LOL Well. I was in love.

But, I always went to LAX with an expectation of NOT getting on board. That way I wasn't disapointed if it didn't happen. We would check availability or I would try early morning flights (less passengers). I would also use it for destinations that had a lot of flights such as LAX-LAS so there was less probability of being stranded. I was always prepared to pay for a flight if it looked as if being stranded was a possibility.

I knew a guy who was married to a FA and would regularly fly on Buddy Passes (seems like UA). After hitting the casinos in LAS he said, "Now, the REAL gamble begins" as he left for the airport.