Originally Posted by
SharkyBN584
You're not jumpseating so you have no reason to "check in" with the crew. You bought a ticket, sit in the seat. If what you're looking for is a possible upgrade into first class, you could do a couple things:
1. If you have bennies on whoever your flying on, list you and your new wife for 1st class. If there's seats available, sit in them and refund your ticket.
Don't do this, as this is generally prohibited by nonrev rules. If you buy a ticket on a flight only to nonrev on it and return your ticket, you screw with their yield management.
2. Assuming you probably bought your ticket off Orbitz like everyone else and can't refund your ticket, talk to the gate agent. Tell her you're an employee and if there's any way she can bump you up it would be appreciated. Make sure you actually talk to them and feel them out. If it's a bad day, you're probably hosed.
This is probably your best option, but expect to get blown off.
3. Wear your ID when you get on the airplane. Say hi the FA, strike up some convo, tell him/her that you're going on your honeymoon and bought a ticket. Don't ask about 1st class...if they have common sense (and most mainline FA's have been there awhile) they'll bump you up if they can.
There's nothing worse than some hotshot employee walking into an airplane wearing their ID badge. There's no reason to wear your badge while nonreving, and most nonrev rules prohibit this anyway.
Even if you're jumpseating (and not in uniform, it's different obviously if you're wearing the monkey suit), just keep your badge in your pocket and produce it when needed. You don't wear your pilot certificate or medical around your neck, so why wear your ID bage?