Yeah.. Heaven forbid we should have proper facilities to keep ice from causing airplane crashes... or runways too short for the service "needed" by a community... Or a control tower so that the controllers can actually see the traffic they are supposed to be monitoring. But it is just fine & dandy for nancy pelosi biyatch to fly around on a shiny taxpayer funded 757... congressional salaries are pork...

I wouldn't ever expect an easy time non-revving in the summer. Either people will fill the planes at a sustainable price for airline profit or the airlines will continue cutting flights and furloughing more and more pilots. I hope the recent market run up will bring some optimism to the people and get them to spend a bit and go out on vacation so the planes will keep flying. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see everyone have an easy time non-revving, but the easier it is, the worse it is for your job.

I think you're kidding. You are kidding . . right?

Capacity cuts + super-low fares mean very full airplanes. God help you if there's a mechanical or wx problem.

Very True! Made vacation plans based on non-reving on flights 2 weeks out going to Hawaii that were about 50% full. I mean who buys last minute tickets to Hawaii during a recession? Just enough to make the flights go to oversold is the answer!! They are either giving away flights or Hawaiian hotel rooms, or both I guess. Anyway, luckily back up plans will work out just fine. Still shocked 4 days of flights to Hawaii that were half empty 2 weeks ago are full now!

Since I started the thread, I better do some follow up here. The UAL flight to FRA I referred to is like Full with a capital letter. There are only about 2 empty seats showing and it's for a departure 2.5 weeks away.

I think this tactic works, that's why management keeps doing it. I am one of those anal people who want a sure thing so I book as far in advance as possible. Besides, I don't want to sit in the middle seat in a 747 for 9 hours squeezed between a 300 pound man on one side and a faintly foul-smelling lady on the other side. And a kid in the back kicking my seat the whole way. Just thinking about it is nauseating already.

Freight,

How did you work out that trip to Hawaii. I'm planning on going soon.

NOT if they slash and burn all the flights & seats.

It's one thing to talk about it, it's another thing to live it. And as a non-rev you have no choice but to keep your head down and not say a word.

Best advice I can give is to get to the gate as early as you can. Casually offer to buy the gate agent food or drink.

"You know, I'm a litle thirsty. I'm going to go to Starbucks, is there anything I can get you?"

I do this while I'm working and they love it. It really makes their day.

-Fatty

I do that work atas well, but had to slow down a little when the responses started to came back as, "yes, I'll take a venti frappachino with extra vanilla and whipped cream." (A $5 drink)

A few $1 coffee's is one thing, but those souped up coffee drinks can put you back quick.