Please Help

[drifterreno]

Hello. I am a retired employee of another airline. My son=age 37- is planning a scenic photography trip to Thiland. He has a chance at a job at National Geographic. He has been flying standby for all but 14 years of his life. I am looking for someone to help him with a buddy pass. If you have any or if you know of anyone who can help please pm me. Thanks again. for your help.

 

[Kev3188]

Drifter--

At NWA the only way we can use Buddy passes is if we actually fly with the person, so you'll probably have zero luck on this board....

Good luck!

Kevin--

P.S. Good luck to your son with National Geographic!

 

[RobertD]

I agree, good luck with the National Geographic gig.

It sounds like an important trip, so of course the next statement is.....

why not buy an actual ticket instead of a non rev or buddy pass? :blink:

 

[drifterreno]

Thank you both for asking--for the first person--woudln't you like to travel to Thiland?? And second he has been flying stand by most of his life and to him it's an adventure--one of many he's had. He gets to meat really nice people and ends up stranded in places that become his favorites to visit. Soooo if anyone would like a trip to Thiland please pm me. Thanks.

 

[boxer]

Try the UAL board. Companions can fly unaccompanied.

 

[Borescope]

With the international LF's most airlines are enjoying, your son may find himself sitting in a boarding area for a long time. Buddy passes aren't worth the paper there written on. In addition, the pass charge and the taxes that he'll likely have to pay the person giving him the pass, would be close to an advance purchase ticket in coach. Buy a ticket it's a lot less hassle.

 

[Travelagent]

With the international LF's most airlines are enjoying, your son may find himself sitting in a boarding area for a long time. Buddy passes aren't worth the paper there written on. In addition, the pass charge and the taxes that he'll likely have to pay the person giving him the pass, would be close to an advance purchase ticket in coach. Buy a ticket it's a lot less hassle.

I agree- Buy a ticket. Just scanning NW for Dec-Jan departures from NYC-BKK and they are FULL. If he were bumped the layover would be either SFO (not too exotic) or NRT (very expensive). You can buy an advanced purchase roundtrip coach tkt for $998.00 including taxes. If he were to get someone willing to fly to BKK and let him tag along- you would then have to get another kind soul to escort him back or he would have to buy a one way fare for about $1200.00

 

[finman]

Drifter--

At NWA the only way we can use Buddy passes is if we actually fly with the person, so you'll probably have zero luck on this board....

Good luck!

Kevin--

P.S. Good luck to your son with National Geographic!

The way I understand it, effective late last year, on NWA a companion can now fly unaccompanied if the companion is flying to or from the home base of the employee.

 

[Kev3188]

The way I understand it, effective late last year, on NWA a companion can now fly unaccompanied if the companion is flying to or from the home base of the employee.

Correct, sort of...

Here's the blurb from RADAR:

"In most situations, companions are required to travel with the employee (EMPLOYEE IS DEFINED ONLY AS THE EMPLOYEE AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE SPOUSE OR DOMESTIC PARTNER).


Effective 11/6/06, unaccompanied companions are allowed to travel without the employee in the following limited situations:

*Companion can travel unaccompanied to the employee's home or base location and return home again. Travel to and from Company terminals or travel to and from airports within 100 miles of the employees or companions home or base is also acceptable.

*Companion can travel unaccompanied to meet the employee at a common third location so that the employee and companion can vacation together.

*Companion can travel unaccompanied to the employees home or base location or common connection city in order to travel with the employee together to a common third location.

Note: Additional information regarding this and other pass travel enhancements announced 11/2/2006 can be found in the Q&A on RADAR under Travel/Policies & Programs. "

So far all intents and purposes, at some point you (meaning the NWA employee) would have to go along, unless you're either based in BKK or in the son's home city.

My point is that none of us can just give them a Buddy Pass to whatever routing they choose.

 

[finman]

Correct, sort of...


My point is that none of us can just give them a Buddy Pass to whatever routing they choose.

yes. very true.

 

[boxer]

Being curious, why is NW's buddy pass policy so restrictive?

 

[finman]

Being curious, why is NW's buddy pass policy so restrictive?

During the cost cutting craze a few years back, it was determined that there was too much abuse of the existing policies to be able to effectively police. A lot of buddy passes were being sold on ebay, and other abuses like that. At that point, they made the employee fly with the companion on all flights. That lasted a couple of years until the recent relaxing of the rule to allow companions to fly unaccompanied on fligths to/from the employees home airport. In the end, I think NWA determined that the underground market for buddy passes not used for personal use was costing NWA too much in lost revenue opportunity, as they presumed that a fair percentage of those people using buddy passes would go ahead and buy a ticket if a buddy pass was not available.