Every non-rev trip presents travelers with unique challenges. Without a confirmed seat, nothing is guaranteed. Therefore it is crucial to plan ahead but also have flexibility in your travels. This blog will focus on tips and tricks to make non-rev life more fun and less stressful.

Be Flexible

This is possibly the most crucial factor of traveling with non-revenue benefits. Things do not always go as planned, so it’s important to roll with the unexpected and keep emotions at bay. The first part of this has to do with the destination selected. Many travelers have dream locations to visit and prefer to go during the most ideal weather conditions for a holiday. While this is the expectation when paying full fare, your expectations need a slight adjustment when flying standby.

We’ve found that sometimes unexpected or ‘unplanned’ trips are the best adventures and most memorable places we’ve been. We’ve taken the approach that it is more important to choose the dates for the trip and then narrow down a location a week before. This way, it is possible to pick the destination based on the number of seats available. This minimizes the risk of getting stuck and maximizes both the possibility of reaching your location and the possibility of upgrades. When we started as non-rev travelers, we had low standby status (equivalent to buddy pass status) because my husband worked for a third-party contractor. This resulted in resourcefulness.

Advantages of Flexibility

Even though you may end up somewhere in the off-season, this has advantages. Some advantages include lowered hotel costs, fewer crowds, fewer lines, and a more local experience. While it would be nice to enjoy spectacular weather, the cold/heat/rain have never ruined the excitement of being in a new place for us. It also can make for a good story. Remember that travelers who may have bought a full-fare flight intending to go somewhere during the perfect time of the year may still run into unexpected weather or crowds. The photos you see on social media seldom represent the reality of a place and are highly edited, perfectly timed, and sometimes from an optical vantage point that wouldn’t actually be viewable at an attraction (drone photography).

Randomly selecting a destination with no expectations means you won’t be disappointed. You won’t have as many preconceived notions of a place, which makes it all the more exciting. In future blog posts, I may have other tips centering around more aspects of flexibility, but flexibility in a destination is a must.

Stay tuned for the next blog post about planning. While seemingly contrary, it’s probably safer. A plan allows for more overall enjoyment of your trip.

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