What's it like for Industry staff to travel on standby on airlines

[Foreigner]

Had dinner with HKG friend who said it's not unheard of for boarded passengers to be called off flight when last minute revenue passengers check in.

 

[Buzzard]

A friend of mine who worked for QF told me he regularly got booted on the SIN - SYD route.

 

[TomVexille]

You're never 100% certain until the door is closed. Although it's a pretty safe bet once you have a BP.

You have to be entirely flexible with dates, times, and routings based on loads, and sometimes you're stuck somewhere for a couple days. All part of the game.

 

[smit0847]

Be very flexible and allow a week to get home. It's not as great as it sounds

 

[Boris spatsky]

Don't travel as a family - split it up. Don't fly during school holidays. Don't book accommodation until you get there. Be prepared to pay big $$$ for a confirmed seat if you can't get home in time for your next shift on ID90! Basically, if you have kids, it's pretty difficult.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Sounds terrible... Not sure I could deal with all the unknowns

 

[N860CR]

It's virtually useless to be honest. If you need to make a quick domestic hop with no commitments then it's ok, but I can't see the value in using it when there is a need to get back to work etc

 

[Katy]

I have access to subload tickets but will only ever use them going out. I use points to fly back firm, every time.

I've also never flown domestically on a subload ticket; just not worth it.

 

[jb747]

If I want to travel overseas I buy real tickets.

 

[day-heg]

We have heavily discounted fares that are confirmed at time of booking (£5 plus taxes per sector); great value if you can get them but availability is limited, especially around Christmas and over the summer. Or take your chances on standby...

 

[Denali]

My friend who works for an airline is single, she rocks up at the airport to see whats available and just goes to whatever is on offer, shes flown to Alaska for as little as 3 days and then returned.

Ive seen staff with wife and kids wait at the gate for no shows, only to be told not today and they leave. I cant travel with that uncertainty.

 

[smit0847]

If I want to travel overseas I buy real tickets.

Dont pilots get more 'confirmed' staff travel though?

 

[serfty]

Flying back on NYE's on VA from LAX, my flight had 16/33 seats unallocated in business up to 1 hour before the flight.

59 minutes beforehand every one was allocated - but the GDS was still showing J7 D7 ...

All was revealed on boarding with 17 staff 'figuratively' high fiving each other - they had been travelling on industry fares.

Back in row 5 I looked like becoming the 'gooseberry' stuck within the confines of a VA Pilot and his family until I offered to swap seats.

Service was a bit slow for the first hour or so on this flight as the working flight crew and most of the 17 ID PAX knew each other.

I could understand their glee at the seats becoming available - the Pilot had had to purchase a full Y fare from SEA to LAX for him and family as they could not get space available and he had to get back. (They had confirmed ID economy on the flight.)

Anyone of them could have been downgraded right up until the doors closed due to a walk-up fare or disrupted PAX.

 

[serfty]

Dont pilots get more 'confirmed' staff travel though?

Yes - with VA it's confirmed economy on VA*VA. The pilot and his family had confirmed economy seats... but upgradable to business subject to space availability.

 

[smit0847]

Flying back on NYE's on VA from LAX, my flight had 16/33 seats unallocated in business up to 1 hour before the flight.

59 minutes beforehand every one was allocated - but the GDS was still showing J7 D7 ...

All was revealed on boarding with 17 staff 'figuratively' high fiving each other - they had been travelling on industry fares.

Back in row 5 I looked like becoming the 'gooseberry' stuck within the confines of a VA Pilot and his family until I offered to swap seats.

Service was a bit slow for the first hour or so on this flight as the working flight crew and most of the 17 ID PAX knew each other.

I could understand their glee at the seats becoming available - the Pilot had had to purchase a full Y fare from SEA to LAX for him and family as they could not get space available and he had to get back. (They had confirmed ID economy on the flight.)

Anyone of them could have been downgraded right up until the doors closed due to a walk-up fare or disrupted PAX.

Most people don't want to spend NYE on a plane!

 

[smit0847]

I guess ID staff could become pretty savvy at this by monitoring EF in the same way we do for award seats.....

 

[TomVexille]

I guess ID staff could become pretty savvy at this by monitoring EF in the same way we do for award seats.....

Don't know about other airlines but AA staff have res system access from home to check loads and put themselves on the standby list (for AA only).

 

[opusman]

Dont pilots get more 'confirmed' staff travel though?

Pilots also get paid quite well

 

[JohnK]

Be very flexible and allow a week to get home. It's not as great as it sounds

So why do it?

I'd have much better things to do than turn up to the airport everyday hoping for a seat to be available. And last minute accommodation can be reasonable in some places but through the roof in others.

 

[TomVexille]

So why do it?

I'd have much better things to do than turn up to the airport everyday hoping for a seat to be available. And last minute accommodation can be reasonable in some places but through the roof in others.

Because you could fly ORD-DEN in F (J) for $20, or ORD-MAN in J for $100.