12 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Non-Rev Flight

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Are you a new airline employee or are you looking for ways to take your traveling to the next level? No matter where you fall on the seniority scale, most of us had to learn some of these lessons the hard way. Lucky for you, we have compiled a list of our best tips for both new & seasoned non-rev travelers.

While we can’t promise that every non-rev trip you embark upon will go smoothly, we can guarantee that following our list of tips will improve your non-rev experience. Apply these tips the next time you head to the airport, and you will be an expert non-rev in no time!

1. Always Have A Backup Plan (Or Two)

First and foremost, flexibility is king when it comes to successful non-rev travel. It pains me every time I see a fellow non-rev passenger scrap their travel plans because they were not willing to compromise on their destination or routing. I always recommend that non-revs plan at least 3 itineraries 48 hours prior to departure; this forces you to brainstorm multiple destinations and research alternate airport routings in case something stops you from flying your original itinerary.

2. Check The Weather Forecasts

This seems like common sense, right? I think that most people check the weather of their departure city and destination. Part of planning out the perfect hiking trip itinerary requires checking the forecast to make sure the weather is permitting.

Beyond your destination’s forecast, successful non-revs & frequent flyers understand that weather events play a huge part in commercial airline schedules. As you continue to accumulate non-rev flying experience, you will find that adverse weather on the other side of the country could affect your plans.

I recommend going straight to the source (https://www.weather.gov/) to help you recognize potential weather-related challenges. For example, your upcoming flight leg from DEN-SFO could very much be at risk of being delayed (or even canceled) if your scheduled inbound aircraft is stuck in ORD due to an FAA-mandated severe thunderstorm ground stop. Learning how to anticipate & react to these situations will keep you one step ahead of the crowd.

3. Know Your Hubs & Focus Cities

Part of reacting to challenges like adverse weather includes knowing how to find alternate routes to your destination. Seasoned non-revs have their airlines’ route map ingrained in their brains, and this is information that you will need to commit to memory for when you are adapting to changing itineraries on the fly. If you end up needing to change your connection/destination during your trip, understanding which airports have a large quantity of connections allows you to map out alternate routes. Alternatively, understanding your airlines’ route network will let you know which hubs (and subsequent destinations) to avoid when flight loads begin to fill up.

4. Skip The Checked Bag

By now, you have noticed a very clear theme: flexibility is the key to improving your odds of successful non-rev travel. If you are hopping between multiple airports and changing your connecting flights as you go, the last thing you want to worry about is your checked luggage not being transferred over to your new flight. For that reason, I always recommend that non-rev flyers should avoid checking a bag whenever possible. 

Your airline likely provides a free checked bag perk as part of your non-rev benefits package, and it can be a great way to bring home bottles from your latest trip or larger bags when necessary. That said, I have found that a thoughtful packing and proper carry-on baggage are all you need for the vast majority of your trips. If you find yourself struggling to slim down what you travel with, check out our recommended packing lists to see how we manage to fit everything we need in our favorite carry-on bags.

5. Leverage Your Industry Perks

Thanks to your connection to the travel industry, you now have access to insider discounts. Interline sites like ID90 and Perx allow employees, friends, and families to book industry rates for hotels, cruises, and more.

ID90 has a great app UI and it is my go-to site for booking hotels at below-market rate (if you don’t have an ID account yet, sign up using my referral link for $10 off your first hotel booking).

Perx is a good option for booking all-inclusives and cruises because many of their offerings can be “bump-protected” in case you get bumped off your flight.

Pro Tip: non-rev standby travel can be unpredictable, so I try to wait until I have my seat assignment before I confirm my hotel booking.

6. Explore Alternative Lodging

Can’t find any hotels in your destination city that suit your fancy? Consider booking alternative lodging on your next non-rev adventure. From hostels to full house rentals, you can rest assured that you have more options than ever before at your fingertips. 

HostelWorld has become my go-to resource for researching hostels around the globe. Hostels provide a unique experience that combines low-cost lodging with ample opportunities for social interactions. Sharing rooms in a hostel is not for everyone, but I encourage everyone to stay in a hostel at least once. 

AirBnB, widely regarded as one of the best alternatives for travelers around the world, has expanded beyond just short-term rentals. In addition to the wide range of unique & eclectic homes that we have stayed at thanks to AirBnB, I have also used the platform to book experiences while traveling. Most recently, I booked a Cuban cooking class in Havana through AirBnB that afforded us an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. If you have yet to try AirBnB, feel free to sign up with our referral code to get $35 off your first reservation.

7. Don’t Be Afraid Of Public Transportation

Many developed airports have robust public transportation system connections, and that is especially true when arriving in major international destinations. Do a little research and see if you can find rail or bus options from the airport to your hotel or lodging.

Taking public transportation affords you the ability to traverse a new city through the eyes of the people who live there. Public transit can also save you some significant cash when compared with local taxis or rideshares.

Google Maps’ transit feature is an easy way to find out if your trip can benefit from rail or bus connections within your current area. 

If you are transiting between two cities, Rome2Rio is another good resource that we have used on our trips. The site compiles various combinations of multi-modal transit modes to illustrate & price out any options available to you. 

8. Download Offline Maps

Let’s talk about map apps for a second. Did you know that you can use your cell phone’s GPS functionality while on airplane mode without fear of racking up international data charges? While not always a concern in your home country with cell phone network access, downloading your map data is a handy way to ensure that you will never get lost in another country (or anywhere else without data coverage).

To accomplish this, open up your phone’s standard map application and navigate to the Offline Maps menu. From here, you will be able to download and temporarily save the map data for as long as you are on your trip. Never pay international roaming data charges again!

9. Get Your Money Right (Especially Before Leaving The Country)

This topic itself has so many different facets that it could be its own post, but we will stick to the highlights here. Gone are the days of travelers checks and ordering foreign currency at your local bank’s abysmal exchange rate. The best way to get foreign currency at market rates is to simply withdraw cash from an ATM at your destination. Most international airports will have ample ATMs that should give you decent exchange rates (though you will likely pay an out-of-network surcharge, so you need to research & understand your bank’s foreign ATM policy.

While cash is great to have for taxis or street vendors, let’s not forget that we’re living in the 21st century. Most merchants accept credit cards or tap-to-pay methods through your smart devices. Carrying a credit card with a 0% foreign transaction fee is an absolute necessity for the modern traveler, and they provide more consumer protections than a debit card ever could. If you are interested in learning more, we have compiled a guide of the best credit cards for non-rev travelers. 

10. Always Bring Your Passport

By now, I think every non-rev knows that flying standby can be unpredictable. Every seasoned non-rev traveler knows that unplanned connections are part of the game when you are bumped off your original itinerary, and you may find yourself connecting in the most unlikely of places.

A friend once told me that he had connected through London’s Heathrow Airport after a weekend trip. LHR is a common connecting hub for people taking transatlantic flights after traveling in Europe, so it did not sound too out of the ordinary. What came next was the kicker: he wasn’t connecting through LHR from a European destination, but rather because LHR was the only viable connection between JFK & DFW. This man had spent his weekend in New York, but the only way for him to fly home from NY to Texas was to go back & forth across the Atlantic!

Thankfully, most non-rev travelers will never have to resort to that level of desperation.However,  you never know when you will need a passport to make a connection and you will be glad you had packed your passport just in case. 

11. Be A Kind & Compassionate Traveler

It goes without saying, but every non-rev pass rider needs to live by this principle. In all my years of traveling, I have found that kindness goes a long way.

Traveling can be stressful, especially when things don’t go according to plan. We encourage all non-rev travelers to not only empathize with those around them, but to actively promote a culture of compassion and positivity. Sharing a smile with your fellow passengers, exchanging a friendly wave with the airline crew, and making it a point to say “thank you” to your gate agents are all small acts of kindness that can transform the travel experience in the best of ways.

My goal every day is to positively impact the people around me, and that mindset does not change just because I have somewhere to be that day. Who knows: you may even score some extra mini bottles or treats from the crew for your efforts!

12. Never Give Up

We all know the painful emotions associated with seeing your name at the bottom of the priority list on an oversold flight. The onset of helplessness is quick & vicious, but I challenge you to try replacing that feeling with ferocious optimism the next time you feel it creeping up on you.

 For every flight that I have been bumped off of, I have a story about squeaking it onto a flight with an impossibly long standby list. No matter how crazy the flight load may look, head to the gate and wait until boarding is finished. You always have a chance at getting on your flight while that boarding door is open. Since flight loads are constantly fluctuating, you never know when you will catch a lucky break and snag some newly-vacated seats. My recommendation: never, ever leave the boarding area until the flight has been officially closed.

Conclusion

So that’s it: our list of lessons & tips that we have learned after hundreds & hundreds of non-rev flights. I am sure some of these hit close to home for some of you, and I hope you learned something new as well.

Do you live by any tips that we missed in our list? Let us know in the comments below!

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