Originally Posted by allga

Well, our kid's a captain on another airline with a dress code, and we fly NRSA all the time. Here's what I've learned over 10 years of pass flying about being a happy camper, and making everyone else happy too. . .

1. Considering what NRSA privileges amount to, adhering to a dress code is a small--no, miniscule--price to pay. Anyone taking advantage of these privileges and complaining about or trying to circumvent the dress code is a fool. It is simply not worth arguing about whether the dress code is "up to date" or not. For value received, the task is simple: read it, do it, get over it.

2. For NRSAs to hassle revenue passengers in any way is equally foolish and selfish at the same time. Those who do this should have their privileges revoked, end of story. At "our" airline, the NRSA rules even forbid such minor requests as asking paying pax to switch seats. This is as it should be.

3. When we first started pass flying, I thought that airline staff would be generally surly and dismissive of us, because of the NRSA status. We've found just the opposite to be true, and we've figured out why: every employee also has family members who fly on passes, so the Golden Rule tends to kick in. Whether they think about it or not, most of them treat us they way they'd like their colleagues to treat their families. Our job, in return is to treat them like we'd want our son to be treated (even though he's mostly behind the cockpit door). Amazing how well smiles and adhering gladly to the rules work, even with harried airport staff. When they see we've got the right attitude, there's little they won't do for us that's within the rules.

Life can be relatively simple, straightforward and pleasant if you let it be. Of course I know that flying is generally a matter of survival of the fittest, but we can hope that most of us are still courteous, decent and helpful people.