Flying Standby Overrated

[E_Dawg]

It is not overrated in the least!!! In fact it might be underrated since not nearly enough people take advantage of this GREAT benefit. You can go almost anywhere in the world for 1-3% or less of what a normal ticket costs, including taxes. In some cases you're able to get business or even first class, which really makes getting there part of the fun instead just a means to get somewhere. It also allows for spontaneity, you can see an article in a travel mag and a few hours later be on an airplane to that exact destination.

Downsides being that it's hard to motivate yourself to go to the airport on a day off, even if you are going somewhere fun. Also nothing is 'free', and if all the seats are sold, you're not getting on. However there are ways to check loads in advance and modify your travel plans if need be. I never go international without good loads AND a backup plan to get back to somewhere in the US, be it another airline, multiple flights a day, standby tickets on a foreign airline (zed fares), etc.

Domestic is entirely free, but I figure if I haven't been there already, we probably have a layover somewhere similar...

 

[SoCalAprch]

Worth about as much as a used square of toilet paper. J/K I haven't even used any of my travel bennies yet...

 

[scramjet]

I grew up in an airline family and still have the bennies as a college student until I'm graduated. Man oh man are they worth it! Used to be you could get a lot of places out of PIT with just one leg or rarely two. Nowadays it's not so great with the hub gone, but it's not that bad either. Plus I like flying multiple legs, it's just fun to me. I won't even tell you the route I had to take to get to SAT from PIT one time! :laff:

As far as the meals, USAir doesn't provide them anymore, but when they did, we never had to "go last" that I remember. The only time I remember having to go last for the meals was flying from Pittsburgh to Frankfurt once (still got food) and another time flying First Class to Denver only because my dad didn't list us soon enough.

 

[Kristie]

Highly over-rated. For the exact same reasons that the "not over-rated" folks have stated.

You have to be flexible.
You never know if you will get on the plane to leave.
If you make it to the destination, you don't know if you will make the flight back.....or the next one.....or the next one.
If you want to vacation when/where the masses are vacationing, forget it.
You may have to "get creative" flying multi legs to get where you want.
Non-revs also get last dibs on meal flights.

I prefer the fewest legs possible and guaranteed seating (FC of course). I don't want to spend half my time waiting in terminals or airlining though cities I didn't plan on visiting. You either have to pony up the $$ or cash in some perk points (free/space positive).

Overated?! Lets see, in the last 6 months my girlfriend and I have flown

SAT- LAS
SAT- ORD
SAT- DCA
SAT- LAS
SAT- SLC
SAT-RDU
SAT- DCA (got back yesterday)

all for free. Just for working in an enviroment in which I love for an airline which I enjoy. Plus all of my friends that have boring desk and construction jobs are jealous that we (airlines employees) have such great benefits which adds to the fun.

and that right there shows the perk....sure, you could get a guaranteed FC ticket and pay a bazillion dollars for that ticket...but you won't get to travel as nearly as often as you can when non-revving... it makes vacations a lot less expensive and therefore, more frequent.

I've never been denied a meal flying coach overseas or domestically.. sure, in FC, it's possible to get last dibs but i've really only experienced that maybe once or twice on the many trips i've had... and it really doesn't bother me to not get what i'd like to try... they're all "ok" and it's food.

The FA's do get a list that labels the non-revs but it also labels the passengers as well so if they need to call you by name, they can. esp in FC where technically you should be called by Mr, Mrs, Miss...

it's yin/yang!

 

[falconvalley]

Like others said, I think it's all in how you look at it. I look at it like investing. If you take the low risk, you might not really get much of a return, because you're not utilizing much of the investment. If you take the high risk, you could come out way ahead or you could bomb big time. Try the medium risk. It will give you the best average return and the chances you will be happy with your investment are good. This means, take stand-by for what it's worth. It's "stand-by", meaning you ride if there's a seat available and everything else works out. It shouldn't be counted on as dependable transportation, because it's not. It's great for those who want a free ride somewhere and can either find a way back or be flexible about when they travel. I've used it many times with great success but, I haven't used it for 100% of my travels. It has given me more time with my family and friends for much, much less money. You can't over-rate that.

 

[NJA_Capt]

...but you won't get to travel as nearly as often as you can when non-revving... it makes vacations a lot less expensive and therefore, more frequent.

I've never been denied a meal flying coach overseas or domestically.. sure, in FC, it's possible to get last dibs but i've really only experienced that maybe once or twice on the many trips i've had... and it really doesn't bother me to not get what i'd like to try... they're all "ok" and it's food.

I don't buy FC tickets, I use my perk points and get 4 FC tickets and a week in a Hilton free. That is a perk. Does brand X airline cover your week in a hotel? I didn't think so.

I have had FAs "attempt" to pass me over for snacks/meals because I was in uniform and they thought I was a non-rev.