scubadiver

A question my wife recently asked me about was how the non-rev travel benefits work. I am going to training soon so this is something I will encounter a little down the road, but I am curious.

If I wanted to travel with my wife (and maybe bring our 17 year old son) would all 3 of us be on standby and likely to be scattered throughout the cabin if we do make the flight?

Do you just pay the taxes and fees?

Can you buy a ticket at a discounted rate to guarantee making the flight?

What would be different about it if I was travelling from CLT to Vegas, vice CLT to Germany?

Thank you.

WhiteMorpheus

Yes, but you are assigned a group ID and they won't board one of you and leave the others behind (unless you tell them that's ok). Most gate agents will try to seat you together as a group if at all possible.
Pretty much how it works for you, your spouse, your children of appropriate age, and your biological/legal parents(not 100% sure on parents). For your parents you also have to pay income tax on the "imputed" cost, I think. There is an additional distance charge for any other pass travelers (for instance if you grant your parent benefit to your parents-in-law instead of your parents).
We get a whopping 20% discount
LAS is one of the worst places to try to non-rev back from, for some reason. The majority of the risk is on the return trip, in either case. Domestic loads are probably more fickle than international loads (I don't have data to support that, just anecdotal evidence). With domestic flights you get the benefit of frequency which can make up for some of the uncertainty with the loads. I've never tried to check a bag on a non-rev, it's permitted, but can be difficult (perhaps consider gate checking a second rollaboard).

captande

Parents pay the fees based on distance. It’s slightly less than the D3 passes.

hawkman

No taxes or fees for spouse and kids domestic including Hawaii and Alaska.

Swakid8

To answer the first question, it all depends on how many seats are open and where they are located. Like a poster said earlier, you will be assigned a group ID. When the agent calls up the group, they usually will ask if you all want to sit together or not. This usually means they don't have seats together so just say no. But the bigger the odds are likely you'll get seats together to imho.

Taxes and fees are only applied to all international travel, parents, and those who are traveling on buddy passes. Those who travel on the level as active employees (you, spouse, kids), Domestic travel is free. Imputed Income will only be applied those who travel on a lower priority level than the employees (parents, domestic partners, registered companions, buddy passes).

AA offers a 20% discount on ticket prices, but only available those you have listed on your travel benefits exception of buddy passes.

Domestic is tricky but once you learn the pattern, it isn't difficult. Rule of thumb, stay fexible, go home the day before you have to be home, and have a Plan A, B C with getting home. Avoid major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Spring Break, Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend.

International is all seasonal and straightforward. Don't try to non-rev somewhere in-season, but instead go somewhere that isn't in season for travelers.

H60 DUSTOFF

It is my understanding (I specifically asked the employee who gave us the briefing during indoc) that we are not subject to imputed income for our parents. I cannot confirm this as my Dad took his first flight only two days ago but this is from page 12 of the American Airlines Travel Guide.

I hate desks

Imputed income is only applied to registered companions or domestic partners. Parents pay a fee to travel, so it is not counted as a free privelage and therefore not taxed. Same with buddy passes, they pay a fee, so no imputed income on you. RC and Partners pay nothing when domestic, but you aren't married to them legally, so imputed income is applied.

Swakid8

Thank you for the correction, Inputed income only applies to Domestic partners and registered companions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Swakid8

Man I do wish we can have In-laws and parents at the same time if we don't have kids. Would be nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

efilemyr

The nonrev benefits are great if you and your wife have 4 days off in the middle of September and want to go somewhere in Europe. Wait until the day before, check the loads, and decide where to go.

American does not automatically upgrade revenue passengers on international routes. Unsold Premium cabins will go to Nonrevs

Don't expect to take your family to Orlando for Spring break.

I've been to Europe 4 times since I started in December plus one trip to Argentina/Chile.

2 flights in main cabin
1 in Premium Economy
1 in the Cockpit jump seat. (The other flight from BCN canceled and filled up mine)
6 flights in Business class.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk