Also, since my mother's friend is in Atlanta, and I'm in Guam...does she have to actually send me these passes by mail? Or are they all electronic?

Do I need any of her personal information? Like her name? Badge ID number? or anything else of the sort?

Again, I apologize for asking so many questions, but this is the first time I've ever flown on a Buddy Pass or Standby. I'm not a seasoned traveler as many of you probably are so please be patient with me. :)

Y = coach class. J = Business class.
GA = gate agent
non-rev = non-revenue traveler, i.e. you on a Buddy Pass. Yes, you're paying for the pass, but you're considered a nonrev passenger. Your seat request card, and boarding pass once issued, will be noted NRSA - non revenue space available.

It's all electronic. The employee can authorize (assign) your buddy passes online and give you a reservation/confirmation # (a combination of 6 letters/numbers). When she authorizes your passes she should be able to enter your email address so that the confirmation and itinerary details are sent to you.

Important to note: even if your return date is iffy, make sure you have the employee list you for a round trip. You can always change the dates later, but if the passes are issued as a one-way you can't add a return itinerary later on the same passes.

You don't need her ID # but it would be helpful to know her name should there be any problems...you wouldn't want to give anyone the impression that you got the passes from a total stranger. It's not likely you would be asked who provided the passes, but just in case know her name.

This may be basic advice - but be sure the passes are listed in your/wife's full names as they appear on your passport, as you would with any airline ticket.

As said, your uniform should have no impact on you clearing the flight and where you are seated. Pass travelers will be listed for the flight in priority order, starting with active employees at the top; buddy passes are in the lowest priority category. Within the buddy passes (if there are others listed for the flight) you will be prioritized by the date the employee was hired.

Hope that helps, good luck with your trip!

Before deciding to wear your uniform, check whether your unit permits enlisted personnel to wear uniforms when traveling to/from leave. There may be a regulation on this. Also, you might not be allowed to consume alcohol in the airport or on board if you are in uniform, so check the rules that would apply to you. (Apparently some commands allow this and some do not.)

I would do it. I'm usually one to say, no, buddy passes are terrible, but I think the way you are doing it would be just fine. Giving yourself extra days should work. ATL-NRT can be a very tough route to get on, but if it looks too bad, its easy enough to change it to MSP, DTW, SEA, PDX, SFO, LAX, or JFK and theres bound to be an open flight for you somewhere. NRT-GUM isn't the toughest route to get on, and there are three flights daily, so multiple chances. I doubt you would have issues. Also, one other backup plan if NRT-GUM looks bad is you can fly ATL-DTW-NGO-GUM, which often has more seats available. Plus, you can check availability a few days before the 20th, and if the flights on the 21st, 22nd, or 23rd look wide open a few days out, you could even leave a little later and get more time back home.
Long story short, I would do it, and I normally tell people not to use buddy passes. If you were trying to fly to and from Europe on a buddy pass in late June, I'd say no. You'll be fine.
PS, it's two bags at 50 pounds. I wouldn't wear the uniform. Just wear something comfortable if you don't *have* to be in uniform.

Note that two of the three 757s from NRT to GUM depart before DL's TPAC flights arrive into NRT, so that at least one night in Japan would be required.

I suspect that a better bet might be to look into the flights into HND, especially if there's an early morning arrival, as they might have more space, although the HND to NRT transfer is a bit of a pain.

One more piece of advice for you, and for other pass travelers who may read this thread: have a contingency plan, in advance, in the event that you and your wife cannot get on the same flight(s). Even if a flight looks to be wide open there's always the chance they may only be able to clear one of you. Talk about this in advance and know what you want to do. If you have to be back on a certain date and she's more flexible, you may decide that you take the seat. Or are you both willing to wait & try your luck on another flight/day together?

Similarly, know how you want to handle it if one of you clears in business & the other in coach. And note that swapping seats mid flight and/or visiting each other in different cabins is frowned upon, to put it mildly. As is asking others to change seats so that you can sit together.

These are not discussions you should have on the spot when the gate agent is trying to get the flight out, especially if they're down to the wire for an on-time departure. In my experience the gate agent will call you up to tell you the situation & you should be ready with a decision.

Again, good luck.

Often, a routing that looks good the day before departure goes bad the next day, so be prepared with a backup plan or two or three.

One thing I can tell you is that the LAX-HND and HND-LAX flights usually have availability and you have a pretty good shot at getting upgraded to Business. The flight times are odd, but I've had pretty good luck with these in the past. You might wish to do some research into how to get from NRT to HND and vice versa (it's a pain). LAX-ATL is usually a route you can get on rather easily due to the large number of flights.

The toughest thing here is that you're flying blind without access to the Delta extranet that shows seat availability, i.e. TravelNet. Most of us who do have access are happy to log in and show you options if things aren't going well. So, if you're not going to be in close contact with the person who gave you the pass, keep an eye out for people who seem to be fellow nonrevs and don't hesitate to ask for help. The same applies to gate agents and other Delta personnel, who are usually great at pointing you in the right direction.

One last thing: once the pass is paid for and ticketed, pretty much any Delta agent can change your routing once you're enroute. You do not need the intervention of the pass provider to change your routing or flights.

Hope this helps. If you have further questions, just ask and I'll do my best to help you out.

Actually, the buddy pass change done via agent is supposed to incur a $25 fee.

"You can change a Buddy Pass ticket on TravelNet at no charge (except the fare difference, if applicable). However, if you or your Buddy requests agent assistance to change the Buddy Pass ticket, a $25 service fee (plus the fare difference, if applicable) will be charged if the routing changes by more than 100 miles."

I suppose this thread exists because there are many Delta staff/retirees who give out buddy passes without providing specific help for the recipients. Traveling via buddy pass is difficult, and it is true that particularly from NRT to the US you may find yourself in need to make last minute re-routes. If possible, try to get information from your mother's friend as close to departure as possible since availability and aircraft can change rapidly.

The 100 mile rule sounds more like a change of origin or destination airport, not just different connections between the same two airports. This would seem to allow co-terminals and a bit more (BOS/PVD, PVD/BDL, EWR/PHL are examples I would guess, plus maybe a very few CRJ-200 short connecting flights being added or subtracted from an itinerary), but if it applies to changes in connecting airports, does the 100 mile threshold apply to the total length of the path or what?

Yes, that was my interpretation and hopefully if you had to change NRT-ATL to NRT-DTW-ATL (for example), there would be no agent charge though there may be a charge for fare/facility charges. I did notice up-thread discussion of modifying a trip through AMS, and it has been true in the past that the staff onsite in AMS do not have access to the Reservation system and cannot make changes to a buddy pass. Not sure if that has changed, but watch out in AMS and CDG and other places where DL is groundhandled as you may find no help in modifying a buddy pass.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their inputs. You guys answered everything I wanted to know and more. When I get back I'll post again and tell you guys how it went.

By then, I might have some new input to add on the topic of Buddy Passes. Thanks again.

Very Respectfully,
Petty Officer Jeff

Also, last time I flew buddy pass ( a few years ago), the difference between coach and business between Detroit and Amsterdam was $50.

I had planned on a later return flight, but the first one of the day showed open business seats, so I took it.

So, if you have someone watching loads and you want to play at a higher level, see if you can get business for a few dollars more.

Incorrect. There is no difference in the Buddy Pass fare because of the class used. You get Business if there are seats open, otherwise you get coach (or no seat at all if flight is full). So you pay the same rate regardless of class flown.

I must have flown something else then. It's what a pilot gets 16 of a year. Anyone know what that's called?

If it's on Delta they are called Buddy Passes and every employee gets eight each year. It's different on other airlines.