Non Rev Adventures and the \"DC Three\"
So Kristie and I were trying to get back to AZ after seeing her father in Virginia this weekend. We arrive at IAD and there are cancellations going on left and right.
Fan-friggen-tastic.
Each flight that cancels throws more revenue passengers into seats that we could occupy in order to fly to ATL or CVG and connect.
The more our flights are delayed, the more flights are cancelled and people getting routed taking up more seats.
Trying to stay one step ahead of the ballgame, I was monitoring both PHX and TUS flights and they were rapidly filling up from misconnects and weather delays.
We had already missed the last IAD-PHX nonstop America West flight that evening and the last United flight had already left so we were pretty much out of options for that evening. Monday, being the day after Easter, was absolutely out of the question for getting ANYWHERE so it was starting to look very dismal for escaping the DC area.
I broke out the iPaq and starting looking at options on America West and they had 12 seats out of DCA at 0700 which only three non-revs were listed. We decided to 'pull the ejection handle' on IAD, went to the ticket counter, purchased a couple of "ID-90's" on America West and got flight listed on the 0700 DCA-PHX flight on America West for this morning.
We were able to finagle two crew discounted bus passes to the Metro station, rode the Metro to the Crystal City station across from the airport and luckily were able to get a massively discounted hotel rate at the Hilton Crystal City.
We made it out of DCA this morning without much of a hassle at all, even after being security 'designees' and having our bags dug thru.
Home Sweet Home! At least, uhh, until I fly back to ATL tomorrow to start a four day trip.
Good seeing ya Saturday, TonyW!
Moral of the story? If you're going to play the non-rev game, be fast on your feet and flexible.
So Kristie and I were trying to get back to AZ after seeing her father in Virginia this weekend. We arrive at IAD and there are cancellations going on left and right.
Fan-friggen-tastic.
Each flight that cancels throws more revenue passengers into seats that we could occupy in order to fly to ATL or CVG and connect.
The more our flights are delayed, the more flights are cancelled and people getting routed taking up more seats.
Trying to stay one step ahead of the ballgame, I was monitoring both PHX and TUS flights and they were rapidly filling up from misconnects and weather delays.
We had already missed the last IAD-PHX nonstop America West flight that evening and the last United flight had already left so we were pretty much out of options for that evening. Monday, being the day after Easter, was absolutely out of the question for getting ANYWHERE so it was starting to look very dismal for escaping the DC area.
I broke out the iPaq and starting looking at options on America West and they had 12 seats out of DCA at 0700 which only three non-revs were listed. We decided to 'pull the ejection handle' on IAD, went to the ticket counter, purchased a couple of "ID-90's" on America West and got flight listed on the 0700 DCA-PHX flight on America West for this morning.
We were able to finagle two crew discounted bus passes to the Metro station, rode the Metro to the Crystal City station across from the airport and luckily were able to get a massively discounted hotel rate at the Hilton Crystal City.
We made it out of DCA this morning without much of a hassle at all, even after being security 'designees' and having our bags dug thru.
Home Sweet Home! At least, uhh, until I fly back to ATL tomorrow to start a four day trip.
Good seeing ya Saturday, TonyW!
Moral of the story? If you're going to play the non-rev game, be fast on your feet and flexible.
