Flying Non Rev from DTW

[CluelessDisFan]

Anyone fly non rev out of DTW how difficult is it to get a seat? What day have you found easiest and/or destination?

My friend now works for Delta, and she can get me buddy passes but they'd be pretty low on the stand by list. I would love to take a trip to Paris, but I'll fly pretty much anywhere for that good of a discount. I just don't want to get stuck any where for a week.

 

[laurafergie]

Flying Non Rev you just have to factor in getting stuck. We've never flown out of Detroit, but have flown extensively from DC, Dallas, Chicago, St Louis etc...sometimes it went off without a hitch, and sometimes we were stuck.

Stayed in Dallas for four days once. Slept on the floor in Chicago because of AA not canceling the flight until on the we were on the deck, ugh....last summer, it took my in laws three days to get back to Tulsa from Norfolk. It's always a crap shoot. HOWEVER, if you plan for it and just roll with the punches, it's a great way to travel.

 

[ampc3]

My DH works for Delta .... all I can say is non reving is VERY STRESSFUL and being on a buddy pass means you are on the bottom of list in EVERY situation.... You must have complete flexiabilty and understand ALL of the risks involved.... if you have said flexiablity and are willing to wait and hang out all day if need be or days to wait.. then it can be great. But most of us don't have that unlimited flexiabilty.

Our extended family members refuse now to even consider flying on a pass b/c of the bad luck they have experienced.. All it takes is ONE single flight or delay or weather to mess up everything...
Flying to Europe on a buddy pass during the summer is nearly impossible.
We have pretty high seniority and even we don't get out on alot of the flights we plan for.
If you do your research, and by that I mean checking all possible routes, to get you to your destination if something does come up etc . It can be great but sometimes it just isn't worth the stress IMHO.... Good luck if you do decide to use it...
Remember that not only is the buddy pass the bottom of the list, but then will go on seniority of employee.. so if your friend has alot of years with the company (am guessing since you said DTW that they are an ex NW employee?) you could be top of Buddy pass list which could make a difference than someone that is completely new...

Also as far as trying to fly standby... We usually always try for the first morning flight when we can.... the later you try the more competition you have through out the day... FWIW...

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Thanks for your replies, after doing more research and weighing in all the factors. We're going to pass on the non rev flying for now. We could always plan a couple of days for delays, but not much more then that. So we have to pass, we couldn't be stuck in Europe especially because we wouldn't take our kids on a trip flying non rev. Maybe when they get older, and my DH works remotely, we will try it then. As stressful as it sounds it also seems exciting at the same time.