Non-Rev Travel 101: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Airline Benefits

What does Non-Rev Travel Mean

Flying non-rev travel or standby simply means that you are flying on space available or flying on airline benefits. This is a perk of working for the airlines, and it is a great way for airline families to travel the world. Basically if there are seats you are awarded those based on many different factors. The factors include: seniority, time of listing, and time when you checked in. So exactly can use these benefits other than the employee-their immediate families, the parents of the employees (some airlines allow the employee to choose either the parents or in-laws), some allow a travel companion, and some airlines still award buddy passes. This is different from paid airline tickets because if the plane is full you will not get on but you do not get any benefits from the airline. It is a great way to travel if you are willing to be adventurous, but it can be stressful if you aren’t willing to be FLEXIBLE which is a key to success! For more tips and tricks make sure you are following our Instagram page-JetsettingBees

Definitions to Know

Standby/Non Revenue: The employee or their family member flying on the non-rev travel benefits. It costs nothing in the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. Flying internationally will cost you taxes (watch these as they can be pricey). But you do not have a CONFIRMED ticket this literally means space available…i.e. there is space available on the flight you get on, if it’s booked you do not get on. 

Buddy Pass: Someone who is outside of your immediate peassriders that you give a discounted ticket to who will be flying non-rev travel. They are at the bottom of the priority list though and pay a reduced fare plus taxes. It is not always the best deal and some airlines are doing away with them. I have used my buddy passes for several friends and we have gone to some really cool places, but if you have a Thrifty Traveler account you can find a cheap fare and probably get a ticket for less than a buddy pass which can cost upwards of $600 for a round trip to Europe (amazing deal if you get first class not so amazing if you’re in a middle seat that doesn’t recline). 

Seniority: When the employee was hired at the airlines. Seniority can be everything at some airlines. It goes by who has the most senior date of hire. Then when you retire you go below active employees but above buddy passes and then again it is ordered by your hire date. 

Priority: Basically where you fall on the list. Remember some airlines go based on when you checked in and it doesn’t matter when you were hired but others are based on seniority. 

Travel Companion: This is either someone who is not a spouse that you have chosen to receive your benefits or at some airlines you can have both a spouse and a travel companion now! 

Other Airline Travel (OAL) or ZED: This is the best bennie of all! You can fly on other airlines who have agreements with your company for a discounted fare! Think a tiny fraction of the cost and the best part is there are airlines all over the world! We have used this to ZED on Austrian, KLM, Aer Lingus, and VietJet. 

How Standby Tickets Work for Non-Rev Travel

So how do standby tickets work? Well seniority is the key to success at the airlines in most cases, but not all! How is your place in the listing determined? Some airlines like Delta and United are based on seniority meaning when the employee was hired at the airline. Other airlines, such as American (within each pass level), JetBlue, and Southwest go off when you check in. From there many airlines offer “vacation” passes which give you a higher position on the listing and then it goes off of either seniority or check in time. Each employee is only offered a handful of these a year so I suggest saving them for those sticky situations. Typically companions and buddy passes are the lowest level though and then again it is based on seniority or check in time. Another thing to note is that once you have been at your employer long enough (oftentimes it is 6 months to a year) you can ZED. This is a wonderful benefit that can help you out if you are ever in a pickle and stuck somewhere.

Something to Note About Non-Rev Travel

You may be offered a seat that you don’t like or that isn’t with your family. You may be traveling with your small children (even toddlers) and you get separated. You can either opt to not fly and tell the gate agent that you’d rather wait for seats together or suck it up and take the seats assigned. You cannot under any circumstances expect to swap seats with paying passengers. I will say I have had times where I was offered a premium economy seat and my very young child was in the back alone. I offered a paying passenger next to her my better seat. I once was told no thank you. Another passenger sitting across the aisle said she preferred a premium economy seat so she took it. If she hadn’t though, I would have been fine sitting separately. From the time my children were very young we taught them how to act on an airplane and how to be respectful to those people around them. I will say gate agents do try to put families together but sometimes it’s last minute and they have no other choice. 

How to Read Loads

How to read the loads will determine how successful you are at, at non revving. Employees have full access to the loads and many airlines now have apps or websites for the family members to list themselves and see the numbers. Basically you should see the total number of seats that are available and the number that have been sold. Then you just do basic math! If there are 20 seats, and they have sold 18 seats then there are 2 seats available. But know that many times flights can even look oversold and then things happen and non revvers get on. What you should know is that if there are 2 seats available and there are 2 people in front of you then there are 0 seats available. But again don’t let this deter you. If you are flying ZED you can use apps like StaffTraveler where you can find out the available seats on other airlines. Many airlines will tell you the chances-green, yellow, or red. Again there have been times I have gotten on flights that were red and oversold by multiple.

What are the Best Days & Times to Non-Rev Travel

While the best day is any day you’re willing to take the chance, statistically speaking flights are least full on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Many business travelers travel on a Monday which can make those days difficult to travel especially into cities like Washington DC and New York. Sundays are typically days that people travel home from trips, especially after the holidays. Avoid the Sunday after Thanksgiving which can be incredibly full. 

The best times are typically the first flights out of the day. This is because oftentimes people miss these flights because they’re early and they oversleep. If there is impending weather, I highly suggest you opt for the morning flight. Trust me, I know the 3 am wake up is no fun, but I can promise it’s better than being stuck somewhere for 12-14 hours (ask me how I know). 

Personally, we tend to avoid summer break! And we definitely avoid summer break to places like Hawaii, Florida, Europe..basically high travel places. If you cannot get on a flight and you’re stuck somewhere it can get very expensive very quickly. Also avoid spring break! This is one time I refuse to non rev because the flights are extremely full. It doesn’t matter if you want to go to Florida or skiing, everyone else has the same idea. 

My favorite times to travel are off-season-late August and early May. It is cheaper and the flights are less full. I know that doesn’t always work with people’s school schedules but it really is the best time. If you have kids in school, I suggest taking weekend trips. A flight from the east coast to Europe is only 8 hoursish. If you have a long weekend take the trip! Leave Friday after school, and you will arrive in Europe Saturday morning. enjoy all day Saturday and Sunday and the fly home Monday just in time for school to start Tuesday. The jet lag really isn’t terrible, and for such a short trip you honestly won’t even notice it. Plus if you happen to get lay flat beds you can sleep on the way there so you can enjoy all of the first day in the country! 

What to Pack for Non-Rev Travel

First, I typically recommend carry on only. We do occasionally check a bag but it’s very very occasionally! Also make sure all bags have an Apple AirTag in case they get lost. Oftentimes because you are the last to board they will check your bag to your final location so make sure whatever you will need is in a true carry on bag that will fit under the seat. I recommend this suitcase and this backpack! 

Domestic vs. International Flights

If I am just flying non-rev travel for a domestic flight I will put everything in my carry on except what I need for the flight. I tend to use this set which is my favorite especially for non-rev travel domestically. An important note-your bag will go even if you don’t go if you have checked it prior to boarding. They usually put some kind of sticker on it that identifies it as a standby bag so that way if you don’t make it the baggage handlers can pull it and hold it for you. Once you finally land you can go and retrieve it from them. Again this is why having an Apple AirTag is so important. If you are doing a red eye flight bring a pillow and blanket because they no longer offer these anymore on domestic flights. 

For non-rev travel on international flights I put a change of clothes into my bag, like this, that goes under the seat in case my bag gets checked and lost. They will not put your bag on the flight unless you make the flight on international flights. So if it is a last minute boarding thing your bag may not make it which is why I suggest not checking a bag. If it doesn’t make it they will not deliver it to you so you will be responsible for retrieving it. Also for international flights I recommend these socks and this eye mask. You will thank me! If you are going to ZED on an international carrier make sure you know their luggage rules. Some of them are very strict. Also again I suggest a water bottle and fill it up prior to flying as some charge even for water! Another thing I suggest is bringing a blanket and small travel pillow because while they give you one on international flights they are flimsy. 

Food/Drink/Snacks for Non-Rev Travel

I always take some snacks with me. Since my daughter has celiac we also carry gluten-free food if we are going to have a long travel day (internationally or cross continental). Some airports have gluten-free others do not have much. I have a blog post on traveling successfully gluten-free with lots of tips. Also always take a water bottle and some hydration packets if you have a long day. Did you know that it is very easy to become dehydrated while flying! These are what we use on a daily basis and these are good for travel! I also try to carry some basic meds. 

Entertainment

We usually carry our phones, a set of headphones, and a Kindle or iPad. Do not forget chargers and a portable charging block (these cannot be put in checked luggage or used while in flight) because these can come in handy if you’re in an airport without a lot of wall chargers. Also use a charging block! Don’t ever plug a phone directly into a USB charger in public.

How to Dress for Success for Non-Rev Travel

Every airline has different rules for non revving. Some require more business casual and ban things like leggings while others have virtually no rules. Personally I recommend dressing comfortable but nice in case you have to ZED on an airline with rules. If I know I am not going to be Zedding and I am on a long haul I will wear a nice pair or leggings with a nice sweater or top depending on the season. I have a few favorite pieces though that look nice but are comfortable. I just try to plan for the worst case scenario. One thing that is not allowed basically on every airline is items with profane language. No one wants to see that so just leave it at home. Showing excess skin is often not allowed either and let’s leave the pajamas at home because this is basically banned on all airlines. 

Layers are your Friend

I cannot stress this enough. It might be 100 degrees outside and the plane on the ground may also be incredibly warm, but once you start flying it may be much cooler. Also for some reason (I am sure there is a scientific explanation) on long hauls in the middle of the night I will be freezing and suddenly I am burning up. So I layer up that way I can take off or add layers as necessary. 

How to Act as a Non Rev Traveler

Remember to be on your best behavior. Do not do things like ask another more senior non revver if you can have their seat because you have never sat in first class before (we actually had this happen! She then tried to bribe my husband with money-my husband told her she should stop before she got the employee in a lot of trouble). Do not tell people that you are flying free. Do not expect special treatment. If a gate agent does something that is incorrect such as clear people out of order, do not make a scene simply ask them quietly about it. I once had a gate agent tell me something incorrect, I simply said can you show me the policy and where it says that? She couldn’t and realized she was wrong. I also had a gate agent call me the wrong name and because I failed to appear she gave my seat away. We actually wrote her up. My name is the most basic name and she knew she had screwed up and didn’t even attempt to apologize. The next flight was oversold by 50! So it cost me dearly. For the most part airline employees are the nicest people and they want to make sure you get on the flight.

Remember

Just take a deep breath! Get creative if it isn’t looking good. Maybe you can’t go from DCA to SEA but you can go DCA to DTW to SEA then do it!