14 Apps Every Non-Rev Needs To Download On Their Phone
The number of travel apps in the marketplace is simply overwhelming these days, and non-rev travelers have specific needs that need to be addressed. Based on the trials & tribulations faced throughout hundreds of non-rev trips, here are some apps that I think every standby traveler needs to have downloaded before their next trip.
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StaffTraveler
Uncertainty is something that all non-rev travelers embrace, and that is especially true when trying to fly standby on another airline. Flying on a ZED ticket offers limited visibility into the OAL’s priority list, so I use the Staff Traveler app to gain an edge. This means that I get flight loads & standby list information directly from other airline employees. How great is that? Many apps & social media groups have similar functions, but the StaffTraveler app has become my go-to resource because I get the quickest responses.
If you have never used StaffTraveler, consider using Standby With Me’s referral link to sign up to support this blog.
ID90 Travel
Looking to book a hotel or hire a car? Set up an ID90 Travel account to take full advantage of travel industry discounts. ID90 functions similarly to the major third-party travel resources and is tailored specifically to airline employees & tourism professionals. The great thing about ID90 Travel is that airline employees can grant friends & family access, so I have been able to get my companions access to the same discounts when they are traveling on their own.
Use Standby With Me’s referral link to set up your ID90 Travel account and get $10 off your first hotel booking.
AirBnB
I have used AirBnB’s service across the world. From beachfront condos in Cancun to the backroom of a Houston antique shop, AirBnB has been my one-stop shop for unique lodging. Now that AirBnB offers curated experiences (like the New Year’s Eve cooking class we enjoyed in Havana), there are more reasons than ever to browse AirBnB’s offerings.
First-time AirBnB users can take advantage of Standby With Me’s referral link to get up to a $35 discount on your first booking
Weather Underground
Anyone who has ever suffered through a weather delay knows that irregular operations (IROPs for short) can wreak havoc on the standby priority list. Non-revs need to be extra aware of the weather systems moving throughout the country during their planned travel days. We don’t have the luxury of being accommodated due to delays!
Keep a good weather app, like Weather Underground, on hand so you can keep an eye on major airports. Experienced travelers know that inclement weather over a hub airport has to potential to affect your inbound aircraft or crew, so it never hurts to be prepared with the knowledge of developing storms.
LoungeBuddy
As discussed in our Best Credit Cards For Non-Rev Travelers Guide, I think all serious non-revs should have lounge access. Your flying status will dictate if an airline-specific lounge network or a third-party system is better for your needs, but many non-revs find that holding multiple memberships is worth it.
The LoungeBuddy app is a global index of lounges that can show you exactly what options are available to you when you arrive at the airport. Simply plug in the airport you are arriving out and LoungeBuddy will show you the location, hours, and amenities of every lounge at each terminal (as well as the entry requirements so you know if your membership grants you access).
AwardWallet
If you have been following our credit card recommendations for non-revs, you have been making sure to stack your loyalty points & credit miles to save you money when you travel. Once you begin amassing serious points, having an app like AwardWallet makes it easy to track the balance of all of your reward accounts.
I have all of my airline, hotel, rental car, and even grocery store rewards accounts synced with my AwardWallet app so I always know how many rewards I earn and when my rewards are ready to be redeemed.
Rome2rio
Need to find your way between two distant cities? Consider using Rome2rio, which can compile a number of transit options to get you from Point A to Point B. Rome2rio gives you a thorough review by breaking down each route by price & approximate time of transit.
Most travelers understand that there are plenty of options to get around your destination, and Rome2rio is the best at aggregating everything from public transit to international ferries. I have found this app to be especially useful when looking for alternate routes to get around Europe.
Seated
Dining out can be expensive, but the Seated app actually pays you to do it. Seated partners with restaurants to offer rewards to patrons who make a reservation or submit a receipt proving that they dined at their establishment.
We aren’t talking pocket change here: I have earned no less than 18% on every transaction entered into the app.
Seated isn’t available in all cities, but it has partners in many airline hub cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Ney York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. If you are based in a hub city, Seated is a no-brainer!
Use StandbyWithMe’s referral link to earn $15 on your first qualifying transaction.
Rakuten
Rakuten is best known as a cash back portal that pays you to shop at certain websites, but did you know that they have a dining rewards program as well?
Rakuten members can link their credit cards to their profile to earn extra cash back whenever they pay for food or drinks at partner restaurants.
The best part is that Rakuten’s dining rewards program has a national network of partners, so there is a good chance that your regular dining habits will start earning you extra cash just for signing up.
Use StandbyWithMe’s referral link to earn $30 on your first qualifying transaction.
Google Translate
If you are traveling to a foreign country, odds are you need some support with the local language. I have found Google’s app to be the easiest way to translate menus, signs, and even spoken language. With over 100 supported languages, Google Translate will become a well-utilized tool for all of your international flying.
Being able to use your camera to translate foreign menus is an absolute lifesaver when you are too hungry to think.
Duolingo
Ready to make the leap to actually learning a new language? Duolingo offers free lessons in dozens of different languages. I personally have been using Duolingo to take Spanish lessons nearly every day, and I even used it to take basic lessons in Chinese & Portugese to prepare for trips to Beijing & Rio de Janeiro.
Download Duolingo using Standby With Me’s invite link.
XE Currency Converter
Traveling to a country that uses a different currency than what you have in your wallet? Download XE Currency to get the most trustworthy currency app available today. Don’t let your bank’s abysmal exchange rate fool you before your trip.
The XE Currency Converter app updates every 60 seconds so you know that you will have the most up-to-date exchange rates available.
Google Maps
Nothing beats Google Maps when it comes to tracking your location & points of interest. The offline map functionality of Google Maps allows you to temporarily cache your map data so you can use GPS & location services while in airplane mode. This is great news for non-rev travelers like me who want to avoid international data charges while exploring a new country.
I use Google Maps to pin my hotel location, restaurants/bars I want to try, and any points-of-interest that I want to visit. Google Maps also has access to the public transportation network of most major cities, so you can find multiple ways to get around town wherever you end up.
Lyft/Uber
Consider using one of the major ridesharing apps when local transit or taxi services are not feasible. I generally prefer Lyft (new users can earn a $15 ride credit via my referral link), but I have found that Uber’s global coverage is much more visible in other countries.
A word of caution: ridesharing in some parts of the world is not as acceptable as it is at home. I recommend doing a quick search on the state of ridesharing in your destination before deciding to hail a rideshare car. A couple years ago, I was transiting through Santiago, Chile and learned that Uber was in a gray area because of its unregulated status. While the app was functional & showed no signs of trouble, I was instructed by my driver to sit in the front seat and pretend we were family in case we were stopped.
Final Thoughts
All of the apps listed above have found their way onto my phone because of their usefulness over my many years of non-rev flying. It is all too easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of app choices in this day and age, but each of these apps has proved their value to me many times over. This is why I compiled this list of recommended apps for you.
Do you have any success stories with these apps? Is there an app that has changed your non-rev life that I did not mention in our recommendations? Let me know in the comments below! The non-rev world is always evolving, so I welcome any new ideas that add value for other standby passengers.
I trust the Hotels Tonight app to deliver solid hotel options on a night of basis. They only offer to book with a curated list of hotels, so you aren’t overwhelmed with options. Once you know you need a hotel in Miami (for example) you will find multiple price points and locations. To help you decide, there are pictures, descriptions and maps for each property. You can find some great deals offered at the last minute. Over time, you rank up in status in the app to unlock bigger discounts and special daily deals.
Nice! I really love the concept of HotelsTonight. I once bought a couple non-refundable hotel nights in London that I wasn’t able to use, so I tried to sell them on HotelTonight for a cheap rate. I didn’t get any takers, but I have to imagine it’s a great way to recoup some cash in that situation.
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MyID90 referral link isn’t working.