My Flying News

Yes, pilots and most airline employees fly for free! It is one of the best perks of the job. At the airlines, we call this “non-revving.”

Pilots and our immediate family members fly for free anywhere our airline serves. Also, we can fly for free on many other airlines as well. Although flying for free is awesome, there are a few drawbacks.

Five Drawbacks to Flying for Free

Having a job that allows you to fly for free sounds great. Before you signing up for flying lessons or starting flight attendant training, there are a few drawbacks to consider.

1. You are not guaranteed a seat.

Flying for free is on a standby and space-available basis. Airplane seats are reserved for paying customers including, customers on standby, airline employees traveling on company business, and deadheading crew members. If any open seats are left over, then you can get the open seats for free or close to free. Sometimes travelling internationally, there may be some taxes that you will have pay.

2. Traveling standby with the family is stressful.

As pilots, non-revving alone is relatively easy, and we have the added benefit of occupying cockpit jump seats. However, multiple seats must be available when traveling with loved ones. You can imagine not knowing for sure that there will be any seats available is stressful. Are there enough seats available for everyone in the family? Will we be able to sit together? If not, whom will my child be sitting next to? Will I have a middle seat?

3. Cannot make plans or a schedule.

I remember trying to non-rev to my Sister’s wedding with my wife and children. She kept asking when are you arriving? That is just not a question you can answer. I started plenty early a day and a half before, so I was relatively certain I would make it to the event. However, giving an arrival date or time is impossible while standby flying.

If I have to be sure (or mostly sure) when I will arrive somewhere, then I buy tickets. We called traveling with a ticket or a guaranteed seat “positive space.” Employees can buy positive space tickets at most airlines at a discounted price.

4. Hotels are not free.

Being able to jet off to an exotic local on a whim is great. However, once you get there, like the rest of the world, you must pay for everything. Pilots cannot use their travel benefits for pleasure travel as much as the public thinks.

I try accumulating as many hotel and rental car points as possible. Many hotels have a flight crew rate, which can save a few dollars.

I remember one Captain telling me that she was a part-time fitness instructor at a chain hotel in her local town. This allowed her to stay for free at that hotel chain as well as fly for free.

5. Free travel is for immediate family only.

I sometimes have family and friends that I have not heard from in years contact me and try to arrange free tickets. I always answer NO!

Some airline travel policies are more generous than others. Some airlines provide a limited number of “buddy passes” per year. However, most airlines only allow immediate family members such as a parent, spouse, and minor children to travel regularly.