Buddy Passes

[B.D.Da'ehu]

I couldnt find a thread discussing this. Does anyone know a way to fly standby? Is there anyone (e.g.airline employee) who does this semi-publicly for a couple of hundred dollars?

[B.D.Da'ehu]

Anyone? (pm's welcome)

[username]

GIYF

Nowadays,standby is only if you have a ticketed flight and want to change to a different flight that same day. Not your Dad's standby.

http://www.wikihow.com/Fly-Standby

[B.D.Da'ehu]

GIYF

Nowadays,standby is only if you have a ticketed flight and want to change to a different flight that same day. Not your Dad's standby.

http://www.wikihow.com/Fly-Standby

A friend of mine just did this. Apparently airline employees have the right to have friends and family fly using standby and he only has to pay taxes. My friend flew and the taxes addded up to $200 and the guy charged him a bit more so that he made money too. This is a potential gold mine. (Business!!)

[Marco Polo]

A friend of mine just did this. Apparently airline employees have the right to have friends and family fly using standby and he only has to pay taxes. My friend flew phi-tlv and the taxes addded up to $200 and the guy charged him a bit more so that he made money too. This is a potential gold mine. (Business!!)

Your friend flew J, or are you just mentioning it being a business?

[B.D.Da'ehu]

Your friend flew J, or are you just mentioning it being a business?

He was offered J for another $100. An insanely cheap way to fly business- if it can be gotten. I was sure there was some knowledge out there about this.

[Marco Polo]

He was offered J for another $100. An insanely cheap way to fly business- if it can be gotten. I was sure there was some knowledge out there about this.

IINM, these employees do not have unlimited offers to fly standby.

[a mirrer]

He was offered J for another $100. An insanely cheap way to fly business- if it can be gotten. I was sure there was some knowledge out there about this.

http://thegate.boardingarea.com/warning-why-you-should-never-purchase-buddy-passes/
http://thegate.boardingarea.com/11-reasons-why-you-may-not-want-to-use-a-buddy-pass-when-traveling/
http://thegate.boardingarea.com/10-tips-on-how-to-use-buddy-passes-to-prevent-your-trip-from-going-horribly-wrong/

[B.D.Da'ehu]

http://thegate.boardingarea.com/warning-why-you-should-never-purchase-buddy-passes/
http://thegate.boardingarea.com/11-reasons-why-you-may-not-want-to-use-a-buddy-pass-when-traveling/
http://thegate.boardingarea.com/10-tips-on-how-to-use-buddy-passes-to-prevent-your-trip-from-going-horribly-wrong/

Interesting articles. Some of the content bordered on the ridiculous, but its true that there are pitfalls to using them. Many times however if you can get it it is way worth it.

[rileywiles23]

Ive done this before on delta, and managed to fly LHR-NYC lie flat J class for a few hundred bucks.
You have to find somebody who has access to buddy passes.
It's a major pita, bec. there is no way of knowing you'll get on the flight, before you go to the airport.
Plus you always run the risk of being asked question about how you got the ticket, and that can be a disaster.

[B.D.Da'ehu]

Ive done this before on delta, and managed to fly LHR-NYC lie flat J class for a few hundred bucks.
You have to find somebody who has access to buddy passes.
It's a major pita, bec. there is no way of knowing you'll get on the flight, before you go to the airport.
Plus you always run the risk of being asked question about how you got the ticket, and that can be a disaster.

True. But then again you flew lie-flat J for a coupla hundred bucks!

[countrygirl]

Anyone? (pm's welcome)

Last June I booked a flight from Las Vegas to PHL on AA then few days later saw a better departure schedule-I called American for a change and the CR said the change fee would be $200 but for $75 extra I could fly on standby. He checked the flights for the time I wanted to fly and said there were many seats available. I called 24hrs before the flight was scheduled to depart and was told that seats in my ticket price are no longer available. I was so disappointed. Flew on SW after that but AA usually has better deals for where I am flying to so I am back to flying with them.

[rileywiles23]

True. But then again you flew lie-flat J for a coupla hundred bucks!

But it involved going to the airport more then once, till I got on the flight.

[B.D.Da'ehu]

But it involved going to the airport more then once, till I got on the flight.

Thats a pain. But the guy you got it from has access to the info on how many seats are open and how many ppl are waiting on standby. So you can usually make an educated guess on whether its worth it to go down to the airport.

[rileywiles23]

Thats a pain. But the guy you got it from has access to the info on how many seats are open and how many ppl are waiting on standby. So you can usually make an educated guess on whether its worth it to go down to the airport.

Educated is the key word, but it ain't definite.

[Jewban]

If you go in with reasonable expectations and have flexibility in your travel plans, don't mind spending time in airports it's not bad.  Also don't get upset after you're onboard in a cushy international J seat and get bumped to back of the bus because another seat for revenue passenger is not functioning.  Seen that happen several times. 

[ad120]

This practice has been ongoing forever. FA's don't get paid much and therefore sell their passes to generate income. They can jeopardize their job in doing so but it comes with the territory.
Therefore there would be no contact info for an airline employees shared by their clients that buy the passes.
Additionally, as they are limited with buddy passes their clients would be reluctant to provide contact info with others.

[keepsmiling123]

IINM, these employees do not have unlimited offers to fly standby.

Not sure how it works for all airlines but I know for delta it works that immediate family such as parents, siblings, spouse, and children they can fly standby unlimited and only pay taxes. The employee also has a limited amount of buddy passes that he can give to extended family or friends. If flight is full in economy u automatically get business, doesn't cost extra.

[ual902]

I have a family member who flew on US Buddy passes and it was a nightmare as there no availability for days, so be super flexible and try not flying on popular routes.

[ad120]

I have a family member who flew on US Buddy passes and it was a nightmare as there no availability for days, so be super flexible and try not flying on popular routes.

+1
My former employer flew to NY:
B6
FLL to SJU to JFK

She said that tthat's where seats were open so that's what she had to do.