Interesting way to fly free as a part time employee
Jun 16, 2016, 1:18 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD/MDW/MKE
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 786
I think the minimum is something like 150, maybe 300 at most. Lots of airports hire seasonal agents. Basically any airport staffed with mainline employees that has a busier summer schedule. Some seasonals are only at work to do the Early Valet program and nothing else. Seasonal employees generally are never trained to do more than be a lobby host/greeter and bag drop. No special services, baggage service, or gates. I believe most ramp seasonals just load bags in the bin (considered undesirable by many).
Jun 16, 2016, 8:32 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
Value to any employee depends on flexibility. Not just where and when, but what you get on-board. Look back on all the threads:
Then recognize that non-rev travel has not just limited availability, but rules:
http://travelinfo.delta.com/dlnonrev/TravelGuide.htm
No small number of FlyerTalkers in this forum show they couldn't handle it.
- Complaining about being upgraded into a middle Comfort+ seat
- Complaining about not being able to select a seat in advance
- Complaining that a special meal wasn't loaded
- Complaining about not getting one's first choice of meal
- Seeking an op-up (op-up!) for two
Then recognize that non-rev travel has not just limited availability, but rules:
- Don't complain about seat assignments
- You'll get a meal if it's available
- Don't argue with or question GAs or FAs if there's a problem
- Observe the dress guidelines
http://travelinfo.delta.com/dlnonrev/TravelGuide.htm
No small number of FlyerTalkers in this forum show they couldn't handle it.
Mentioned upthread - DGS is S3C
Retirement travel eligibility isn't just 10 years. I think that DGS is different than DL employees.
OP, You might want to post your questions .here where you can get answers from active and retired NRSA's.
NRSA travel to and from DTW can be tough because there are many higher priority NRSA's and lots of NRSP as well as commuting crew members. We will use DTW-AMS if we're connecting from MSY but will use JFK with more numerous options if we're up north.
If our kids (employees) come to visit, we pay for their employee discounted tickets so that they're not spending their time continually checking loads for their return trip.
We rarely non-rev domestically since it's only for personal travel and can be a real pain with full flights and lots of folks having higher priorities. That's why I'm a DM and my wife is a PM.
It's often a lot easier to get somewhere then to get back and you MUST have alternate ways of doing so. We've had to get last minute award tix, which aren't cheap (but better than using cash).
Jun 16, 2016, 8:39 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Of course this is not anything new. Back in the 1970s, before baseball salaries escalated with free agency, several major league players worked these jobs in the off-season, for the flight priveleges.
Jun 16, 2016, 9:10 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: AVL
Programs: DL DM MM; Hilton Diamond; Hertz 5*
Posts: 706
So if you have to work at the job for 10 years in order to qualify for lifetime privileges, what's to prevent Delta from enhancing the job benefits and doing away with lifetime benefits?
Jun 16, 2016, 9:15 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
At my rate of pay that would be a total loss proposition. 600 hours multiplied by billable hour value for "maybe" tickets? Insanity. I can see a college kid that had no value to their time, but not a successful adult. Time is the ultimate commodity.
Jun 16, 2016, 10:13 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
I have buddies who stayed in hospitality and are now location managers, and I might occasionally pick up hotel door and valet jobs during peak seasons when they need an extra hand. Keeps a few perks at those properties alive, but really it's a low-stress outdoor job, a few extra bucks to pick up some random gadget, and a little fun, too. I've gotten more frustrated playing a round of golf, and I'm losing money when I do that...
Jun 16, 2016, 10:16 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
That's an understatement.
Mentioned upthread - DGS is S3C
Retirement travel eligibility isn't just 10 years. I think that DGS is different than DL employees.
OP, You might want to post your questions .here where you can get answers from active and retired NRSA's.
NRSA travel to and from DTW can be tough because there are many higher priority NRSA's and lots of NRSP as well as commuting crew members. We will use DTW-AMS if we're connecting from MSY but will use JFK with more numerous options if we're up north.
If our kids (employees) come to visit, we pay for their employee discounted tickets so that they're not spending their time continually checking loads for their return trip.
We rarely non-rev domestically since it's only for personal travel and can be a real pain with full flights and lots of folks having higher priorities. That's why I'm a DM and my wife is a PM.
It's often a lot easier to get somewhere then to get back and you MUST have alternate ways of doing so. We've had to get last minute award tix, which aren't cheap (but better than using cash).
Mentioned upthread - DGS is S3C
Retirement travel eligibility isn't just 10 years. I think that DGS is different than DL employees.
OP, You might want to post your questions .here where you can get answers from active and retired NRSA's.
NRSA travel to and from DTW can be tough because there are many higher priority NRSA's and lots of NRSP as well as commuting crew members. We will use DTW-AMS if we're connecting from MSY but will use JFK with more numerous options if we're up north.
If our kids (employees) come to visit, we pay for their employee discounted tickets so that they're not spending their time continually checking loads for their return trip.
We rarely non-rev domestically since it's only for personal travel and can be a real pain with full flights and lots of folks having higher priorities. That's why I'm a DM and my wife is a PM.
It's often a lot easier to get somewhere then to get back and you MUST have alternate ways of doing so. We've had to get last minute award tix, which aren't cheap (but better than using cash).
I don't think Delta will ever end retiree nonrev privileges... maybe require yield fares.
Jun 16, 2016, 10:27 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 182
I was a Ready Reserve baggage handler for Delta back in 2008/2009, while I was in college, and worked terminal E mostly. I loved the job. If I remember correctly, at that time, you couldn't work for than 240 hours for the entire year. I'm sure it has probably changed since then, but it wasn't completely easy to get on flights. Example: the wife and I spent over one hundred hours, in airports, waiting to get to/from Hawaii. I know it's a highly sought after place, but I bet it is harder to even get a flight to say SEA, SFO, or MIA now with higher passenger loads unless you're extremely flexible.
Jun 16, 2016, 10:29 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: New York, Ohio, & Fayetteville NC
Programs: Delta Platinum, SW (former) A-list
Posts: 71
My boyfriend has been wanting to get this part time baggage handler position for a long time and keeps filling out the applications and not getting called in. What is he doing wrong? He's 55--is that too old for them to consider him? He's a top ranked athlete in his sport and a lifeguard and is in amazing shape. We live in New York so he could work at either LGA or JFK pretty easily. Any advice on actually getting these positions would be great!
Jun 17, 2016, 6:02 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: ORD/MDW/MKE
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 786
It can actually be a great position for many different successful adults in different career paths. Think about teachers for example. They don't work during the summer (mostly - unless they teach summer school or something which is not a mandatory part of their jobs) and so it's a great way for them to earn some extra money during the summer and the flight benefits are an added bonus.
Jun 17, 2016, 7:03 am
#26
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
That's a tad of an exaggeration. I mean sure, if you're trying to take the noon ATL-LAX with 2015 seniority and a buddy it'll be an issue but fairly empty domestic flights are not abnormal in the least. Like someone up-thread mentioned, you just have to play the game correctly, TPA-RDU-DTW, ATL-BWI-DTW, stuff like that. As a standby you shouldn't be looking to fly "the popular routes" you're just asking for trouble. Of the last 10 years I've been flying standby I've only gotten stuck twice; one being due to an earlier cancellation and the other due to payload.
Jun 17, 2016, 7:10 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,860
It can actually be a great position for many different successful adults in different career paths. Think about teachers for example. They don't work during the summer (mostly - unless they teach summer school or something which is not a mandatory part of their jobs) and so it's a great way for them to earn some extra money during the summer and the flight benefits are an added bonus.
But definitely not for the resident Donald Trump types on this forum.
David
Jun 17, 2016, 8:29 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
To each their own, but because I also used my flying benefits to the max while working at DL for 2 years between undergraduate and graduate schools, I interpret this attitude as ignorant and shortsighted.Not even considering the different priorities and experiences of other people, for me, the ability to spend weekends in Europe, the excitement of flying many different world airlines (not sure what ID policies are today, but my nonrev experiences included VS, SR--rest in peace, RG--rest in peace, AN--rest in peace, QF, OS, LH, AF, BA, SQ, the Concorde, NH, SA ...), and just meeting different people in different places, are things that enriched me in ways that no "pay rate" can match.
Last edited by sinoflyer; Jun 17, 2016 at 9:10 am Reason: recollected 2 addl airlines from memory
Jun 18, 2016, 10:50 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 15
Ran into a Delta employee about a week ago in the employee parking lot favored by many DTW employees, which is Qwikpark. They pay $4 a day, btw.
This guy has a good full time job in a different industry. He works part time as a baggage handler for Delta. If you work 600 hours in a year, you get employee flight privileges for you and your spouse. If you do that 10 years in a row, you get flight privileges for life for you and a spouse.
I thought working the 600 minimum could be worth it, especially if you are young and would get many years of free flights.
This guy travels 3 to 4 times a year.
You know that the baggage handling job is bad for most, because he has been there between 4 and 6 years, and is already in the top 50 for seniority, out of over 500 current baggage handlers. Translation is the turnover is huge and you will have high seniority shortly and better jobs. SO, most never get to 10 years to lock in their benefits.
They top out at $14 an hour.
With this high seniority, he doesn't need to work weekends and cherry picks the best jobs.
This guy has a good full time job in a different industry. He works part time as a baggage handler for Delta. If you work 600 hours in a year, you get employee flight privileges for you and your spouse. If you do that 10 years in a row, you get flight privileges for life for you and a spouse.
I thought working the 600 minimum could be worth it, especially if you are young and would get many years of free flights.
This guy travels 3 to 4 times a year.
You know that the baggage handling job is bad for most, because he has been there between 4 and 6 years, and is already in the top 50 for seniority, out of over 500 current baggage handlers. Translation is the turnover is huge and you will have high seniority shortly and better jobs. SO, most never get to 10 years to lock in their benefits.
They top out at $14 an hour.
With this high seniority, he doesn't need to work weekends and cherry picks the best jobs.
Jun 18, 2016, 10:52 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 15
My boyfriend has been wanting to get this part time baggage handler position for a long time and keeps filling out the applications and not getting called in. What is he doing wrong? He's 55--is that too old for them to consider him? He's a top ranked athlete in his sport and a lifeguard and is in amazing shape. We live in New York so he could work at either LGA or JFK pretty easily. Any advice on actually getting these positions would be great!