Buddy Pass Scheme at PHL
- Thread starter zethya
- Start date
ChockJockey
Veteran
- Dec 18, 2008
- 1,393
- 1,350
I would imagine this is something corporate security deals with fairly regularly systemwide; I'm not sure it's really newsworthy, it's not like they were trying to smuggle guns through security or anything. I've known a few people over the years that have gotten canned for it, mostly because they mis-represent it as an actual positive space ticket and when they don't get seated they flip out, or they don't know the person and they end up doing something stupid or illegal. Do a Craigslist search for "buddy passes" and you'll see all kinds of stuff. Apparently SW lets their employees sell theirs? I dunno.
Regardless of who I give my passes to I always emphasize the following, even if it's someone I've known all my life:
1. It is a pass, not a ticket. In paying the airline for it they have purchased the opportunity to fly standby if seats are available. There is no guarantee they will get on the exact flight they want, or even get out of town at all.
2. Always follow the directions of TSA, law enforcement, and airline personnel.
3. No drugs/weapons/kiddie porn or any of that idiocy.
Not worth losing one's job over...
notquiteUS
Member
Its PHL, is this really a surprise...
Dog Wonder
Veteran
Reading the link this wasn't a penny-ante scam. Passes PHL-TLV, seats blocked on those flights. A Manager accessing employee databases for passes.
Time for a Philadelphia lawyer.
Time for a Philadelphia lawyer.
No real news here. This is a problem that exists on various levels throughout the system from front-line employees all the way through management. I personally know of one agent in Europe fired for creating a dumby PNR just to guarantee a seat for herself to LAS. She was one of our best agents too. And yes, I won't identify her city either. For those who know who I am, you know who I'm talking about. Folks, DON"T BE STUPID AND GREEDY WITH YOUR FLIGHT BENEFITS. At the end of the day, YOU WILL GET CAUGHT. PERIOD!!!!!!
SparrowHawk
Veteran
- Nov 30, 2009
- 7,824
- 2,707
Wasn't exactly robbing Fort Knox either. Hey times are tough
Jester
Veteran
People are always working an angle on something which is free to them, but worth something to other people that are willing to pay.
For example, I knew a guy that once worked for US who was listing family members on passes for insanely large numbers of flight segments on ONE pass, in order to save the number of passes issued! He gave me a look at one booking and it was around 15 flight segments over the course of 3 months! If there was a change after the first flight was completed, the CSAs would modify the PNR at the counter, and never said a word about it. Maybe the company has since limited the number of segments on a pass, but better yet, he never thought he was doing anything wrong either.
So Recounts Jester.
For example, I knew a guy that once worked for US who was listing family members on passes for insanely large numbers of flight segments on ONE pass, in order to save the number of passes issued! He gave me a look at one booking and it was around 15 flight segments over the course of 3 months! If there was a change after the first flight was completed, the CSAs would modify the PNR at the counter, and never said a word about it. Maybe the company has since limited the number of segments on a pass, but better yet, he never thought he was doing anything wrong either.
So Recounts Jester.
Kev3188
Veteran
That actually just sounds like knowing the rules so you can bend them properly?
Kev3188
Veteran
We had that at NW for awhile... Fine by me; until recently, I hadn't used a buddy pass in over a decade...
Years ago when they were still paper passes I borrowed one from a co-worker because I was out. I payed him back with a pass. He gave it to a ramper that he owed a pass to, the ramper sold it to some illegal alien. The gate agent boarding the flight to Mexico City knew me and question his ticket. He spoke no English she called, me and asked if I knew him, which I didn't. Corp security as well as immigration got involved. I was put on travel probation for a year, luckily for me the agent whom I gave the pass to did confirm my version of the story, he also got put on probation and the ramper fired. About a year later Pheonix immigration busted a human smuggling ring in PHX that involved rampers and guest passes and hundreds of illegals.
As to anyone buying a guest pass they are basically worthless so buying them is just real dumb!
As to anyone buying a guest pass they are basically worthless so buying them is just real dumb!
I've seen way too many abuses of the system to be surprised by anything. Earlier this week I had a friend that was flying on the same flight for one leg with me and he didn't get on because the agent skipped over him and took someone that checked in later. I've had my SA1 changed into an SA9 at the gate and seen junior SA1s get pulled off an airplane because a senior SA3 throws a fit. It's sad and pathetic at times.
Thats when you get a shift manager involved and they can pull the list of who, what, when, and where....then that goes to PHX travel and then they get involved....I had to use an SA1 out of PHX on a sunday morning, in front of 48 Sa3 employees, otherwise I would have been stuck at the gate....with a hire date of 07.....
Dan
