I wish we had the option to use our current non-rev benefit OR 5 or so unrestricted positive space tickets per rider, per year. I rarely travel more than that and I'd take that certainty over our current system every time. I generally buy tickets because I mostly only travel when I need to be somewhere and I hate the games people play. People double booking the JS, people checking in S3 then jumping to S2 at the last minute, or my recent favorite...the family of 7 that apparently listed as they were going through security. I certainly didn't choose this job because of the non-rev "benefit."

 

Thank you for the injection of sanity into the discussion.

 

I have both Delta and AA passes. The AA system is a mess when things get busy. All this posts about mythical employees with 5 kids constantly showing up at the last moment are extremely rare. It happens but they are probably last minute because they missed another option.

 

I know it’s a hypothetical, but curious about what you see as the solution? If they were listed for a week on the 1500 departure to MCO, the 1200 to MCO just canceled and they can still get through security in time to catch the 0900…do you not want them to try? Or what if the MCO just popped full and there are 8 available seats to TPA in 90 minutes?

As mentioned above, a large party is probably juggling a dozen variables that aren’t apparent to other NRSA travelers. My hunch is that nine times out of ten there’s no malicious intent, and no laziness in listing. That assumption will save folks a lot of angst (should you choose to pursue relief) when last-minute availability and listings start fluctuating.

It is what it is. Play the game…or not…or expend negotiating capital to alter the landscape.

 

So you are reliant on the whims of the gate agent? No thanks.
So it's not fair when misfortune that befalls someone else's plan affects yours. Got it.
AA's system sounds like a little piece of hell. I wonder how many list for unrealistic flights just so they can check in early and have a gate agent friend move their listing.

For those advocating jumpseat be also a nonrev listing, that will make commuting and nonrev more difficult not less. We have one of the best jumpseat systems out there. When you list it's as close as you'll see to positive space when nonrev. Allowing that to have priority to flow back would mean the first person to list for any flight in the listing window would be stupid not to list jumpseat, reducing jumpseats available AND making it more likely that you not get on in the back and miss the ability to get a now open jumpseat.


Also, bonus points to everyone who said that American's system stops you from seeing families come in above you last minute and then said that if you're a family in the situation most come in last minute for you still can.

 

Not super rare. Fairly senior FA (if not an area code, close) lives actually about five houses down from me. She has her grandkids on her travel bennies. I have not enquired how/why.

About 2-3 times a year, I see her show up with 2-4 grandkids in tow, headed to NYC to see a broadway show. Always a last minute listing, usually within 2 hours or less. I've met the mom. (she was outside waiting for them when they were returning from NYC, I was waiting on my wife to pull up.

I know they are going to a show, because they've told me. I've had Grandma as a FA on one of my trips to CDG.

This is an outstation where 50 seat RJs were the norm and 5-10 seats open was "wide open" for commuters pre covid.

But I suppose you are going to want screencaps of the pages on travelnet before you aquiesuque that it is not "exceedingly rare"

If I see it 2-3 times a year, FROM THE SAME PERSON on the late afternoon JFK or LGA flight from ORF, I'm sure it happens a lot more than I'm not aware of.. Senior person sitting reserve at home and listing at the last second? Yeah that happens.

But when someone who I think (but do not KNOW) may be slightly creatively interpreting the rules does this for leisure all the time on short notice.

 

How do you "know" the first part, becuase every time it's a flight you're trying to get on?

And it's not like you can be creative in interpreting the rules to get family on bennies, you have to go through the company. But if you are so convinced she's violating them, file a complaint rather than say we need to change our entire nonrev system because of one of your neighbors.

 

yep, with the senior people, they see 5 open seats with 5 listed and they think "I should take the grand kids to NY today, we'll be able to get on no prob" and boom, they list and they go. With the AA system that's gone, and that's a good thing.

 

Becuase I listed for the flight days out, saw who was listed, then checked on it as date of departure got closer. Not on there.
Lunch time, I check in. They're still not on there.
At the gate, looking at the NRSA list.. Still not there (not even listed, never mind checked in)
Just over an hour to push, BOOM. They are there. 15 minutes later they show up.

So yes, I know it is a last minute listing.

 

Pretty easy to check.. But I can't post travel net screencaps.

Go to Nonrev listings.

Put in city pairs. In my case I put in ORF-NYC for tomorrow.

First flight tomorrow 0610 to LGA has TWO nonrevs listed. You see that by hitting the thing that looks like a paper for STBY LISTING
That makes a popup with NONREV STANDBY LIST come up.
You can see who has listed and what their date of hire and status is.
You can then press VIEW AIRPORT STANDBY LIST and you will see who has already checked in

So yes, I can tell if people are listed, ahead of time, and what status they are.