do to prepare for NonRev travel?
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