Buddy Pass - I nearly fainted
Mar 14, 2018, 6:28 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,018
But if you need to get home you need to have your credit card handy to pay the full walk up price.
There is a thread of FT where some one got stranded for a week or so.
I know of airline staff who now do not use industry discount fares, due to unreliability.
There is a thread of FT where some one got stranded for a week or so.
I know of airline staff who now do not use industry discount fares, due to unreliability.
Mar 14, 2018, 6:39 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Mar 14, 2018, 6:48 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
So, where do I sign up?
Mar 14, 2018, 6:53 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
Mar 14, 2018, 7:05 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 82
OP, You may want to confirm with this new friend, but buddy passes used to have restrictions on business/first class. I seem to recall that either had to be traveling with the employee or were not eligible for long haul international at all. Maybe a UA insider might be able to confirm?
Mar 14, 2018, 7:30 pm
#23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,450
OP, You may want to confirm with this new friend, but buddy passes used to have restrictions on business/first class. I seem to recall that either had to be traveling with the employee or were not eligible for long haul international at all. Maybe a UA insider might be able to confirm?
In any event, be prepared to fly in a middle seat, at the back of the airplane, if you get on at all. Buddy passes can be a lot of fun, as long as you are completely flexible and have no expectation of clearing in a particular class of service on a given flight.
Mar 14, 2018, 7:32 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 92
Mar 14, 2018, 7:58 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, MP 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 462
I believe this is the case... the employee needs to be accompanying the pass rider if the desired class of service is the highest offered on a given flight. In other words, an unaccompanied buddy can ride in business class on a three cabin airplane (where F is offered) but is ineligible for J on a two-cabin airplane. This may be for international only, but either way I would have no expectation of clearing a premium cabin on a domestic flight.
In any event, be prepared to fly in a middle seat, at the back of the airplane, if you get on at all. Buddy passes can be a lot of fun, as long as you are completely flexible and have no expectation of clearing in a particular class of service on a given flight.
In any event, be prepared to fly in a middle seat, at the back of the airplane, if you get on at all. Buddy passes can be a lot of fun, as long as you are completely flexible and have no expectation of clearing in a particular class of service on a given flight.
Mar 14, 2018, 8:00 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, MP 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 462
Not miles related, but I felt a need to share. I went out for drinks and a meal with some new colleagues today and it turns out that one of them is married to a United pilot. We started talking about travel and I explained that I was about about to book the following itinerary for my dream vacation in the Marshalls ORD—>HNL—>MAJ and that the only game in town for that itinerary happens to be United. She asked me how much it priced out at and I told her it was roughly $5,400 return in Business, with that she whipped out her phone and a minute later said “I can actually get you that for thirty six eighty five in Business” - wow, I replied, you would do that for me, that would save me nearly 2 thousand dollars. She shot me this strange look and then said slowly “No, it’s thirty six dollars and eighty five cents....”. I literally couldn’t believe it and yes, I am now waiting for my buddy pass.
Mar 14, 2018, 8:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Programs: UA Mileage Plus, Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 82
Mar 14, 2018, 9:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, MP 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 462