I used to be a lodo for the old US Airways. We were boarding and there was a lady who came on in our uniform dress. She was a non rev. She didn't smile or speak when she came on either. She just had a sour look on her face. Anyway, she goes back to coach to the bulk head row after envoy and sits down. A few minutes later, a different lady (non rev) went up to the CSD speaking Spanish and was complaining like crazy. The CSD didn't understand so I stepped in and asked what the problem was. The lady was pretending to be a paying pax and said that she missed the flight to MAD the night before (you know, non-revs, full flight, traveling with group, not enough seats) and acted like it was US Airways' fault. Then she said she should be upgraded to envoy. I explained that I can't issue any upgrades and that she should speak with the agent. So, she steps off the plane for a second and I ask if she needed me to go up there to interpret and then she comes back on the plane and starts yelling "But it's not fair! I should be given an envoy seat because I didn't get on the other flight and we had to pay for a hotel and and spend the whole day in PHL and yadda..yadda...yadda..." I said "And if you don't shut up you're not going to be on this flight either." So she shut up and went back to her seat in coach. Well, I saw her go back and sit down next to that non rev lady in uniform and they were talking. It turns out that the lady who yelled at me was the lady in uniform's mother! Luckily I was working in envoy so I didn't have to deal with them the rest of the flight and later the CSD and I were laughing about it the whole way to MAD.
I only give buddy passes to my aunt who knows the drill. She's non-revved many times and knows what to do but I counseled her like crazy and I have gone over all the rules about what to do, what to wear, etc. She's not the type to cause a scene or get irate and she always looks nice. My parents travel some. I've given a pass or two to my brother but that is it. I tell my friends and family that it is better for them just to buy a real ticket and that I'm not trying to be mean but flights are always so full and it is very difficult to non rev and it just isn't worth. I'm used to it because I commute and I know you have to be flexible but others may not get it and I cannot in good conscience put them through it anyway.
As for the gate agents, I commend you all for your hard work because I don't think I would last a day dealing with everything you have to deal with. It's bad when paying pax give us problems but when you have to deal with irate non-revs who don't get it that's even worse.
