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

[yld200]

My sister has worked for Emirates for 10 years now so me and the family have found it to be good value. We've only really used standby travel between MEL>DXB which is around the $300 return mark, depending on currency conversion at the time. My mother has been going back and forth to DXB quite a lot over the past 4 years to help sis out with the kids which has been cost effective travel for her.

Dad also goes to Europe at least every 2 years to visit family which is always a standby flight to DXB, few days rest there and a confirmed flight to Europe, same again on the way back which costs around $1k return.

The worst experience I've had with standby is having 3 attempts to get back home from DXB to MEL a few years ago, otherwise we've had it pretty good if you can keep an eye on loads.

 

[UP4014]

Have never not got a J seat when booked, I have a sibling with an airline. Pick the right day for the route and very good chance, check which days have the lightest loadings.

You get your Y BP at check in and J at the gate if no one trumps you in between, but need to book J from the outset.

Pilots like jb would be ranked fairly high up the list on the QF scale of priority, with Directors at 1 and the subcontract cleaner at 72 (or what ever the number is, something in the 70's).

Travelling solo makes this work, a family is obviously more difficult, but if you book J you do bump the staff who booked Y meaning there are different levels of staff. With such a good deal why would anyone book Y.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Pilots like jb would be ranked fairly high up the list on the QF scale of priority, with Directors at 1 and the subcontract cleaner at 72 (or what ever the number is, something in the 70's).

Travelling solo makes this work, a family is obviously more difficult, but if you book J you do bump the staff who booked Y meaning there are different levels of staff. With such a good deal why would anyone book Y.

If you have an upgradeable J ticket you won't bump Y staff unless you had a higher onload priority than them anyway as there are two categories - an onload category and upgrade category.

If there are only two J seats left on the flight and staff with Y tickets have a higher onload category than you, then two commercial pax in Y will end up in J and those staff will get those vacated Y seats.

Even if someone has the highest staff leisure travel upgrade category, an NB with an airport opt in upgrade request would still trump you on the day.

 

[UP4014]

If you have an upgradeable J ticket you won't bump Y staff unless you had a higher onload priority than them anyway as there are two categories - an onload category and upgrade category. If there are only two J seats left on the flight and staff with Y tickets have a higher onload category than you, then two commercial pax in Y will end up in J and those staff will get those vacated Y seats.Even if someone has the highest staff leisure travel upgrade category, an NB with an airport opt in upgrade request you would still trump you on the day.

Yes there are two levels of priority, I guess I might be reasonably up the list on the staff seniority priority side to have trumped people, but, I will take you word on it. I did seem to remember being told booking J gave me an advantage, maybe only against lower level J's.Choose the flights wisely and you'll be a winner.

 

[jb747]

Sadly, people who are not in the industry are making a lot of assumptions.

Different airlines have very different interpretations of how staff travel should work. Some are quite happy to make the ticket confirmed, whilst others may actually charge staff more than a ticket could be purchased for off the web...and still make it standby.

I wasn't joking when I said I buy real tickets...I've just done so for my next leave.

 

[jb747]

Yes there are two levels of priority, I guess I might be reasonably up the list on the staff seniority priority side to have trumped people, but, I will take you word on it. I did seem to remember being told booking J gave me an advantage, maybe only against lower level J's.Choose the flights wisely and you'll be a winner.

Again, depending upon the airline, there are many, many, levels of priority. If you haven't been bumped you've been very lucky.

 

[Foreigner]

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

You're right. Many book more than one flight and as they get closer to their preferred date of travel are able to change bookings

 

[seanpodge]

Would i be right to assume that such tickets wouldn't earn FF points?

 

[UP4014]

Would i be right to assume that such tickets wouldn't earn FF points?

You are correct, and no louge access. (and I think you are asked to decline the PJ's if offered )

 

[UP4014]

Again, depending upon the airline, there are many, many, levels of priority. If you haven't been bumped you've been very lucky.

I do put it down the luck and some good management on constant checking the loading on the flight from a week out up until I get to the gate and have my J boarding pass in hand.


Matt

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I do put it down the luck and some good management on constant checking the loading on the flight from a week out up until I get to the gate and have my J boarding pass in hand.


Matt

Another thing you need to monitor is the JQ cancellations as a full A320 load of JQ pax will swallow up availability quickly on both VA & QF flights.

Be wary if your home port does not usually have a scheduled A380 service and you suddenly see one. Unless the stop is a gas & go then you might suddenly find 400 pax needing seats on BNE/SYD domestic flights which happened this week.

 

[williamsf1]

Sadly, people who are not in the industry are making a lot of assumptions.

Different airlines have very different interpretations of how staff travel should work. Some are quite happy to make the ticket confirmed, whilst others may actually charge staff more than a ticket could be purchased for off the web...and still make it standby.

I wasn't joking when I said I buy real tickets...I've just done so for my next leave.

+1 for another who rather buy a confirm commercial fare over a STBY ticket .... especially in places like the USA and Europe , the difference between STBY and a ID ticket can be very little ..... for $20-$50 difference it is not worth the stress ... Then throw in the dress standards .. rather be in shorts and shirt flying out of a hot city in summer!

 

[UP4014]

Another thing you need to monitor is the JQ cancellations as a full A320 load of JQ pax will swallow up availability quickly on both VA & QF flights.

Be wary if your home port does not usually have a scheduled A380 service and you suddenly see one. Unless the stop us a gas & go then you might suddenly find 400 pax needing seats on BNE/SYD domestic flights which happened this week.

I only use it on trans pacific flights, makes it straight forward and never connect anywhere, always just buy a regular ticket on AA when I get to LAX. Being on staff travel on a partner airline is the lowest level of priority and not worth it.

 

[andmiz]

I travel on staff travel/ID travel out of my base of HKG. The flexible nature of it is great; can cancel anytime or choose to travel earlier/later. The uncertainty sucks though! Always have to have extra time or a backup organised, but it's generally always worked out ok. Some airlines do ID travel far better than others.

 

[Foreigner]

You are correct, and no louge access. (and I think you are asked to decline the PJ's if offered )

And the attire when you check in must conform to airline policy

 

[TomVexille]

And the attire when you check in must conform to airline policy

I still feel a little weird travelling in jeans

 

[anat0l]

My aunt has staff travel rights.

I don't know how she finds it herself, but she must be doing fairly well, whether she is travelling alone, with my uncle, or as a family with my cousin as well. Always travelling J. Pretty good hit rate in terms of getting tickets on the dates that they want (either spot on, or a couple of days either way). Must be pretty lucky.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

And the attire when you check in must conform to airline policy

You are correct, and no louge access. (and I think you are asked to decline the PJ's if offered )

Some airlines are more strict than others from what I hear. T-shirt and shorts are fine, lounge access is allowed etc.

I imagine another big downside being you're last to have meal order taken/might miss out, and if you have multiple flights on the agenda - entering the country and re-checking in again as opposed to seamless interlining of baggage.

 

[UP4014]

Some airlines are more strict than others from what I hear. T-shirt and shorts are fine, lounge access is allowed etc.

I imagine another big downside being you're last to have meal order taken/might miss out, and if you have multiple flights on the agenda - entering the country and re-checking in again as opposed to seamless interlining of baggage.

There are plenty of downsides, but the upside is the money saved on a J fare Sydney LAX is enough for the next two weeks road trip.

The crew are pretty good that I have come across, even making up the bed after I said I'd do it, disappeared to the bathroom and it was done. Haven't missed a choice of meal either.

The multiple flights bit would be tricky, hence I don't do it, a single flight only.

Horses for courses.


Matt

 

[Quickstatus]

Is staff travel a fringe benefit?, I wonder if the difference in $$ can be classified as income and so be taxed according to FBT legislation?