One other note per experiences on other airlines posted above. On DL NRSA travel is prioritized by date of employment, as said, and check-in time has no bearing on your spot on the list. (Exceptions include standby upgrades on One Great Team passes, but that's a whole other subject.
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Some employees are eligible to sit in a cockpit or cabin jump seat, so they could clear ahead of employees w higher seniority who aren't eligible for a jump seat if no passenger seats are left.
Furthermore, some commuters buy tickets vs risking standby.
DL has a 'fly confirmed for less' option for employees/select others, some of those earn miles (MQM & RDM) and are upgrade eligible if the pax is a Medallion. Some don't earn miles. These aren't considered nonrev travel, I'm simply pointing out that not all commuters rely on standby.
Originally Posted by
sushi lover
Categorically false. Airline crew members can commute from the North Pole if they want...
Yesterday DL ran their annual ATL-North Pole 'flight' for patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Typically these flights are held in other hub cities as well. I'm not aware that any commuters were on board though.