Crewed Talk: Debunking 5 Myths About Airline Employee Travel Perks

“Marry me, fly for free!” I literally have the T-shirt. It doesn’t tell the whole story, however. When it comes to things people just don’t understand about my job, travel perks are no exception. Here are five MYTHS about airline travel perks!

1. Pass Travel Is Free

The end of that sentence should be: “Sort of. Often. It depends.” You know last week when I said that employee travel systems are all a bit different? Some airlines charge a fee that’s tied to which class you’re traveling in. Some are free no matter where you sit. Some are free only in coach and/or after a certain number of years of employment.

Often, we also have to pay taxes and fees. Also, we often need other airlines to get where we want to go, usually involving the purchase of a heavily discounted, but still not free, ticket. My NRSA (Non-Revenue Space Available) charges are firmly in 4-digit territory each year.

2. Buddy Passes Are Awesome

Here we’re talking about the travel we can give to friends, and anyone who tells you that is probably a New Hire or trying to sell you one. Call me a dream-crusher, but buddy passes are not a great deal.

They’re expensive for what they are. The price is usually comparable to a good sale-priced coach ticket and all for the honor of any leftover seats after everyone else gets on board. With load factors these days, good luck with that! If you’re lucky enough to get a Premium Seat, yes, then they’re a super deal — but that’s a big if.

It’s been years since that worked for any of my “buddies” (the few who still insist on trying). If you think the gamble is worth it, fine. Have a flexible schedule and a lot of patience… plus a cheap hotel on speed dial in case you get stuck somewhere.

3. “My Flight Attendant Friend Is Happy to Give Me Passes.”

Ennnhhhhh. Not if s/he likes you.

Almost nobody uses my passes, which is how my friends know I care. If a *good* friend asks, I’d never say no, but I try and talk them out of it by explaining what I outlined above in myth number two.

I also feel responsible for the person, so to say yes I need to know that the buddy is someone who can confidently sort themselves out. I don’t want to have to “follow” them via the computer, biting my nails, worrying when they get stuck in Kansas City or Milan, feeling like I need to sort out their Plan B, C and D for them and call to reassure they’re not panicking. Anyone who has used (or been offered) my passes, now you know: I think you can handle anything. Either that, or you’re just worth the trouble.

To be honest, many of us would be fine if friends and neighbors and long lost cousins were no longer able to beg us for passes! Sometimes it’s a real nuisance. However, it would be a shame if I couldn’t at least help a sister out (I mean a literal sister).

While researching last week’s column, I found a few other beliefs worth correcting, such as:

4. “The Airlines Have Enough Trouble Staying Profitable… [non-rev] Pass Passengers Do Not Help That Situation.”

On the contrary, when it comes to buddy passes (as this comment was referring to), airlines benefit, too. Even if they’re “non-revenue” – which is probably not always literally true anyway – that’s money towards overhead they wouldn’t have otherwise had. It works out fine for them.

5. “I Was Surprised to Read That Employees Traveling for Airline business Are [NRSA]. I Would Think They Would Be Issued a Regular… Ticket.”

Commuting is not officially sanctioned by the airlines and is considered a choice – thus: not “company business”. We start and end our trips in our base city, end of (official) story. They don’t care how we get there. When the company directs us to go somewhere, they do give us a “real” seat.

Any other travel perk questions or rumors? Bring them on!

[Photo: iStock]