Traveling by airplane is a lot faster than going by car; It it is also incredibly expensive, especially these days. There is, however, a way to fly for literally nothing. All you need are the airline connections and the know-survive the complicated procedure of flying for free--or, as veteran standbys call it, "non-rev."
Instructions
1. Make friends with an airline employee. The best deals come with the closest relationships. You can fly completely free if you are either the significant other or the immediate family member of a flight attendant or pilot. Airline employees can now designate whomever they wish as their "significant other," without any proof of a relationship. If you are close enough to an employee, you can be his "significant" with no strings attached.
2. Even if "significant other" status proves elusive, there are other options. All airline employees get a certain number of "buddy passes" per year to give to whomever they please. With such a pass, you will still have to pay the taxes on the ticket, but it is definitely cheaper than paying full fare!
3. Determine your priority. There are three levels of non-rev status: S2, S3, S3B, S4. Non-revs fly standby, which means they only get on the plane if there are available seats that have not been purchased by paying passengers. Once it is determined that seats are available on the flight, the agents pull up the list of non-revs according to priority. The standbys are then invited to board the flight in order of their status. S2 is the highest priority: Only significant others and family members can fly S2, and employees are only allowed so many of these a year. Employees do have unlimited S3s, though, which can go to the same people who qualify for S2. S3B passes are the same as S3 passes, but they are a lower priority because they are given to retired employees. The lowest priority is S4, which is the status of those flying on buddy passes.
4. Look on the airline's website or call its phone line to find out how many seats are still available on the flight you would like to take. Certain days of the week, times of day and seasons are better than others for finding empty seats. Be sure to check flights up until the day you leave, because they may have several empty seats weeks before and then very few in the days leading up to the flight. When you have placed yourself on the list of non-revs, this is called being "listed" on a flight.
5. Although most airlines have eliminated dress codes for non-revs, agents and flight attendants still have the right to kick you off if they think you are dressed inappropriately. Also, non-revs have found over and over again that wearing a dress or slacks means you are more likely to be accommodated and treated well by airline staff.
6. When you get to the airport, find the kiosks retained by your airline of choice. Either scan your pass card as you would a credit card or type in your pass number. Follow the on-screen instructions and select what priority you would like to fly (if you are a family member). Remember: each employee has a limited number of S2s, so make sure you clear it with him before using one. There are severe fees for flying S2 more times than has been allotted. The kiosk will print a slip of paper called a "seat request." This is the equivalent of a ticket, so hold on to it for dear life. You will need it to get through security and onto the flight.
7. When you get to the gate, look for the TV screens that are showing flight information. The most important details for you are the Standby and Cleared lists. When you get to the gate, make sure you are on the Standby list. If you are in the top five, you have a good chance of getting on the flight. As the flight begins to board, look for your name on the Cleared list. When your name makes this list, a "zone" number will appear next to your name. You can board as soon as your zone number is called. If there are no screens at the gate, listen carefully and wait for your name to be called.
8. Once your zone number is called, join the line of boarding passengers. When you get to the agent who is scanning tickets, she will scan your seat request and a seat assignment will be printed. If you are not at a gate with a screen, go to the main desk when your name is called and the agent will then assign seats from there, calling the names in order of priority.
9. Don't get discouraged. Flying non-rev is never a guarantee and is rarely easy. Flights will often fill up at the last minute. If you don't get on the first flight you try, there are almost always others. Once the flight you had hoped to board takes off, ask the agent at the main desk if he can roll your name over to the next flight. This is where dressing well and being polite comes in handy. Agents can be difficult, but they can also be very helpful if you are courteous and patient. Chances are, you will get on another flight later that day. If not, there's always tomorrow.
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