So this is another airline employee-specific topic that has historically been something that one learns just by doing. Non-revving can get a little confusing, and it is certainly more stressful for those who are new to it. I have utilized non-revenue travel benefits for commuting since the beginning of my career. Many people try to avoid it, but I try to embrace it as it gives me the freedom to live where I want. I have been able to work out a way to do it that works for me and keeps the stress as low as possible. I'm going to write this as though I'm talking to a commuter, but this process will work equally well for traveling for fun.
Note: Before we get into it, remember that every airline will have its own procedures and requirements for non-revving. This is meant to be a general overview of how the process works to make it easier, but remember to make sure that you are familiar with your company’s rules!
General Non-Rev Travel Info
First and foremost, you want to give yourself as many options as possible. For example, where I live, there are 4 to 8 direct flights a day depending on the season throughout the entire day that go both to and from my domicile. Not great but certainly not the worst. I also have a secondary airport I can use both in my home state and where I’m based, giving me more ways to get home and to work. This gives me a lot of options and also allows me to spend significantly more time at home on the days on which I need to travel.
When I determine what day I need to fly, I take a look at this site that shows me all of the flights scheduled to fly the route for that day. From here, I try to determine what the flight loads are so I have an idea of how likely it is that I will make a flight. Obviously the more open seats there are, the better. Often times each company will have a site specifically for non-rev travel bookings that will show flight loads, but there is an app called Staff Traveler that will pull loads for you. You have to buy credits to do it, but it's less than a buck per credit. This link is an affiliate referral link that will give both you and me two credits towards checking loads should you choose to use it to sign up.
The best time to check loads is within a day or so of your travels; there are almost always some last minute bookings that can potentially take your flight from wide open to jam packed. I will always try to give myself a backup or even two backup flights depending on what the flight loads are like. That way if I miss both, I can at least call up my company and let them know I tried getting on a couple flights. If I can, I’ll try to make a flight that’s operated by my company which gives me priority over everyone else.
Once I determine which flights will work for me as a primary and a back up, I will list for the primary flight. If I don’t make the first one for whatever reason, I simply cancel the listing and list for the next one. Remember not to list for more than one flight at once; you don’t want to take a spot that a fellow non-revver else can use! It’s also typically against the rules when it comes to non-revenue travel.
The beauty of being a pilot is I can take the jumpseat in the cockpit if needed which gives me a fallback option on even overbooked flights. For this reason, I personally like to check in with the gate agent when I commute to see what their outlook is on the flight and whether or not they think I'll need to use the jumpseat. Even if you checked the loads an hour before leaving your house, things can happen at the last second and your wide-open flight can go to overbooked instantly. Ask me how I know. Remember to be polite and professional when talking to the gate agents! They are literally the gatekeepers to you getting on your flight, so ask them how their day is going and try not to intrude if they are busy. Also, remember to check in as you would for a normal flight within 24 hours of departure, otherwise you won’t appear on the list and the gate agent will have to do it manually for you. Our goal is to make their lives as easy as possible.
When it comes time to board, greet the crew and introduce yourself. As we know, passengers can sometimes be hard on crew so there’s absolutely no reason not to be kind to them and show your appreciation. This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people forget this. If you were assigned a seat in the cabin, take your spot and remember to thank the crew for the ride when you deplane. For my fellow pilots, if you can poke your head in the cockpit and say hi then go for it. Don’t feel like you absolutely have to every time though, particularly if they are busy or there are passengers boarding behind you. We don’t wanna hold up boarding and as far as I'm aware it's not a requirement to check in with the pilots unless you're in the jumpseat.
Jumpseating
If you were assigned the jumpseat because the flight is full, ask the flight attendant when you get on board if you can poke your head inside the cockpit. They will almost certainly have already been informed that you’ll be joining them, so they may even know that you’re the jumpseater when you get to the plane. When you do, wait for a moment where they are not busy setting up the plane and then introduce yourself. Ask the pilots if they are ok with you tagging along in their jumpseat. Again, this goes without saying, but we want to be polite and professional here because they are doing you a favor. You will need to show them your documents (this varies slightly by airline but be sure to have them out and ready), and then you’ll be all set to go. Once that’s all taken care of, I’ll chat with the flight attendant about where my luggage should go and remain out of the way of the boarding process until it’s time to take the seat. Sometimes a gate agent will have you board before everyone else, and sometimes they will wait until after the rest of the passengers have boarded. The latter option is best because you won’t be in the way of everyone as they board, but if they let you on first just hang out in the jet bridge out of the way.
When you’re riding along in the jumpseat, remember that all the rules that apply to you in the cockpit (like sterile cockpit) also apply here even though it may be a different airline. I certainly don’t want you to think you can’t have a conversation with the pilots while you’re up there, but there’s a time and a place for it. Remember too that you’re also technically considered an additional crew member while you’re in the flight deck. I once had a captain ask me to join them on the flight deck because we were traveling to a very busy airport that neither him nor the first officer had actually been to. I had been there many times, so I was able to brief them on arrival and taxi procedures so that they were better equipped to handle the airport.
Some Final Tidbits
This is personal preference, but I like to commute in uniform. I feel like the process of commuting is made easier because there’s no doubt about who I am and what I do. I also travel with food and a couple full-sized toiletries, so it allows me to go through the KCM checkpoint without worrying that those items will be confiscated. I believe that it also looks more professional for the flight crew and gate agents that will assist you during your travels, especially if you are utilizing the jumpseat.
As I mentioned earlier, all of these same tips are perfectly applicable when traveling for fun, although don’t feel obligated to wear the full uniform (unless it’s required obviously). If you have a significant other along for the ride, take extra special care to ensure that there is space available on flights that you may want to use. If it’s just you traveling, it’s pretty easy to be flexible in just getting on the next flight, but bringing your spouse with you elevates the complexity. If you’ve got kids with you, multiply that complexity some more.
Hopefully this is helpful to those of you that are new to the non-rev travel scene! Don't be afraid to ask for help from folks at your company or the gate agent; they know that non-rev travel can sometimes be confusing and/or stressful and more often than not they are perfectly willing to help out. Enjoy your benefits!
Notes
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