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The Ultimate Guide to Non-Rev Travel for Airline Employees

Welcome to the world of non-rev travel, one of the most exciting perks that come with being part of the airline industry. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just embarking on your journey, this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the insights you need to make the most of your non-rev travel experiences.

Unpacking Non-Rev Travel

Non-rev, short for non-revenue, travel is a fantastic privilege extended to airline employees. It enables you to occupy unsold seats on flights to your dream destinations during your downtime, either for free or at significantly reduced rates. Not only do you get to enjoy this perk, but it often extends to your family members and even a few friends, depending on your airline’s policy. However, keep in mind that non-rev travel isn’t guaranteed. You may need to wait on the standby list and hope for spare seats on the flight.

Who Can Benefit from Non-Rev Travel?

In most cases, non-rev benefits are available to airline employees and their immediate dependents, including partners, parents, and children. Some airlines also offer a limited number of “buddy passes” to their employees, which can be given to friends. The priority for non-rev travel often depends on the “pass levels” set by the airline, with the employee and their immediate family usually given top priority on the standby list. Parents and those flying on buddy passes typically follow in that order.

Can Non-Rev Travel Be Used on All Airlines?

Although non-rev travel is not possible on all airlines, many airlines have partnerships that allow their employees to use their non-rev benefits with partner airlines through the ID90 program. However, the rules for who can non-rev with partner airlines can vary, and usually, those flying on ID90 benefits will be placed at the end of the standby priority list.

How to Navigate Non-Rev Travel?

The process of non-rev travel typically begins with using the airline’s online portal to select the desired flights. The portal provides information about the current load of each flight, helping you choose flights with lower loads to increase your chances of securing a seat. You then sign in 24 hours before your flight, giving you a standby list ranking. Arriving at the airport, you check in at the gate and wait for your name to be called. If there are no open seats, you have the option to roll over to the next flight.

Understanding Non-Rev Loads

The non-rev portal or the ID90 website provides information on flight loads, showing how many passengers are booked on each flight and how many seats are open. This is crucial for non-rev travelers to gauge their chances of getting a seat on the flight, but unfortunately, this information is not always reliable. And that’s where StaffTraveler is helpful.

How to use StaffTraveler to get Non-Rev loads?

With StaffTraveler , you can check the flight loads for the flights you wish to staff travel on. It enables you to get the accurate, reliable non-rev loads you need from your colleagues at the airline you need them from. With over 600,000 members from all airlines in the world answering more than 20,000 load requests each day, your request will be answered in no time.

How it works? Let’s say you want to staff travel from New York to Amsterdam. You post requests for the flights from JFK to AMS on the airlines you can staff travel on, on the dates you want to know the seat availability for. People at the airlines of your selected flights get a notification and answer your requests with the actual loads. You receive a notification with the updated loads, and you can decide if it’s smart to go to the airport to get that Non-Rev ticket or not.

Costs Associated with Non-Rev Travel

The cost of non-rev travel varies depending on the airline and the specific policies in place. Typically, non-revvers are not required to pay the full fare that regular passengers would pay for a ticket. However, associated fees or charges are usually involved, such as taxes, service fees, or airport fees. These costs can vary and may be different for each airline.

Advantages of Non-Rev Travel

The benefits of non-rev travel are crystal clear: it’s affordable and offers unmatched flexibility. This perk allows you to explore the world at a fraction of the usual cost.

Disadvantages of Non-Rev Travel

While non-rev travel offers a world of benefits, it also has its challenges. These might include the need to find alternate routes to your destination, the possibility of not securing a seat and having to delay or cancel your trip, or the potential of spending a considerable time waiting at the airport. Therefore, patience and flexibility are key to a successful non-rev travel experience. But to be more informed if you will get that standby ticket or not, you can use StaffTraveler to get Non-Rev loads.

Start planning

Non-rev travel is a unique perk that comes with being an airline employee. While navigating the system may seem complicated at first, with a good understanding of how it works, you’ll soon find yourself jetting off to those destinations you’ve always dreamed of visiting. So, why wait? Start planning your next adventure and take full advantage of the wonders that non-rev travel brings to your life as an airline employee.

Download the StaffTraveler app and join for free to make your non-rev trips easy and stress-free by acquiring reliable and up-to-date flight loads from the world’s largest airline community.

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American Airlines Penalizes Employees Who Buy Their Own Travel To Ensure They’re Ready To Work

by Gary Leff on September 25, 2022

There are numerous rules that go along with flying so-called ‘free’ (there are often fees for international travel, and for some there can be tax consequences as well).

One of the stranger ones on American Airlines is that employees cannot book conflicting paid travel and non-rev travel . In fact, they aren’t even allowed to list for non-rev travel on American is they have paid or mileage award tickets with the same origin and destination within 24 hours on another airline like Delta.

Even if you cancel your paid or award travel first, you aren’t allowed to list with American 24 hours before or after the time of that reservation.

Here’s why this really makes no sense. American Airlines won’t give ‘positive space’ travel (confirmed reservations) to employees who need to commute to their base city to start their trip. An employee might be based in Los Angeles, but live in Las Vegas. And they need to get to L.A.

So they buy a paid ticket as backup out of their own pocket to make sure they show up on time, and of course they try to non-rev on American.

If they make it onto an American flight, they’ll cancel the Delta space to use later (likely using it as a backup again for a later trip). In this case the employee potentially coming out of pocket helps American Airlines to stay reliable.

It’s actually smart for an employee to buy a backup itinerary now that most fares have no change fees, since they may be able to use one ticket purchase over and over again as a hedge, until they get unlucky and have to use that ticket to go to work. Of course buying revenue travel on Delta, and then cancelling the itinerary, isn’t costing American money and isn’t something American is likely to know about, either.

More From View from the Wing

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

General industry cooperation to not do that. I totally get it. Otherwise you have your own employees causing mass amount of loss revenue. I have never not made it to work because I can’t get on a flight but if that happens there are commuter clauses there for your protection. Only a few more months of commuting for me then I’m based at home. Commuting is a real nightmare

It’s the employee’s choice to live away from their base ..

This Policy is in place for ALL EMPLOYEES not just flight crews.. additionally FAs can standby and fly in a jump seat if no other seat is available.

Louise … not always. Some people move and set up their families in one city and choose an airline based on where the bases are. A few years later that base may close. Airline employees can’t just move to another airline without giving up what could be a lifetime of seniority. Not everyone can just move their family every time a base closes. It’s a very incredible benefit to be able to commute for free and there are commuter clauses to protect those who can’t make it for whatever reason. The title of this article is extreme in how it’s worded. Employee aren’t penalized for buying tickets … employees are penalized for buying tickets on the same route they are flying standby on.

I’m not sure how AA knows when any passenger, let alone their employees, books a reservation on another airline. Of course it makes sense for an airline not to allow an employee to fly standby for free in a market where they have previously bought a confirmed ticket. The A321T first class discussion has been had on OMAAT but if AA was not selling sufficient numbers of seats in first class to justify the cabin, how employees use it has nothing to do with the math AA had to use to choose to eliminate it. Commuting is a choice. No other employee in any other industry would expect to be able to work hundreds if not thousands of miles from a job. If you want to do it and can make it work, fine, but don’t expect any special privileges to live that kind of lifestyle. Plenty of crews do actually drive to their own base – like the vast majority of Americans that still go to work.

A few notes as an AA occasional nonrev… booking a nonrev ticket only generates a PNR and does not actually hold back any seats from being sold. As for the rule- the main reason is that if you have a nonrev ticket and check in, then the gate agent or system will might clear it- this can cause issues should you have an existing paid PNR. I’ve never heard of the 24 hour rule or flying another airline with a nonrev PNR for the same O/D but can see it possibly creating an issue with TSA. When I nonrev I book my travel through the portal and then just hand the TSA agent my ID as it will find me in the database matching my precheck number – no need for a ticket but can pull up the bar code in my email if then need it. I’ll then go to the gate and if I clear- the agent will then hand me a boarding pass for my confirmed seat.

The main goal for their nonrev rules is to creat more predictability and less havoc for others trying to nonrev.

International first class is very seldom empty and, particularly post-Covid, is almost impossible to obtain a first class seat in.

But the seats are not full of first class paying passengers.

It is full of revenue upgrades and award tickets, both of which are supposedly an award for showing AA loyalty.

AA is now taking that away.

BTW, I have never seen the rule against buying a revenue ticket on another carrier when listed for a non-rev seat on AA. In fact, AA would never know.

All I see in the Travel Guide is:

“Employees, retirees, eligible travelers and guests who hold a confirmed reservation, have purchased a revenue ticket or redeemed miles for a flight are not allowed to also list as a nonrevenue pass traveler on that flight or any other flights with that same routing within 24 hours from the departure time of the flight a revenue ticket has been booked or purchased.”

I don’t get the complaint here. They’re choosing to live out of base and they knew the rules when they made that choice. It’s about as logical as saying AA is “penalizing” crew who live in base by making them pay for a car and gas to get to work.

“No other employee in any other industry would expect to be able to work hundreds if not thousands of miles from a job.:

Absolutely not true. Thousands of Americans commute by air for their jobs. It is very common in IT, accounting, and government for employees to commute. And, I am not even touching upon the thousands of employees who moved to ‘work from home’ because of Covid. Not all road warriors are visiting clients!

JohnB, and employees in all those other industries pay for their commute and do not have the option to fly standby. American would be happy if their employees wanted to buy a ticket and they don’t mind if you fly standby. They just don’t want you to try and do both and pick the best option.

Wait! Leff actually taking the workers side? Be still my heart!

My god Do tim and I agree on something?

Hi I’ll make flight attendant I usually ride a jump seat haven’t had any problems well maybe some over the years but you have to be qualified to ride the assembly. I can’t really make this suggestion because it only works for me I personally am the flexible type of employee which means I basically don’t have a life LOL no family no siblings wife girlfriend know that and I am very good looking ladies I’m available LOL no getting back to what I was saying try to make your domicile your home that’s what I have done there is always good in every city even in Detroit I know a lot of us miss our relatively I miss mine I’ll never see them again and I’m completely single but you know what I’m more happy with the job you have to decide what brings you more happiness the job of commuting back home I know a lot of times spouses and girlfriends have commitments you have commitments but it’s all about flexibility they love you enough The Love Will survive it’s strong enough so good luck and make the best any work there’s a lot of beautiful places in this country

Ol GAAry just stirring the pot doing some armchair criticizing. Yawn.

With all do respect, This has always been, at every airline…. Employees (should) know not to cancel paid space if they do this its stupidity…. this was hammered into my thick skull in training Day 1 back in 1997 talking about pass Benefits….

Andrew Retired 22 year airline employee

How many employees actually book revenue tickets for commuting? I can’t imagine it’s very many. Maybe some with somewhat crazy commutes (like from Guam to continental US).

I’m sure the airlines are worries about people booking revenue tickets for a vacation or personal trip, and then canceling that ticket. If done last minute, they know the seats are held for the revenue ticket, and they know their position on the standby list and how full the flight is. Imho, that’s a pretty clear abuse of the system.

If this is actually a problem, perhaps the airline can sell them tickets, for their commute route only, with the condition that if the plane goes out with empty seats (or they would have otherwise cleared on standby), they get refunded, or partially refunded. Then the employees are protected on routes, and the airline doesn’t lose potential revenue.

Is this really any of our business? Unless we work for an airline, none of this really matters to us, IMHO.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads as follows: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” In other words, no one is being forced to work for an airline. If this provision is as onerous as Mr. Leff makes it out to be, the affected parties are free to leave their employment. Moreover, these issues are collectively bargained, and it’s that important, it can be negotiated. If a person doesn’t like the outcome of the negotiation, he or she is free to pursue the option mentioned above – work elsewhere.

Gary, you’re citing a rule that’s been around since the ’80s or longer, then putting a click-bait title on it. Stop it, you’re becoming irritating.

It’s to prevent airline employees booking a seat (and thus holding a seat) and then ultimately flying standby (for free) in that held seat. A simple rule that makes sense. All employees know it. I’m not aware that airlines can track bookings on other (non-affiliated) airlines. I’ve worked in the industry for 30+ years.

I’ve commuted.every week for 32 years and still flying. It’s common practice to oversell a flight bc the airlines have a “percent’ figured that won’t show up. Non revs get a seat IF AVAILABLE. They could care less about my listing for that purpose. What they do not want are employees listing on multiple flights and using different statuses. It’s away to control the “cheaters” and keep it as fair as possible. More airline people commute than most can imagine. It’s not just crew, it’s displaced or by.choice, mechanics, ramp, agents, managers. Pilots have negotiated space positive commuting. Airlines.are all different, I read some comments and wonder where they came up with their info. I have personally never purchased a ticket to get to work or home. I plan accordingly, and if I don’t make it, not very often, there is the commuter policy of which has its own rules as well. Every job has its perks, ours is the ability to live where ever. It’s not a new concept. AA just announced it is closing the SFO base. That’s 400 employees that will either have to move, commute, quit or retire, and not just flight crew, it affects ALL employees. Some that have never commuted on a flight a day in their life. And LAX is not an option, its closed to transfers, even for displacement. I’m merely stating info, not complaining, so any drama queens and s*** stirrers out there, zip it. I like my job. Granted it’s not what it was and has changed immensely over 32 years, but so does most everything. I could go on, especially about what some of these so called travel experts say to the public about traveling. Ugh. But that’s another story.

This post is your worst ever. You are totally ignorant about airline employees commuting to work. Try actually knowing what you are talking about before you post.

The only thing I don’t get about this policy is why they apply it to other airlines. American doesn’t lose any revenue if their employees cancel a Delta or Southwest ticket at the last minute because there are enough open seats to non-rev on AA.

But, as Tim Dunn noted, this aspect of the policy is basically impossible to enforce. AA has no way of knowing whether its employees cancel a United ticket at the last minute because they non-reved on AA instead.

If Ford has to close a plant, do you think thier employees get free transport to work at a different plant 300 miles away? What irks me is that “standby” employees often are place in upgraded seats vs. putting loyalty members in them.

The ignorance of the general public when it comes to airlines and the travel industry. The most brilliant one said it’s not your business if you don’t work for them. The expectation to live in base is outdated. With a good percentage of the workforce in this industry being less than 2 years old, and the cost of housing… the cost of living having outpaced wages exponentially, many people can’t afford to even think to live in base. The markets in big cities where one paycheck won’t even cover rent. Not everyone was born in 1901 and has the seniority and money to afford 3k in rent every month. The airlines of the time when these policies were designed, no longer exist. The schedules are more packed, the benefits are slim and job protection is non existent. You say no other job has people who commute thousands of miles. No other job doesn’t have a sick policy, no other job tries to figure out the most restrictive rules to abide by in certain states to under pay it’s employees, no other job has to serve the population and deal with the ire of lunatics over weather. This is not like any other job and cannot be compared. Employees in the airline industry are overworked, underpaid and get less job protection than a cashier at burger king. These employees getting to work is what gets you people to Honolulu for no real reason. These people being able to get to work is what gets people to the capitol to riot without consequence. These people getting to work is what ensures people can be there for the birth of their child or to. Say goodbye to their mom. No other job does that either. Flight crew need to be able to get to work to serve the pissy ungrateful people who think it’s all a choice. It’s not always. When ther are 13 locations you can work out of across the planet and only 4 are available for you to work out of, it’s not a choice. When you live in base and have to commute out of base because the base is closed to transfers and new hires, and has been for more than a decade, it’s not a choice. It is a choice to fly and b***** and complain about something you would lose your sh** over if it affected you. It’s not a choice, the policies are outdated and those who are ignorant should find other things to cry about. Stay on the ground, drive. We know you’re a nightmare to have on a flight.

Copy edit better.

‘In fact, they aren’t even allowed to list for non-rev travel on American is they have paid…”

Should be IF, not is.

Jack, don’t forget getting to Minneapolis or New York to riot, burn businesses and destroy public building with absolutely no punishment what so ever. And sure, why not get rid of the airlines since paying for an airline ticket to go on vacation is ridiculous. After all it is for “no reason.”

when will @gary learn that he’s an idiot who needs new sources for information.

His material has become just pathetic. I’ve offered to assist him in writing competent material, but he feels he’s far superior to those of us who ACTUALLY work in the industry and don’t claim to be professionals of the trade by way of buying our own tickets.

sigh…

This is actually a ZED rule, so it applies to 100+ airlines.

You can NOT have both a revenue ticket and non rev listing on the same flight, you have to cancel one of them.

An airline did an audit a few years ago that doesnt charge change fees and has low refundable fares. A LOT of employees would buy a refundable ticket on this airline, then go make a nonrev listing. 1 hour before flight, they’d cancel and refund the **revenue** ticket, in hopes it keeps a seat open for them. Other airlines caught wind of this at a conference (I was there!) and did their own research. One in particular noticed a lot of staff were doing this and well, yeah. Another airline saw staff would do the same with mileage tickets – buy a seat, and have a nonrev listing, and cancel/refund the mileage ticket then get on for free.

this is more than just commuters, its leisure travel too.

@haolenate – we’re not talking about the same flight though

I’m still stuck at no change fees. Surely Spirit isn’t included in that statement.

To the clown over at Ford making the stupid comment about being a loyalty member that should have more rights over a non-rev member. Who actually bought your airline ticket, you or your company??? I’m real tired of hearing about these elitist complaining that they’re loyalty members when in fact their company is the one actually paying for the ticket and their employee gets the benefit… Now if that money was coming actually out of your pocket then you have every right to complain. But yes we do, as all airline employees, deserve to have a nice seat once in awhile… Especially on vacation! At least we check our attitude at the door and not on the plane!

This really is nobody’s businesses except the employee’s. If you want to buy a ticket on another airline to get to work…who cares? All it makes you is a dependable and consciousness employee. Duh. Kinda a no-brainer. Oh yes, I forgot…so many have no brains anymore. Stay in your own lane and you won’t get run over.

I don’t work in the airline industry but I don’t envy the people that do. It’s a tough job and they all work hard. I challenge most people to work on the ground crews or in cramped airliners like airline employees.

This is a non issue. This article needn’t have been written. Employees who cancel their non-rev last minute alter the dynamics of ticket sales and even affect the decision making of their fellow employee non revvers if you will. Do your research. Ask people who do this.

Gah this is really dumb. I don’t understand the point of this article. I know lots of comments say this already, but I just have to add to the list.

1. Holding a revenue seat, in the hope you can get one for free that same day is stealing from your airline. You are preventing that seat from being sold to a passenger who would have purchased it. It is called standby for a reason, if you can’t handle the risk don’t do it. 2. No one on earth is forced to commute!! They want to live one place, but work in another. Yes bases close and that sucks. But if you don’t want to commute, move. Just like EVERY OTHER JOB ON EARTH when your local “office” closes. Don’t want to commute on standby still? Quit. Commuters have it pretty good, live where you want to, get the highest priority, and ability to jumpseat. You can get on that plane if it is 100% full if you are at the top.

Have back up plans, be flexible, know your limits. If you can’t be flexible, don’t fly standby. Most airlines offer their employees discounts on revenue tickets, buy one. This is also not just American Airlines, bet you cannot find a single airline that allows this.

I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles on standby, sometimes it is amazing. Sometimes is sucks, but I would not trade those benefits for the world.

Well Delta flights confirmed employees who go to work and they live out base

Someone will be late now , if it don’t make sense do it ✈️

Nonrevs do not “hold a spot” from paid travelers. Oversales and revenue passengers always come first.

While it is True that commuting airline employees have a choice to live in base or commute, as made by several commenters, it is also true that airlines would not be able to adequately fill the positions from only that cities labor pool. If the could they would. Therefore a commuting option is a win/win bennefit for the company and employee.

Ethically it’s just wrong and shouldn’t be allowed. Booking a seat and then closing the ticket at the last moment means the airline was prevented from being able to sell that seat because you held it. That’s not fair to the airline be it the one they work for or another airline. It’s really just outright fraud. You are booking a ticket fully intending not to use it if at all possible. I’m all for having people figuring out a backup for anything they do but it should not be at the expense of other people or companies. You do have the ability to check out seat availability for standby. It gives a pretty good idea if you’ll be able to get out on any given flight to are chosen destination on the day in question. Now that can change dramatically due to a mechanical on an airline, or your own, and everybody runs and fills up those empty seats so it’s not 100%. However it does give you an idea if you might need to go a day early or a less direct route to get to where you going. Anybody who works outside of their house has to commute either sure or long distance it’s their choice. Lots of companies close offices or move them and if you pick a a company that traditionally does that sort of thing you either go with a flow or change jobs you don’t take business away from a company or prevent other families and traveling because they’re not in the seats on the airplane they want to go on because you’re holding a seat along with other friends and none of you have any intention of using them if at all possible.

I think you may have this backwards. I can’t see any was this hurts American. The nonrev passenger only gets a seat if the seat hasn’t been sold. Who possibly gets hurt is the airline with which the nonrev has booked. If they cancel at the last minute that airline may lose a rev seat. Now if the rev seat was booked on American, then the rule would make sense. But otherwise it may just be an agreement between airlines. Do any other airlines have this rule? Maybe it’s a common agreement.

R Airline employees are the most self entitled, spoiled employees in the world.

Joe G. That’s ridiculous. Every other industry finds workers in the geography they need them.

Easy solution to this problem. Just require your employees to live within 100 miles of base. This industry has a problem of letting the employees set the rules of the airline instead of the other way around. If you don’t want to live where you work than maybe you are in the wrong business. And I don’t want to hear the excuse of I csnt afford to live there so I must commiute. I realize most commutes are probably within 500 miles. but what about the captain for your next flight commuting from la to nyc and then “safely” flying you from nyc to India. The company needs to start taking control of its “team members”….dont like it…here’s the door. Long story short dont make your problem the companies problem

God damn this is the worst kind of clickbait the kind that makes the airlines look bad but really it’s just the author being a dumbass and not understanding how business works in a certain industry. If I were you I would just delete this because it’s trash and it makes you look stupid.

@j. williams – when you criticize something without pointing out a single thing that you believe to be incorrect that doesn’t make you look smart?

Hey Gary, so I checked with the Travel/Pass Bureau managers for a few airlines and the rules do vary from carrier to carrier. While we do have the IATA/ZED rule/regulation regarding having both a standby listing AND revenue ticket for the same flight, some airlines are going a step further and prohibiting both a non-rev listing on flight 123 and then having a confirmed seat on flight 789, getting on flight 123 as a non-rev then cancelling flight 789. American has that rule within a 24 hour period.

Southwest has also had the same rule for a while, they also don’t like folks who go from a revenue ticket status to a non-rev standby status. (full disclosure: I did get in trouble for doing this, was on a connection, had a super long layover, and there was delayed earlier flight, but the agents wanted to charge me the add-collect to move over to that flight (it was like a $300+ “change’) – so I just went on myIDTravel and booked a ZED-LOW ticket for like $25. and got on.

You really dont know what you are talking about, and seem ro have NRSS, PS, Zed, and PCT completely messed up. Did you copy and paste this information feom several sources? The only eule of thumb is you cannot list multiple times for the same flight, and even that is not fully monitored. Most folks will list on NRSA, then ID90 as a backup, and finally rev confirmed as a last minute option,

@Nick – we aren’t even talking about the same airline let alone the same flight…

What American might want to put forth the effort to look into instead is employee abuse of flight benefits.

Comments are closed.

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Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

So You Want to Fly for Free: A Comprehensive Guide to Non-Rev Travel

P eople often ask me for “insider tips” of scoring the best fare for a flight.

I hate to disappoint, but I haven’t purchased airfare in more than seven years. It turns out, I’m the LAST person to ask about plane ticket deals.

What I CAN tell you about is how I, and the people I love, fly. It’s called “non-rev travel,” and we’re going to talk about it.

You all know we flight attendants fly for free. (Why else would we do this?) What you may not know is that some of the lucky people in our lives also get to bask in the free-flighted glory of our job—just for knowing us! This might make you think dating a flight attendant is a great idea—beats actually working on planes, right? Well, before you set your Tinder profile to “FAs Only,” be sure to read The Dos and Don’ts of Dating a Flight Attendant . And maybe check out the 7 Most Annoying Things about Flight Attendants while you’re at it. Thank me later.

All jokes aside, being a family member, spouse, or close friend of a flight attendant has some serious perks. I think the whole non-rev game (don’t worry, we’ll be defining terms in a moment) is confusing for a lot of people. So I’m going to break it all the way down. I’m giving the 411 on all things non-rev travel for NON-FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.

I may do a separate post one of these days detailing how this non-rev travel process works for us flight attendants using our flight benefits, as it’s a bit different. But for today, I want to tell all of you on the peripheral of #flightattendantlife just what it would mean to get a “buddy pass” or be “on a flight attendant’s benefits.” WHO can fly standby? HOW do I non-rev? Is it FREE? And WHAT the heck is a buddy pass?

I’ll answer all these questions, break down the process of using someone else’s airline employee benefits, and provide the rules for non-rev travel and tips for a stress-free standby experience. I want to warn you, there is a LOT of information here. If you’re going to be using someone else’s flight benefits, I recommend saving this post to reference later, before you fly. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Your Comprehensive Guide to Non-Rev Travel

From a flight attendant, i the basics, a. glossary of terms.

Let’s start from the beginning with a few basic terms.

Non-rev is a term to describe us (airline employees) using our flight benefits.

Non-rev is short for non-revenue. When we are using our flight benefits, we are not paying for a ticket. The company is not producing revenue from our flight. Simple, right?

The word can be both a noun and a verb.

Noun: “ This non-rev on my flight was so sweet, he brought chocolates for the whole crew!”

Non-rev as a noun means a person using flight benefits to fly. This could be an airline employee—pilot, flight attendant, gate agent, ground operations personnel, reservations, etc. Or it might be their parent, spouse, child, travel companion, or a “Buddy”. We’ll get into the different types and levels of non-revs a bit later.

Verb: “I’m planning to non-rev to Salt Lake for the wedding. I hope the flight doesn’t fill up.”

Non-rev as a verb means the act of using flight benefits to fly.

Pass-ride/Pass-riding/Pass-rider can be used interchangeably with non-rev. It is airline benefit travel.

Standby – All non-rev travel is space-available, or standby. If there is an open seat on the flight, you just might get to take it. When you non-rev with a buddy pass or as a dependent, you will be flying standby. Standby is a word that can be a noun, adjective, or an adverb. I KNOW, I’m sorry, I like grammar.

“I have to board last when I’m traveling standby.” Adverb qualifies a verb.

“The gate agent cleared the standby before me. I should be up next.” Noun. Standby is a person here.

“Ugh, standby travel is the worst!” Adjective, it is describing the noun.

Benefits – We often refer to our non-rev travel privileges as benefits. It is, after all, one of the biggest benefits of our job. But it is funny because people generally do not refer to their health insurance, dental, vision, or 401k in such generic terms. It would be super confusing. If you ever hear a flight attendant, pilot, or other airline employee say something like “I’m using my benefits”, “She’s on my benefits.” “They went on my benefits.”

You know now that we are talking about flights, not doctors’ visits.

Buddy Pass – This is a virtual “pass” given to airline employees to give out to their friends and family. Airline employees get a certain number of buddy passes at set times, maybe annually or quarterly. This pass allows someone who is not an airline employee to pay a heavily discounted fare and fly standby on the employee’s airline. We will get into the nitty-gritty of buddy passes later in this guide.

Clear – In the context of non-rev/standby/pass-riding travel, to ‘clear’ means to assign a seat. When you are a (lucky) standby, the gate agent will “clear” you—you will receive a boarding pass with a seat assignment, and you can be on your way to your destination.

Dependents -No, we are not talking taxes. Our dependents are the people who are listed on our benefits as recipients of our kick-ass flight privileges. This does NOT include buddy pass users. Separate and unequal.

List -(verb) The process of signing up for the flight you want to take as a non-rev. An airline employee lists themselves for a flight. They can also list someone else, like a travel companion or a buddy, for a flight.

Priority – There are many levels of non-revs, and we will learn about them in the next section. But they are not equal. Every different type of standby/nonrev/pass-rider is categorized with a set priority. The priority determines the order in which seats will be given. In other words, it is EVERYTHING.

Travel Companion – This is your person that you get to allocate benefits to. It is offered in lieu of spousal benefits if you are lucky enough to not be married. Just kiddinggg…haha…kind of. A travel companion can be a life-partner, sibling, or best friend. Whoever you want to reap the sweet sweet perks of this job. (NOTE: When we are choosing Travel companions, we are choosey. Because we have to keep them on our benefits for at least one year, brand new relationships are not up for promotion to Travel Companion. Nor is our best friend who we loooooove, but who never travels. We want the person to be awesome, respectful of the rules and our work environment, AND love travel enough to take advantage of this gift.)

Zed Fare – A zed fare is a heavily discounted standby airfare. Some other airlines require us as crewmembers to pay a zed fare when we travel abroad with them. Our dependents would also have to pay this. Our dependents also have to pay a zed fare to fly domestic on other airlines.

B. Priorities

Okay, now that we have got that out of the way, let’s talk about types and levels of non-revs.

There is a hierarchy in place here, of course, and not all non-revs are created equal. At least not when it comes to giving seats! As mentioned, “priority”, in non-rev travel, is a category that determines in what order seats are given to standby travelers.

Each airline has its own system for coding non-rev travel priorities—a different dialect, if you will. We all speak airline, but the language is slightly different depending on which carrier you call home. Like the Spanish word for jacket “chaqueta” meaning something a bit more scandalous in Mexico City, some airlines may use codes that look like S4, S5, S6, etc., and some may use D0, D1, D2 codes.

The codes may look a bit different, but generally across the board, the order goes something like this:

• Employees’ Dependents: Parents, Children, Spouse or Travel Companion
• Buddy Passes
• Retired Employees/Their families/Dependents of other airline employees.
• Other Airline Employees

If it seems weird to have other airline employees below their own dependents in the non-rev priority list, I’m right there with ya. This is something I just found out recently and was shocked to know. Apparently, it is because those non-airline beneficiaries will pay a Zed fare to the airline, whereas the flight attendant, pilot, or other airline employee will pay nothing. And we all know what they say about money. It talks.

NOTE: There are higher priorities than the ones listed here, at my airline anyway, but it is a lot of detail to get into for something that does not matter at all for the topic at hand. 😊

Again, all airlines have different codes, but this is generally the way the priority list goes. This is the order in which empty seats on the plane will be given to non-revs. And allll of those different categories of people are considered non-revs.

As you can see from the list above, when I fly on another airline I am always crossing my fingers that there aren’t other employees, dependents, or buddy passes. On a busy flight, any one of them could be the obstacle standing between me and the last seat on the plane.

This is why standby, or non-rev travel is often affectionately referred to as “The Hunger Games.”

C. Who Gets to Non-rev?

As an airline employee, I am permitted to extend my travel benefits to two parents, one spouse or domestic partner, and children up to the age of 24. The rules can differ slightly from airline to airline. These “dependents” are able to fly on my airline for free and can fly many other airlines for a small fee—the zed fare we talked about.

If you are reading this and you’re not an airline employee yourself, that means there are only three ways that you could have the opportunity to non-rev:

• Get a job at an airline.
• Encourage your parent, child, spouse or bestie to become a flight attendant and put you on their benefits.
• Be close enough to an airline employee that they want to give you a buddy pass.

NOTE : The emphasis on a close relationship here. Buddy passes are free for us, but we do not disperse them freely. You’ll find out more about why we don’t give buddy passes to just anyone in the sections below.

II. Using a Buddy Pass

For a refresh: Buddy passes are non-rev travel passes that are given to airline employees to distribute to family and friends as they see fit.

Buddy passes are great because they give the opportunity for flight attendants, pilots, and other airline personnel the ability to help out family and friends with heavily discounted fares. At my airline, the cost of a flight with a buddy pass depends on the length of flight.

A $20 buddy pass would be something like a one-hour flight—say Boston to New York, for example. A $60 buddy pass fare would be all the way across the country, like Boston to LA. Those middle-haul flights, Boston to Orlando or Miami, for example, would be a $40 buddy pass. Multiply it by 2 and add taxes, and you’ve got roundtrip airfare for SIGNIFICANTLY lower cost than buying a full price ticket.  But there’s a catch.

Buddy passes, like everything in non-rev travel, are space-available tickets. Meaning, yes, if the seats are all full you don’t get to go. And because you’re a buddy pass, you are lower on the priority list than employees and all their dependents.

Settle in, standby travel comes with a lot of waiting.

What if i don’t get on the flight.

What happens if you don’t get on a flight while non-revving?

1. You Get a Refund

First things first, and most importantly: You do NOT lose money when you don’t get on a flight as a standby.

In fact, you don’t lose money if you just decide not to show up for the flight. (I do not recommend doing this without cancelling a reservation, but things happen.) Because these are “non-revenue” tickets, meaning the company is not earning revenue, every penny of funds going into a non-rev travel itinerary will be refunded if the ticket is not used (Ie: if you don’t actually take the flight.)

2. You roll over

No, don’t physically stop, drop, and roll. If you don’t get onto the flight you have listed for (because there are no available seats), you can be rolled over and put in line to take the next available flight to your destination. The bad thing about rolling over is it means more time sitting waiting in the airport. The good thing about rolling over is it puts you to the top of your priority list on the next flight.

So, if you are on a buddy pass and the flight is so full that you don’t make it, on the next flight your position in the standby list will be at the top of all the buddy passers in line. You still won’t be able to cut an actual employee in line for obvious reasons (hello, WE work for these benefits), but still, every little advantage helps in the wild world of standby travel.

Hopefully this all works out for you, and you make it on the next flight. But if not…

3. You wait. Or you buy a ticket.

The golden rule of buddy passing (and non-rev travel in general) is: The first flight is the best flight. This is because you have more opportunities to “roll over” onto other flights throughout the day.

I once non-revved with my nephew and his family trying to get them to Orlando, and Disney World, on school vacation week. We hung out in Logan Airport for hours while we rolled over to FOUR different flights before finally getting seats on one. Non-rev travel is not for the faint of heart.

But what if there are no more flights?

Ahhh, good question! Traveling from Boston to anywhere in Florida on my airline is a pretty simple feat. There are tons of flights at different times throughout the day. But what about other destinations? Portland, Oregon, for example is a one-flight-per-day stop for us—seasonal even, so some months we have no service there. Sacramento? One flight. The whole rolling over thing becomes less feasible for less frequent routes.

At this point you’ve got to make the choice that is best for you. Wait—book a hotel, stay with family, or go home for the night and try again tomorrow. Or buy yourself a full-fare, positive space ticket. (Positive space is the opposite of standby. It means you have a reserved seat on the aircraft, even if you don’t have the numbered and lettered assignment for which seat you’ll occupy.)

Money savings or time savings, and for many of you, stress-savings is what this all boils down to. I can’t live your life for you. Just know, while you’re happily signing up to fly on a buddy pass, dazzled by the cheap airfare, that this could be you in the end. Choosing to buy a ticket or sit around waiting. It doesn’t always happen, often buddy-passing is a breeze. But it is always a possibility.

III. The Rules of Non-Rev Travel

Now that we have gone over what a buddy pass is, how seats are given to standby travelers, and what happens when you don’t get on a flight as a non-rev, let’s talk about some essential stuff. The rules of non-revving. Save this list if you ever plant to fly on someone else’s airline benefits. I promise you will not be invited to do it again if you break these rules.

1. Plan buffer days.

Do not, I repeat DO NOT try to non-rev the day of a wedding, funeral, or cruise. Do not plan to non-rev home on the last flight Sunday night and be at the office Monday morning. No matter how open a flight looks, there is always the chance of something crazy happening last minute. Assume that something will go wrong and give yourself a buffer day on either end to compensate for it. Yes, paying an extra night in a hotel sucks, but missing your pre-paid 11-day Alaska cruise because of a flight delay sucks 247623786538762 times more. This is an essential rule of non-rev travel.

2. The First flight is the best flight.

This goes hand in hand with the buffer days. This one is about buffer hours, buffer flights. The earlier you try to fly, the more likely you will get out on a flight sometime that day. If not this flight, roll over to the next. If not that one, then onto the next. Planning to take the last flight of the day is a very common kiss of death to a non-rev travel experience.

3. Dress to impress

Sorry, folx. I know everyone likes to be comfortable, but there is a time and a place for ripped sweats and pajama pants, and the time is when you’re not non-revving and the place is in your home. This really applies to any time you travel—or leave your home, for that matter—but I can’ tell you what to do in those circumstances. Non-rev travel? That’s another story.

Airlines have non-rev or “pass-riding” guidelines, including, yes, you guessed it, dress. You may remember hearing about the infamous Leggings Scandal years ago. Two girls were denied boarding in Denver for wearing leggings deemed inappropriate. A public outcry of Sexism! erupted, with strangers around the country coming to the girls’ defense. The thing that many of the angry tweeters did not know was that the two girls in question were in fact “pass riders”, or non-revs. They were using a friend or family’s buddy passes to fly for super cheap. Whether or not banning leggings is sexist (I’m certainly open to that argument), it was a part of United’s pass-riding dress code that leggings were not permitted as travel attire. And when you sign up to use these non-rev travel benefits, you are also agreeing to the terms the company has set. It is just that simple.

As employees, when we are flying on the company dime, we are, in essence, representing the company. To avoid an embarrassing situation and make sure you’re on the up and up to get that open seat, follow these simple points how to dress for non-rev travel:

• Ripped jeans. Ripped any piece of clothing, for that matter,
• Profane language. (I had to ask a woman on the plane to wear a jacket recently because her long-sleeve shirt was emblazoned with hot pink “Fuck”s floating in every direction.)
• Excessive skin. Crop tops are in, but not for pass-riders. Besides it being a bit “over the line”, having your bare skin directly on the used-by-millions-of-other-people seatback is just friggin’ gross. Ensure your bum is covered. And whatever gender you are, if you find yourself in danger of a nip slip when you move, it is time for a change of shirt.
• Flip flops. Not only do you look like you’re phoning it in, but they’re dangerous in an emergency.
• MAGA hats. Okay, fine, this isn’t banned that I know of. But it’s a fuck of a lot more offensive than the black and pink Fuck shirt.
• Dirty clothing. I mean. Come on. Clean up your act before you get in a metal tube with other people.
• Layers. Boarding is hot, cruise is cold, then cruise is freezing. And deplaning is hot again. Wear comfortable, presentable layers so that you can be cozy no matter the cabin temp.

Pro Tip: Unless you are in first class or flying internationally, US airlines do not give free, reusable blankets for you to use during the flight. Those days are over along with wearing our Sunday Best to fly and the origin of that terrible steak and lobster joke. Bring a sweater with you. Even if you don’t think you will be cold.

• Shoes you can walk (and run) in . Please save the sky-high stilettos for your power meeting, wedding, or hot date. If you puncture a slide during an evacuation—if you sprain your ankle and I have to CARE for you in an evacuation—I will be upset and it will quite literally put others’ lives at risk. If you are a pro in heels go all the way for it, but if your ass is wobbling like Bambi down the terminal then please throw on some crocs and save it for later.

Every airline has slightly different dress code requirements, so if you are lucky enough to be a pass-rider, or non-rev, and use someone else’s travel benefits, be sure to check them out in advance!

There is no better feeling, as a standby traveler, than getting that boarding pass in your hand.

4. be on your best behavior.

Like, duh, right? Obviously. You’re a good person, why wouldn’t you be on your best behavior?

I don’t know, maybe because you’re Type A and anxious AF thinking you might not get a seat. Maybe you don’t get a seat and you have a little crying baby with you and you will be stuck at the airport overnight. Non-rev travel can be stressful.  Maybe you don’t think the company dress policy matters until you get to the gate and then you learn it does and then you think the policy is sexist, classist, first-amendment-crushing garbage and you feel compelled to shout it from the rooftops. Maybe you took a pill to ease your fear of flying and then you had a cocktail and then you passed out like a fish in the middle of the aisle. Maybe the crew is treating you super nicely and going above and beyond. Maybe they even comped a free drink or two for you. Maybe you already had a few before boarding and, despite this, you keep chug-a-lugging. And maybe when you’re drunk you’re loud. Maybe you’re super obnoxious, as far as the people around you are concerned. Maybe you handle delays really badly. Maybe your TV is broken and you feel the urge to demand a refund or something “Extra” to compensate. Maybe you just don’t know how to not be a Karen.

There are a lot of ways you can fuck this up for all of us.

If a flight attendant, pilot, or other airline employee has allowed you to use their airline flight benefits, know that while traveling you are a direct reflection of that person. Before you act on any impulses, keep in mind you are at that person’s place of employment. Don’t get us fired. Don’t get our pass-riding privileges taken away. Don’t embarrass yourself and strain our relationship.

Above all, treat all of our coworkers with respect and decency.

5. Take a chill pill

Welcome to the world of non-revving, where the only certainty is that nothing goes according to plan.

If you want to be a pass-rider, flexibility is a requirement. Not a bonus, a requirement. Flights get delayed. Weather happens, medical emergencies happen, mechanicals happen. (This is when the airplane malfunctions in some capacity.) It can be a simple computer restart, or a flat tire, or a hydraulics system. But whatever level of severity, mechanicals can cause delays. Basically shit can hit the fan.

You also are not guaranteed a seat on the flight you’re listed for. And you show up to the airport knowing that. Pacing around the gate area, huffing and puffing, is not going to ensure an open seat for you. Yelling at a gate agent or snapping at your spouse over the phone will not make the delay any shorter. Do your best to prepare yourself—by having buffer days and taking early flights. And then once you get to the airport, try your best to just chill.

It is all going to unfold however it unfolds. You may get a seat and be on your way on time. You may have to have dinner in the airport, waiting for the next flight. Hell, you might sit around the airport all day if all the flights are full. But however it goes, a bad attitude won’t help. I know it is tough, but if you mentally prepare yourself in advance (Save and read this post before you non-rev!) you’ll be better off. You’ll be better able to roll with the punches knowing that sometimes you’re a non-rev winner and sometimes you’re a no-fly standby loser.

If you can master this relaxed attitude, you will find that non-revving can actually be really fun.

IV Pros of Using Airline Flight Benefits

Now that I have talked about all the things that can go wrong, you might be asking yourself why one would ever want to fly standby. Again, it is not for the faint of heart. But if you can follow the preparation and chill-pill regimen, you can reap some serious rewards. Here are the benefits to using the benefits:

1. Free Flights

Duh. Flying for free on airline benefits, or flying for very cheap on a buddy pass or zed fare is what this is all about. Flights are EXPENSIVE. This is one of the reasons that people only travel once or twice a year. (That and the way US society is set up to keep people working themselves to death thinking it will lead to a promotion, having a “wait-until-retirement” attitude about literally anything fun in life, and companies offering pitiful amounts of time off to their workers. But, I can’t fix all that.)

What I do know is that flying standby for cheap or free means you can travel far more often. This is the biggest benefit of non-rev travel for most people.

2. Being part of an exclusive club

Airline employees are like one big, global, extended family. When I non-rev on my airline or on other airlines, I understand what the crew deals with day-to-day, even if our coding, rules, and uniforms are different. We share the common thread of being a part of this crazy little world, so different than what most people do for work, and it is a kind of automatic bond. We treat each other very well, for the most part.

Sometimes we get free upgrades to business class. Sometimes we are offered free cocktails or champagne. Sometimes the crew cannot upgrade us because the flight is full, but they make a small gesture like giving us a first-class amenity kit instead of the basic economy one. We try to be kind to one another. To acknowledge the other airline employee. When we non-rev, we often bring goodies for the working crew—chocolates or facemasks, one time I got makeup, weirdly. Hey, whatever it is, the gesture is nice.

When you fly on our airline benefits as a non-rev, you have a little bit of access to this exclusive club. You can kind of be “in the family” by association. The crew will know you’re standby and might treat you a little extra nicely. You’ll get to talk to the gate agent in our airline language before boarding. “Hi there, I’m listed for this flight. I know you won’t be clearing standbys for a while, I just wanted to let you know I’m here.” You get to experience the joys of lightly-planned, inexpensive travel and the sorrows of missing that last seat on the flight. You get to feel that adrenaline that comes from non-rev travel. To have a little glimpse into what our lives, as airline crew, are really like.

Tips for getting the Airline Family Treatment:

• Be nice to EVERYONE. The gate agent. Other passengers who strike up a conversation. The baggage handlers. And of course, the crew onboard. You’re not in your world, you’re in ours. Go out of your way to be polite and friendly and it will go a long way.
• Introduce yourself. “Hi, I’m Toni, I’m crew for X Airline. Thanks so much for the ride. I’ll be sitting in 8A if you need anything.” I tell them I’m standby, who I work for and what I do for them, thank them, give my seat assignment, and offer assistance all in one 15-second exchange. When I tell them that I’m a flight attendant and where I’m sitting, they know in an emergency that I am a person who can assist. And they know exactly where to find me. Speaking up to say this instead of slinking off to my seat, unnoticed, is simply a courtesy. It’s nice. We like it. And saying thank you will get you further in any situation.

When non-revving on someone else’s benefits, you could say something like “Hi, I’m Jan, I’m flying standby today. My mom is a flight attendant for Delta and I’m on her benefits. I’m sitting in 10D, let me know if you need anything. Thanks for the ride.” Keep it short, simple and to the point and we will really appreciate this little effort.

• Bring goodies. I’m not saying we can be bribed, but I am saying we appreciate the effort that a gift represents. Chocolates or some kind of candy is an easy-peasy way to win over your crew’s hearts. We have received Beignets from customers and non-revs, Stroopwaffles, Starbucks gift cards, even a turkey sandwich once. I don’t eat meat, but I was won over by how thoughtful it was. It doesn’t have to be a huge expense or something grand. This step can absolutely be skipped and you can just go on your way. But a little gesture like this goes a long way and really helps bring you into the fold of this extended family.

3. Adventure

Learning to navigate non-rev travel opens up a world of endless adventure. Once you learn the nitty gritty of picking flights, getting listed, talking to crew, and being patient, above all else, you can relax and enjoy the benefits. You can decide last minute to hop a flight to visit your bestie in Colorado for the weekend, because a free-flight doesn’t require much pre-planning. You can change your plans as you go, because no money is tied up in non-refundable airfare. While waiting in the airport, unsure if I’ll make it on the flight I’ve listed for, I look for backup options. Maybe I can fly to Tampa instead of Orlando and rent a car. Maybe I can take a Southwest flight instead of this one in an hour. Maybe I can go to Aruba instead of Cancun because I have swimsuits packed and I might miss my flight, but I’m not missing vacation. Maybe instead of making the long journey straight back to the US from Singapore, I’ll fly to Paris and hang out for a few days to break up the flying and eat macarons.

The possibilities only expand as you become more comfortable using flight benefits and being flexible. This one might be my favorite part of non-revving. Instead of unexpected issues ruining your day, you start to see them as opening up opportunity for something different. You become creative with your planning, with your backup planning, and then with your last-minute, in-the-moment planning when the backup doesn’t work either. You start to see far-away places as not so far. You stop waiting for the perfect time of year to visit a place, or for someone in your life to want to go there with you. And you just go. You start doing what you want, knowing that no matter how many delays or missed flights, you can make something work.

Maybe you start to incorporate this non-rev attitude into other aspects of your day-to-day life. Flat tire? Okay, let’s make a new plan. Financing on the house fell through? Time to come up with a creative plan B. We don’t stop to realize very often that the curveballs life will inevitably throw our way are not the biggest obstacles we face to being happy, enjoying ourselves, living a good life. It is our attitude. It is how we handle these things that has the biggest impact on how the thing turns out. Learning to be a good non-rev can have positive benefits totally unrelated to travel. It might just give you the nudge of a perspective shift you’ve been needing.

Relax, breathe, and embrace the adventure of non-rev travel.

Alright people, I realize this comprehensive post was long and detailed. But there is a lot of ground to cover. (And I didn’t even get into the traveling as a flight attendant portion of the mess!) I wanted to put together a guide that hit all the bases for those of you who have been invited to fly on someone’s airline flight benefits or who are just curious about how the whole process works. I hope this piece was helpful, and I encourage you to save it and read it over for reference before you fly on that Buddy Pass.

If you have any questions about non-revving on airline flight benefits that I haven’t covered, please just reach out via the comments section, or DM me on Instagram. Flight Crews—is there anything I missed? What is YOUR favorite part of non-revving?

I hope you all have a safe, happy weekend, and have plenty of spur-of-the-moment, well-planned-but-also-flexible travel coming up!

Until next time.

I hope you enjoyed this Comprehensive Guide to Non-Rev Travel. If this is your first time to A Wheel in the Sky, welcome! I’m Toni and I write about travel, flight attendant life, and personal things for which I should probably seek therapy. If you’re interested in reading more flight attendant content, check out some of these posts:

My Flight Attendant Origin Story

Flight attendant pet peeves: 6 ways to be the worst, how to poop on a plane: a flight attendant shares, 7 things i wish i knew before becoming a flight attendant, my craziest flight attendant story ever.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Image Credit, in order of appearance:

Feature: Luggage by tookapic via Pixabay

Man waiting in airport by JESHOOTS-com via Pixabay

Boarding Pass by Joshua Woroniecki via Pixabay

Woman in airpor t by JESHOOTS-com via Pixabay

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Very thorough! Going to pass this along to anyone who ask now

As always, so well said!

Hi! I found your blog while searching for info on non-rev travel and love it! Getting ready for my first standby travel adventure in May to Rome, Italy! I’m planning to go to Newark and hopefully catch a flight from there since there are lots of options with different airlines. Should I buy a trip with each airline then see which one I get on and refund the others? Or can I actually buy other flights while I’m at the airport, if my first choice doesn’t work out? I didn’t know if they needed to be purchased a specific amount of time in advance. Thanks so much!! Tracie

Hey Tracie,

Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to leave a comment! How exciting your first standby adventure! Are you traveling on your own benefits or someone else’s? It might make a difference in priority. You should be able to list for a plan B, C, etc. while at the airport, but the problem with that is some airlines (like mine) give seats based on check-in time. So, for these airlines it is beneficial to be listed and checked in 24 hours prior to departure. Again, this is not every airline, and sometimes you won’t be able to check in that far in advance. But this is the reason I prefer to list for multiple flights in advance. ***It is very important to cancel all the other listings as soon as you get a seat!*** If you don’t you could be penalized by your airline (or the employee can be). Also, it just makes it very hard for other nonrevs to see how many seats are really available.

If you don’t have it already, I recommend getting an app called Staff Traveler. You can put in requests to see how many seats are available. It can give some peace of mind.

I hope it all works out for you and I’m SO jealous of your Italy plans! Buon viaggio!

This is by far the best article I’ve read regarding non-rev. I especially liked the vocabulary portion, because as a newbie, the jargon had my head spinning. But I’m starting to grasp it now. I have a question I’ve been scouring the internet for. Can you help? In 2 days from now I have a 930am Southwest flight listed through myidtravel. This is my first non-rev trip and I’m equally nervous and excited. After reading your article, I’d like to get on the 6:45am flight instead. first=best

Should I cancel/refund through myidtravel, and book the earlier flight? Or is it ok to just show up and ask if I the agent can move me up to the earlier flight.

Vocab question: is “move up” the right term for showing up the airport early and getting an earlier flight?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I’m glad the vocab was helpful– it is a totally different language! It looks like your Southwest flight ahs already come and gone, sorry for not getting back to you sooner. In the future, I’d say it is best to change in MyidTravel in advance. This could be different fior Southwest and not the best advice, but for my airline, check-in time determines the order that seats get assigned. So, if you’re waiting until the day of to list for a flight, there could be other people in your priority class who checked in the day before and are now ahead of you in line. Always check in 24 hours prior if you are able to (some airlines and sometimes on international flights you will not be able to and will have to do it with an agent the day of flight.)

Also, you don’t even have to change your flight. If you are worried about getting on, keep your original reservation and then make a new reservation for the earlier flight. This way you are listed and checked in for both. Just make sure to cancel whichever one you won’t be using! I hope that helps!

Hi Toni – This is a great article! I am about to have my first non-rev experience! My husband works for a cargo airline so it’s hard to find all the “rules.” Are we able to purchase food and drinks on the flight? Since this ticket is booked separately from any airline mileage program, I wasn’t sure if there was a way to ensure there is a credit card on file.

I also wondered about the gifts you (and others) mention giving to staff. There are so many people you encounter getting on a flight! Who do you give them to?

Thanks! Stacy

Hey there Stacy, thanks for stopping by! You should be able to purchase food and drinks on board the plane with a credit card, you won’t need to have it on file.

As for gifts, people bring all kinds of stuff. Edible gifts (usually sweets) are the most common, but we also get Starbucks gift cards sometimes or even more personalized gifts. I’ve received a goody bag with a mini hand sanitizer, chapstick, and face mask on the plane. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme, and you can be creative about it if you’re inclined, or just grab something from the store. Chocolate is always a safe bet to bring for crew. I would say don’t bring individual bars unless you’re sure how many crewmembers there are, a box or bag will do just fine.

When I’m bringing goodies on a non-rev trip, I usually bring one bag of assorted chocolate for the gate agents and one for the flight attendants. Since there are usually more FAs than agents, I bring them a bigger bag. They can share with the pilots if they want. When I step onto the plane I say to the Flight Attendant up front “Hi, I’m Toni, I’m a flight attendant with X Company. [And flash badge]. Thank you so much for the ride. I brought you guys some goodies. I’ll be in 12F if you need anything.”

I let them know I’m a nonrev for multiple reasons: 1. If there is an emergency on board, I can help. They should know I’m an additional resource. and 2. If they feel like giving me some kind of special treatment I want them to be able to find me.

Best of luck on your first non-rev experience! I hope it goes off without a hitch!

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What Is Non-Rev Travel? Breaking It Down for Newbie Standby Travelers

If you’re new to the airline industry, you’ll quickly find these terms thrown around everywhere. What is non-rev travel? How does flying standby work? We’re breaking everything down for all our newbie standby traveler friends. We’ve been at this non-rev travel thing for several years and want to share what it’s like for any beginner non-revvers out there.

First, what is non-rev travel?

Let’s start with the basics. What is non-rev travel? The term stands for “non-revenue”, which means you only pay a fraction of the actual ticket cost, if any. In many cases, the ticket may be free. The airline is not making money from non-rev tickets. In some cases (especially international) you may pay a small amount for taxes. Non-rev is a benefit of airline employees. And the term is used to describe how airline staff travel.

Who can take advantage of non-rev travel benefits?

A long list of people. If you’re not an airline employee, don’t count yourself out. Non-rev or staff travel benefits often extend to spouses, children, and parents, often called “pass riders”. Even family and friends can use some portion of the benefits. It may be slightly different airline to airline, but for us, spouse or domestic partner, kids under the age of 26, and up to two parents qualify to receive the non-rev travel benefits. Sometimes family and friends can also receive perks, using a buddy pass.

What are buddy passes?

For friends and family who want to use employee travel privileges, they use a buddy pass. Employees are typically given a certain allotment of buddy passes every year and they can disperse them to close friends and family. I say close, because it’s VERY against the rules to sell them or give them to random people who you don’t consider close friends or family members. Buddy passes cost more than what employees (or employee immediate family) pay, but they are a way to extend some airfare deals to family and friends.

What’s the catch?

It sounds a little too good to be true, right? Flying around the world for free (or very close to free). Well, it does come at the price of convenience. Flying non-rev means you’ll also have to fly standby. Another fun term. Flying standby means you don’t get a seat on the plane…unless there are leftover seats after all paying customers have boarded. Unoccupied seats can come from the flight not selling out, or people missing their flight. And standby life is not for the faint of heart.

It’s like a game. A twisted game. The Hunger Games. You’ll likely be able to access your own airline’s flight loads to get an idea of how many seats are open. But additional seats sell the day of travel. Sometimes people miss flights and seats become available. Sometimes the airline oversells flights. It’s really really hard to predict what will happen when you arrive to the airport. And that’s why non-rev travel can be a guessing game. And you may want to come prepared with a backup plan…or ten.

We created another article on flying standby about how we choose our destinations. It also has some videos of our standby experiences.

Can you fly non-rev international or on different airlines ?

I don’t want to provide a blanket statement here because it could vary for every airline. But I’ll talk about our particular experience. The answer to both questions, for us, is yes. You can fly international and on different airlines.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Flying with a Buddy Pass

Flying non-rev internationally.

Flying non-revenue on international flights works largely the same as domestic except you’ll likely have to pay international taxes. You still put yourself on the standby list and you still only get to fly if there are empty seats. In our experience, international flights are bigger and often are easier to find empty seats. And from a cost perspective, international taxes and fees don’t run very high so it’s still pretty affordable. We’ve traveled non-rev to Paris, Brussels, Buenos Aires, London, Cancun, Tokyo, and Barcelona to name a few. And for each person, international taxes are usually only $100-$300. Not bad for international!

Flying non-rev on other airlines

Reasons for flying on other airlines:

• Your airline doesn’t fly to a particular destination
• Your airline looks pretty full on the day you want to travel

Many airlines have agreements with each other to extend non-rev travel privileges. So you can fly on other airlines. And other airline employees can fly on your airline. The downside? The cost is usually a bit more expensive than flying on your own airline. And you may not be able to access the flight loads, which makes planning difficult. Luckily, there are sites like Staff Traveler that can help with finding seat availability on other airlines.

How does the non-rev process work?

Now that you know what non-rev travel is, let’s talk about how it works in practice. You’ll have an employee system (often pass riders can access this system). Once you determine your destination and flight time, you put yourself on the standby list. You’ll get a standby ticket to get through airport security. And then you show up at the airport like a normal passenger. At this point you cross your fingers and hope the gate agent calls your name.

There are many, many factors that contribute to standby success. We won’t go into too much detail as it varies wildly from airline to airline. But there will be a prioritized list of all the non-revvers trying to get on the flight. Your priority on the list will be determined by things like how long the employee has been with the company, if you’re traveling with the employee, if you’re a buddy pass rider. Other airlines do it differently and base priority by when you listed for the flight. There are also dress codes for some airlines.

And a story about our first non-rev experience

That was a lot of information thrown at you. So, it’s time for a little fun. This is the story of our very first non rev travel experience.

It was about 2 months into working for the airline. And we were anxious to start using travel benefits. One Friday at work, I called up Nick and said “what do you think about going to Brussels?” Yes, Belgium. After a few seconds of silence, I followed up my original question with “also, how fast can you pack our bags?”

Nick went home on his lunch break, packed our bags and passports, and went back to work. About 5 hours later, the workday was over and we were making our way through airport security. I had noticed earlier at work that Brussels was wide open. Being our first standby flying experience, we wanted to wait for a flight that was a sure thing (or at least as close to it as you can get as an airline employee). Brussels fit the bill, so there we were. Waiting and not really sure what we were doing. One of the coolest parts of non-rev travel is you can decide last minute to take a trip, pack your bags, and go.

Related: How Does Flying Standby Work for Non-Airline Employees?

There were only a few people ahead of us on the list, so we got on the flight. Not only that, but first class seats were open. So we shelled out a bit of additional money and had one heck of a luxurious first non-rev experience. We got so filled up, we almost had to turn down an ice cream sundae. Almost. Yes, that sounds snobby AF. And I’m only saying it here because most of you reading this have access to the same experiences with your travel benefits. So I don’t feel that guilty. Also, I was pregnant at the time so I didn’t get to partake in the adult beverages.

Once we got to Belgium, it was Saturday morning and we were there less than 24 hours. We had to come back on Sunday so we could be back at work Monday. We booked our hotel using the secret hot rate hotels on Hotwire. When we got there, the hotel was closed so we had to roll our bags around everywhere for several hours. We had some Belgium chocolate. Waffles. Mussels. And since it was December, we visited the Christmas market. Ok, so we ate the whole time. I was pregnant and hungry.

The next day, we went to the airport and were cleared once again from the standby list. Like I said, we made sure before we left the flights were very wide open. At first, we were super terrified to take any risks. But that’s no longer the case.

How’s that for satisfying a chocolate pregnancy craving?

Family on Standby

That story painted kind of a rosy picture. But most times, it’s nothing like that. Especially adding kids (and extra travelers) to the picture. If you’re still appalled by the ice cream comment and flying first class, here are some of our other non rev travel experiences that didn’t go quite as smoothly:

• We once sat at the airport for an entire day after trying 7 different destinations and didn’t board a single flight. We tried flying on President’s Day.
• When flying home from Barcelona, there was an unexpected taxi strike. We had to find a public bus last minute and just barely made it to the airport on time.
• Flying home from Buenos Aires, it took us 3 flights, an Uber in between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and a surprise overnight hotel stay. Sometimes that happens.

At the end of the day, whether lounging in first class or sleeping on the airport floor because you can’t get a flight out, non-rev travel is an adventure. And it comes with some hilarious, fun, and bittersweet stories.

Are you new to non-rev travel? Or do you have your own story?

Let us know where you are in your non-rev journey! We love hearing stories from other non-rev travelers. And if you have your own interesting non-rev travel experience, we want to feature your story. Tweet us at @FamilyOnStandby , leave a comment with your story below, or send us an email to hi (at) familyonstandby.com so we can feature you!

If you don’t yet follow our Youtube channel Family on Standby we film all of our standby adventures. The good and the bad.

10 thoughts on “what is non-rev travel breaking it down for newbie standby travelers”.

Hello. I love reading your experiences of traveling non rev with your family! Traveling is such an amazing experience for our young ones to have. And, talk about quality family time! Our family also travels nonrev. My husband started working at an airline just 2 years ago so that our family of 6 could travel the world. We have already had so many amazing travel experiences and some crazy ones too. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Happy Travels!!

Hello, so my wife and I are new to ID90 this was her first time using it, so after she gets her tickte and the flight takes off I think everything is fine, but after she lands she told me the flight attendant asked her if she was “N2” she went on to explain that I was the airline employee for another airline and that she was my wife, after they asked her if she could watch a child so she spent her whole 9 hour flight taking care of a kid. Is this normal this was our first time using ID90 and she isn’t the airline employee I am just confused.

Do you ever check your baggage when taking standby flights?

What happens during the boarding process of a Non Rev passenger that requires mobility assistance ? Do they receive an earlier boarding pass or still need to wait it out ?

Great breakdown of the non-rev experience! It’s helpful to see someone with a family navigating the process. Right now, it’s just my husband and I flying standby. It’s great to see that it is doable, with some patience, when you have a family.

I had these benefits for >10 years since my family member started working for an airline. We have various types of tickets, and the queue order is based on ticket type and date of joining the airline.

Here is a recent story:

2022/12 – First trip since covid. First holiday season after HK opened up, so flights out of HK were full during the Christmas period, especially to Japan. Ended up going HKG -> KIX (with miles) -> HND, arriving three hours after the direct HKG -> HND. For the return leg, I had to depart on Christmas Day due to precious engagements, while the rest of my family planned to leave three days later, listing for the first flight out. However, I had my pick of a flight back as all of the five flights out of Tokyo were wide open on Christmas Day, and went for the last one out of NRT to maximize my time. My listing actually saved the whole family.

Our chances for the 28th got slimmer. Instead of making backup plans, we cut the trip short and all of us left on the last flight out of NRT on Christmas Day.

Super comprehensive list! One more thing to remember: download offline maps to navigate your destination without using data. Have a fantastic trip!

These are really helpful list of instructions. I appreciate you sharing this excellent post.

Thanks for the insightful article! It provided valuable information. keep sharing good knowledge ..

I’m absolutely blown away by the quality of this content! Thank you for sharing your insights in such a clear and engaging manner. Much appreciated!

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Non-Rev Travel 101: A Beginner’s Guide

Working in the aviation industry comes with its perk and non-rev travel is a big one.

Flying for free or very cheap is possible for flight attendants like me.

How ? That’s what I’ll explain in this article.

What Is Non-Rev Travel?

Non-rev or “non-revenue” travel is one of the main perks that comes with working for an airline.

It basically refers to the flight benefits that pilots, flight attendants, and even some gate agents receive.

It’s called non-reving because the airline does not receive revenue for the employee’s spot on the airplane.

Non-revs are also not guaranteed a spot on the airplane, they have to wait on the standby list and hope that there will be extra space.

Basically, non-revenue travel is the privilege airline employees have to sit in unsold seats and ride along on flights to their desired destinations during their off time.

The best part, they can usually share these benefits with their families, and even a few friends, depending on which airline they work for.

Who Can Non-Rev?

Non-rev benefits are usually given to the airline employee and their direct dependents including:

• Their partner

Some airlines also give their employees a limited number of “ buddy passes ” that can be given out to friends.

And if you aren’t legally married some airlines will allow you to anyone you choose as your “travel companion” for a set period of time.

⚠️ Not all non-revs are created equal though.

Most airlines have different “ pass levels ” that determine the order in which non-revs appear on the standby list .

➡️ Generally speaking, the employee, their partner (or travel companion), and their children will all have a higher designation on the standby list, meaning they will have higher priority to get the empty seats on the plane.

➡️ Parents typically come next. And people flying on buddy passes are last.

Can You Fly Standby on All Airlines?

No. But many airlines have agreements with other airlines that allow their employees to non-rev on other airlines.

These airlines usually include whatever code-sharing partners are connected to a given airline but may even include a few airlines outside of their specific airline group.

These agreements are part of a program known as ID90 .

Usually, only the employee and their dependents can fly with ID90 partners, and each airline will have different rules about who may non-rev with them and who may not.

🚨 Note : People flying on ID90 benefits will usually fall to the end of the standby priority list.

How Does It Work to Fly Standby as a Non-Rev Traveler?

Generally speaking, each airline has its own online portal that employees can access to arrange their non-rev travel.

Here I’ll quickly run through the basics of flying non-rev.

Booking your Non-rev travel

Usually, you start by going into this portal and selecting the flights you would like to be on.

The portal will usually tell you what the current “load” of each flight is.

Loads refers to the number of revenue passengers who are currently booked to fly on a given flight.

💡 As a non-rev you want to look for flights that have lower loads to increase the likelihood that you will get an open seat.

Signing in for your flight

Then, 24 hours before the flight you sign in via the portal.

At this time, you will be given a standing on the standby list that tells you about the order in which open seats will be assigned to hopeful non-revs.

Some airlines determine this by seniority, so the more senior a flight attendant is with the company, the higher they will be on the standby list.

Other airlines determine this on a first-come-first-serve basis, meaning those who sign in fastest will be at the top of the list. (Depending on pass level).

At the airport

After you have signed in you will arrive at the airport just like you would for any other flight.

Your standby boarding pass will get you through security and then you head to your gate.

👉🏻 At the gate, you should check in with the agent and let them know you are on the standby list.

They will then assign seats in order based on the standby list.

If the flight is full, they will usually do this towards the end of the boarding process, so you just have to hang out and wait to hear your name called.

If the flight is open, they might give you a boarding pass right away.

What happens if there isn’t an open seat?

At this point, you will have the option “roll-over” to the next flight and wait to see if there is an open seat on that one.

Or try to figure out another route to get to where you want to go. If you choose to do this you will be higher on the priority list, for the new flight(s).

Can You Get Non-Rev Loads?

If you have access to the non-rev portal or the ID90 website, you will be able to see the loads for flights you want to non-rev on.

Usually, the portals will tell you how many passengers are booked on each flight, what classes they are booked in, and how many seats are open per cabin . They will also tell you how many non-revs have already indicated an intention to be on that flight.

Not all airlines will share loads with non-employees though , so in that case, the best way to estimate is to look up your flight on the airline’s website and see how many tickets are available to book. This will give you an idea of the number of open seats.

How Much Does it Cost to Non-Rev?

Generally speaking, employees and their dependents will only be charged for international travel, basically to reimburse the airline for international landing taxes .

People flying on buddy passes will often also have to pay a small service charge that amounts to a certain percentage of the ticket price for their flight.

In the US, most employees can non-rev domestically for free.

I’ve traveled both on my own employee benefits, and now as a buddy pass non-rev.

Flying from the US to Germany I paid $130 round trip, for premium economy as an employee, since that was what the international taxes amounted to.

As a buddy pass non-rev, I paid $675 round trip, with a business class seat on one flight and a premium economy seat on the other.

Put simply the savings are significant .

When you fly as an ID90 passenger you will pay more than you do when you fly on your own airline.

Pros of Non-Rev Travel

The benefits of non-rev travel are clear!

It’s cheap and very flexible.

Cons of Non-Rev Travel

The cons are a little less clear until you’ve tried it a few times, but they generally include:

• Scrambling to find another way to get to your destination , sometimes by employing coming up with some very creative, multi-stop routes. For example, I once flew from Charlotte NC to Harrisburg PA, to get to Chicago IL.
• Not getting a seat and having to delay or cancel your trip.
• Waiting at the airport all day just to get a spot on the flight you need to get home.

The first time my parents non-reved it was to my flight attendant training graduation ceremony. They ended up stuck at DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) for 10 hours waiting to get a flight back to Charlotte.

On the flip side, they also enjoyed business class seats on the way to Germany, Hawaii, and Alaska. So, I think they got the most out of my benefits while I had them.

Non-revenue travel is one of the main benefits of being a flight attendant , but the system can be complicated and hard to navigate at first.

Once you get a handle of how it works, you’ll be sure to be jet setting off to all the places you dreamed of going when you decided to work for an airline.

Have you flown yourself with non-rev travel? How do you find it? Let me in the comments.

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Airlines must cough up cancellation cash and can no longer hide fees under new federal rule

A federal rule announced Wednesday will require airlines to quickly give cash refunds — without lengthy arguments — to passengers whose flights have been canceled or seriously delayed, the Biden administration said.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The rule from the Transportation Department says passengers who decline other reimbursement like travel credits are to get cash refunds.

It applies when a flight is canceled or has a “significant change,” the administration said.A “significant change” includes when departure or arrival times are three or more hours different from the scheduled times for domestic flights or six hours for international flights, and when the airport is changed or connections are added, it said.

Passengers are also to get refunds when their baggage is 12 hours late in delivery for domestic flights.

The new rule comes after promises to hold airlines accountable after major disruptions that made travel hell for passengers, including the 2022 Southwest Airlines meltdown , which resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights and a missing baggage nightmare.

The Transportation Department said that the new rule means refunds are automatic and that "airlines must automatically issue refunds without passengers having to explicitly request them or jump through hoops."

Also announced Wednesday was a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose so-called junk fees upfront, such as surprise baggage or other fees, the department said.

It said that rule is expected to save fliers around $500 million a year.

The surprise fees are used so tickets look cheaper than they really are, and then fliers get the unwelcome surprise of fees on checked bags, carry-on bags or reservation changes — or even discounts that are advertised but apply to only part of the ticket price, officials said.

Airlines will also have to tell fliers clearly that their seats are guaranteed and that they don't have to pay extra to ensure they have seats for flights, according to the Transportation Department.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said that its member airlines “offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown” and that they do offer cash refunds.

The 11 largest U.S. airlines returned $10.9 billion in cash refunds last year, an increase over $7.5 billion in 2019 but slightly down from $11.2 billion in 2022, the group said.

“U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” Airlines for America said.

Left out of the federal changes announced Wednesday are those involving "family seating fees," but the Transportation Department said in a statement that "DOT is planning to propose a separate rule that bans airlines from charging these junk fees."

Travelers have complained to the Transportation Department that children weren’t seated next to accompanying adults, including in some cases young children, department officials said last year.

Fees on bags specifically have made up an increasing amount of airline revenues, the Transportation Department said Wednesday in announcing the new rules.

A Transportation Department analysis found that airline revenue from baggage fees increased 30% from 2018 to 2022, while operating revenue — which is from the flights themselves — increased by only half that amount, the department said.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

These are the best airlines of 2024, according to Wallethub

Summer travel is expected to reach record numbers this year and some airfares are trending down compared to last year.

For those plannin g to travel by air , choosing an airline may include various considerations, including reliability, comfort, price and safety. Personal finance company WalletHub ranked the 9 largest U.S. carriers, plus one regional airline, across 13 metrics in three major categories in its Best Airlines list of 2024 .

Spirit Airlines named the most affordable airline

Spirit is known as a low-cost carrier – the airline's slogan is "Less Money. More go" – so it's no surprise the airline was ranked first in affordability. For this ranking, WalletHub calculated passenger revenue per available seat mile by multiplying the number of available seats and the number of miles flown and dividing that number by passenger revenue to come up with the price per mile.

The top 10:

• Spirit Airlines (5.23 cents per mile)
• Frontier Airlines (6.03 cents per mile)
• Skywest Airlines (9.65 cents per mile)
• Alaska Airlines (12.18 cents per mile)
• JetBlue Airways (12.25 cents per mile)
• Hawaiian Airlines (12.27 cents per mile)
• Southwest Airlines (13.25 cents per mile)
• United Airlines (13.93 cents per mile)
• Delta Airlines (15.80 cents per mile)
• American Airlines (16.15 cents per mile)

The best airlines of 2024 operate at several Ohio airports

The nine largest U.S. airlines and one regional carrier were compared across 13 metrics, including cancellation and delay rates, baggage mishaps and in-flight comfort for the overall top airlines list, according to WalletHub. Alaska and Skywest Airlines topped the list, with Spirit Airlines in third place.

• Alaska Airlines (operates at Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus airports)
• Skywest Airlines (operates at Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton airports)
• Spirit Airlines (operates in Cleveland and Columbus airports)
• Delta Airlines (operates at Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo airports)
• United Airlines (operates at Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton airports)
• JetBlue Airways (operates at Cleveland airport)
• Hawaiian Airlines (Does not operate in Ohio)
• American Airlines (operates at Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo airports)
• Frontier Airlines (operates at Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus airports)
• Southwest Airlines (operates at Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus airports)

Spirit tops list for safest airline

In the airline safety category, aviation accidents, injuries and fatalities in aviation accidents and fleet age were considered. Spirit came out on top as the safest airline of 2024 in WalletHub's study.

• Spirit Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Skywest Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• United Airlines
• Southwest Airlines

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: These are the best airlines of 2024, according to Wallethub

• Earnings News

American Airlines Q1 2024 earnings on deck, what to expect

Jetlinerimages/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• American Airlines ( NASDAQ: AAL ) is scheduled to announce Q1 earnings results on Thursday, April 25th, before market open.
• The consensus EPS estimate is -$0.29 and the consensus revenue estimate is $12.58B.
• Over the last 2 years, AAL has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and has beaten revenue estimates 63% of the time.
• Over the last 3 months, EPS estimates have seen 6 upward revisions and 3 downward. Revenue estimates have seen 6 upward revisions and 2 downward.
• The company on January 25 posted Q4 EPS beat and topped margin expectations. Operating revenue was down 1.0% year-over-year to $13.06B.
• AAL has a Quant rating of "STRONG BUY", with a 4.76 rating score.
• AAL has an industry ranking of 4 out of 26 among passenger airlines stocks, as per SA's Quant ranking.
• Wall Street rates the AAL stock a "BUY" and Seeking Alpha authors rate it "HOLD".
• Stock is +0.9% so far this year as of Tuesday's close.

Recent commentary on AAL

TD Cowen analysts said on April 11 in their report on U.S. airlines that "we believe the quarter was affected by bad weather in the West and Midwest, rising fuel prices, and ongoing network restructuring in the domestic market. Investors will be focused on 2Q guidance and early thoughts for the summer, with a focus on international demand and non-fuel costs.

SA contributor DM Martins Research wrote in their April 17 report that "American Airlines is expected to report Q1 results unaffected by major operational issues, unlike its competitors United Airlines and Alaska Air Group. Modest revenue growth of 3% is expected due to a 7.5% increase in capacity, offset by a 4.5% decline in per-unit revenues. The company's inferior cost structure and high leverage make it a risky investment in the volatile airline industry."

"Considering Q1 guidance that was recently revised, I believe there will be little about the results of the quarter that will make much of a difference in the stock. In the immediate term, the outlook for Q2 could be a share price mover," they added.

SA contributor Stone Fox Capital wrote in their April 4 report that, "American Airlines Group Inc. stock remains below $15 despite positive projections and expected profits. Q1 is always seasonally tough for airlines due to lower travel and restrictive weather, while higher fuel costs hits profits over the short term. American Airlines Group stock only trades at 6x '24 EPS based on fears the airline doesn't hit targets."

More on American Airlines

• American Airlines Earnings Preview: Decent Q1, But Risky Stock
• American Airlines: Insatiable Fear
• American Airlines Group J.P. Morgan 2024 Industrials Conference (Transcript)
• DOT forcing airlines to give full refunds for canceled and delayed flights
• S&P 500 stocks with biggest estimated EPS declines for Q1

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Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

Travelers and their luggage in a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in August 2023.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections .

One of the final rules announced Wednesday requires airlines to show the full price of travel before passengers pay for their tickets. The other will force airlines to provide prompt cash refunds when flights are canceled or significantly changed.

"Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them - without having to ask," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement announcing the new rules.

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Surprise junk fees have become a large and growing source of revenue for airlines in recent years, according to the DOT.

"Today's announcements will require airlines to both provide passengers better information about costs before ticket purchase, and promptly provide cash refunds to passengers when they are owed — not only saving passengers time and money, but also preventing headaches," Buttigieg said.

The airline industry is unlikely to welcome the new rules. At a hearing on the proposed fee rule in March 2023, an industry lobbying group representing American, Delta and United said it would be too difficult for airlines to disclose their charges more clearly.

"The amount of unwanted and unneeded information forced upon passengers" by the new policy would only cause "confusion and frustration," warned Doug Mullen, the deputy general counsel at Airlines for America . "Very few, if any, need or want this information, and especially when they are initially trying to understand schedule and fare options."

But the DOT insists its new rule will give consumers the information they need to better understand the true costs of air travel.

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"I believe this is to the benefit of the sector as a whole," Buttigieg said in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition , because passengers will have "more confidence in the aviation sector."

The new rules require airlines to disclose all baggage, change, and cancellation fees, and to share that information with third-party booking sites and travel agents.

The regulation also prohibits bait-and-switch tactics, the DOT says, that disguise the true cost of flights by advertising a low base fare that does not include all mandatory fees.

"This is really about making sure that we create a better experience for passengers, and a stronger aviation sector in the United States," Buttigieg said in the NPR interview.

American Airlines changes its frequent flyer rules—again

Looking to achieve frequent-flyer status with American Airlines? Book direct.

The carrier has announced another round of changes to its loyalty program, saying passengers will only receive Loyalty Points and AAdvantage miles if they book directly with American, one of its partners, or a “preferred” travel agency. Flights booked elsewhere won’t earn miles.

The new rules go into effect in July.

At present, there’s no word on which agencies qualify as “preferred”—and it could be early June before that’s cleared up. The Wall Street Journal says that classification will depend “on whether they have adopted modern booking technology.”

“Booking with us provides a better travel experience,” the carrier argued in its announcement. “You can manage your trip online, receive travel credit for canceled trips and more. Plus, you’ll continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points through our non-airline partners and on eligible purchases with an AAdvantage credit card.”

Direct booking also lowers costs for the carrier.

For passengers who opt for basic economy fares, booking direct is the only way they’ll earn AAdvantage Miles or Loyalty Points. Preferred travel agency bookings will not be eligible.

American last announced a major overhaul of its frequent-flyer program in 2021, doing away with using how far or often someone flew to calculate status. That’s when Loyalty Points were introduced, which could be earned via travel or spending on branded credit cards.

Other airlines have followed its lead, with Delta announcing a big overhaul on its SkyMiles rewards program last year, which resulted in a bit of a rebellion among that company’s customers, forcing Delta to walk back some of its changes .

American noted that any existing reservations booked with third parties or non-preferred travel agencies will earn miles or Loyalty Points.

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