Thanks.. There are still 99 seats in Economy for that date.. 26 in Business. Turning to my other question: If I do take the steps to buy the space.. what does Delta send me? And will that put me on the standby list at that time?

You can input an email address & you'll get a confirmation #/PNR that you can use to check in online at T-24. You will be added to the standby list once you make the listing, but as said, your place on the list is subject to change pending other nonrevs listing for the flight. Your priority on the standby list is not based on when you list, if that's what you're asking, it's prioritized based on your status as a buddy pass rider (S4) and the person's date of employment.

From your earlier post I think you understand this - but even if your return date is uncertain, be sure to list for a return flight on some date. It can be changed later. But if you fly the outbound without a return flight listing, the buddy pass will be used up as a one-way trip. Hope that helps!

Golden information that is. Oh the pain of some friends of mine using passes my mother gave them and cancelling their return upon departure just because they did not know the exact date they wanted to return. The counter failed to tell them and they ended up having to buy 2 tickets from SEA to IAD at the counter on their return. Ouch.

Buddy Passes are NOT for the inflexible and those prone to avoid adventure (says the guy with a Companion Pass who rarely uses it even though he is flexible and loves adventure).

Great information PRWeezer.. One more question.. What or where is a T-24?

I am one for adventure. Getting there will be fine flying with the wind. You will want to make sure there are plenty of seats on the flight you ultimately select to come back on. It's one of the longest flights in the world now in terms of hours. The return is so marginal on weight and balance they often leave people off for fuel, cargo or both. My friend was not boarded one night and he was the only standby. I would not rely on a return on the nonstop as a buddy and would certainly have a plan to get to Europe or an alternate location for a DL flight back to the USA. I know any flight can be impacted by weight and balance. My point here being this one is almost always impacted. You can expect to stand aside at the ticket counter. Once check in closes they run the numbers (in ATL I presume) and let the standbys know if anyone's going. From that point you hustle through immigration and security out to the gate.

It just means 24 hours prior to departure.

Thanks!
 

Thanks to all.. I've been in the travel business for more than 25 years and never had the chance to use such a Pass. My schedule is flexible enough to go ahead and pick flights - especially the outbound.. and I will also pick a return flight. I'll be there for about 8 weeks, and can actually come back, whenever..
No deadline.

Still wondering...
 

..If there is any benefit to getting to ATL as early as I can the day I am hoping to fly to JNB..?
I am guessing - no. Because my place on the S4 list is determined by the date of employment of the client who gave me the pass. Correct?
And perhaps - finally - am I able to change the date of my return flights online, whenever I see the need to? Just go to my PNR and change the return? If not, how is that accomplished?

Thanks..

You may want to check with the employee who gave you the buddy pass.

:confused:

The only advantage to arriving early is to avoid a misconnect and be sure any checked luggage makes the flight. You can call to change the return but as mentioned earlier you must book a return or the pass is burned on the one way. The pass can usually be changed online but this is supposed to be done by your sponsor. I think a date change is free but a destination change of more than 100 miles will attract a fee of $25...on the phone anyway- not sure if the online portal charges this fee.

You are a TB member. Instead of a confused face how about starting a discussion among your peers on the start up of NRSA based threads in miles discussion forums?

I'm happy to provide basic information which is available almost anywhere given DL's large employee base - but isn't the real issue here the fact that buddy passes don't have a darn thing to do with "Delta Skymiles"?

It's hard to catch her by phone. I suspect (and hope) that someone in this forum knows the answer and is comfortable telling me what it is.

I was confused as to why bwanadave didn't talk to the person who provided the buddy pass. Not sure that's pertinent to my being a TB member...as someone who does research for a living, I typically go to the original source when looking for information.

If you (and others) think there needs to be a broader NRSA forum, perhaps you may want to consider initiating discussion here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkboard-topics-382/

Thanks to Allergictocoach
 

Just what I need to know - both questions. Thanks so much..

I'm sorry if I mistook your confusion for the stock reply of "ask your sponsor" that seems to appear in this thread fairly regularly when someone has a question.

I'm just saying this topic is truly not at all related to Skymiles and I could also be confused - but it would seem to the layman that a TB member may take an interest in the relevance of a topic to a specified forum. This may especially be the case here given not only the total lack of relevance of this issue to Skymiles discussion (or perks related to the accrual of) but the perception that information on pass travel programs should only be communicated by the sponsor....witness the chastising posts sprinkled throughout the thread.

Thanks for the reference but I don't think a NRSA thread is necessary. I don't see the benefit of a dedicated forum for people to whine about employee benefits that have nothing to do with products offered for sale to the general public.