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When working for an airline, one of the most well-known perks is staff travel, whether you work as an engineer, ground staff or flight attendant. It might seem like a dream to travel anywhere in the world for free or at a low cost, but what is it like in reality? Can a flight attendant or any other airline employee travel wherever they want to for free on their days off?
Eligibility for staff travel varies by airline policy; spouses, dependants, and parents may be included. The airline may restrict its use as it sees fit, and it may be restricted to use on just the individual airline or limited to a few airlines. Certain times, like holidays and peak periods, tickets might not be available, and busy routes will often be a no-go. Sometimes airlines have restrictions on the number of tickets an employee can use each year.
The Short Answer
Flight attendants can fly for free with some US airlines or at a discounted fee, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to travel on a particular flight. All flights are on a ‘standby’ basis, and you can only travel if the aircraft has empty seats, after all paying passengers have boarded. In reality, seats are not entirely free and are not always the easiest or most reliable option.
Some airlines in the US do offer free seats on their own aircraft within the US, but may instead charge additional fees such as airport taxes or fuel surcharges. Outside the US, most commercial airlines offer discounted tickets, often called ID90 or ID50. This means that a traveler entitled to such tickets may pay just 10% or 50% of the overall ticket price. Seats can be bought directly from the airline, and sometimes from code-share partners, depending on the airline’s policy.
If a flight is full and a flight attendant cannot board the aircraft as there are no empty seats, the only option is to wait for the next one, which does have empty seats, or just cancel your trip entirely. The only time a flight attendant travels completely for free is when the airline pays for their seat when they are deadheading or positioning to join another flight that they are working on.
Delta Air Lines
How Standby Travel Works
In the US, airline staff are classed as non-rev passengers as they generate no revenue for the airline. This applies to the airline employee, eligible family members, and sometimes friends. The ticket is heavily discounted or free, with things like airport fees or government taxes added. Outside the US, ID90s are standard, and occasionally ID50s, which are confirmed or standby in a premium class. All staff travel tickets have restrictions on times of peak travel, and there are often blackout periods.
Catch what other flight trackers miss
Emergency squawks, holds, NOTAMs — live signals, no signup.
Open tracker
Catch what other flight trackers miss
Emergency squawks, holds, NOTAMs — live signals, no signup.
Open tracker
Once at the airport, the staff member is put on a standby list and not assigned a seat. Once all passengers have boarded, the gate staff will see if there is any space on the flight. If so, they will check the standby list. The first priority is revenue passengers; even if a staff member is at check-in early, a passenger who books a seat at the last minute has priority over the staff member. Next are premium passengers, airline crew, and then non-rev family and friends.
Seniority is also extremely important, as with all aspects of the aviation industry. How long a flight attendant has been with the company affects their place on the standby list; the more senior you are, the higher you will be on the list and the more likely you are to get a seat. If on a standby list for another airline, that airline’s own staff on the list will have higher priority, regardless of seniority. During the first six months of probation, normally, flight attendants are not entitled to staff travel.
Positive Aspects
If all goes well, it can be a great way to see new places during your busy career and take friends and family with you. The Big Four airlines in the US: 
Southwest Airlines, 
United Airlines, 
American Airlines, and 
Delta Air Lines do offer free flights to airline employees for spouses, parents, and children, according to information from employees on Quora. Travel in the US is 100% free, but a tax is payable for international destinations. Limited ‘buddy passes’ are available for friends. All of these tickets are based on standby travel.
Flight attendants may also be able to travel if there is an empty jumpseat on the aircraft and the flight is full. Not all aircraft will have spare jumpseats, but there may be one or two available if a full complement of crew is not needed. The captain has the final say on whether a crew member can ‘jumpseat’ on their ticket, and the policy varies by airline. This is not at all comfortable for a long-haul flight, but it is fine for short flights, and travel is essential.
After 25 years as a flight attendant, some airlines will allow free staff travel in business class or first class. According to Islands, retirees usually keep their staff travel privileges but have a lower status on the standby list than current active crew. Other benefits associated with staff travel for crew include discounted hotel rooms, car hire, gyms, and restaurants. Those on staff travel may also occasionally receive an upgrade if places are available in premium cabins.
Best Practice
A flight attendant or other staff member will check the passenger numbers for the preferred flight, where possible to do so. From that, they can usually decide whether it’s a good idea to take the flight or cancel their plans. It is a good idea to check in early, if possible, and get an assigned seat if available, just before the door closes. The more senior you are in the airline by number of years worked, the more likely you are to get a seat on your requested flight.
Employees must have their company ID with them and have all their documents ready. It is important to follow the airline’s dress code and have good conduct throughout. If they are polite, they may receive special treatment from the crew on the flight, as they like to look out for each other. This may include extra drinks and snacks. However, if someone on staff travels is rude, dressed incorrectly, or acts in any bad way, they will lose their travel privileges.
Traveling at non-peak times and on not-so-popular routes gives a better guarantee that a seat will be available, but it’s still not 100%. It is always a good idea to have a backup plan when a trip doesn’t go as expected. For example, if someone is commuting, they may have to list for two flights beforehand or travel the day before, or book a hotel if they cannot get home.
The Downside Of Staff Travel
Discounted air travel may seem like a dream to some, but how can there be a downside? It can be unreliable and rarely goes to plan. At best, a flight attendant with low seniority might have to wait for a few full flights to leave before finding seats on another flight. They may also have to take another route or go via various stops to get to their destination or take an entirely different mode of transport. If traveling with checked luggage and on standby, meaning being last to board, you may be separated from your luggage.
It can be useful to some and less so to others. For example, if you are flying on a full-time schedule, on your days off the last thing you want to do is get on another aircraft or, worse, wait all day for your discounted ticket to be used, as the flights are all full. If time off is short and it is necessary to fly or take a quick break, buying a confirmed ticket is a better option. If looking for an international flight on a popular route, there might only be one service a day, therefore very difficult to get a seat on.
Staff travel can be stressful, so sometimes it’s better to buy a normal ticket, especially when commuting on busy routes or when booking hotels and trips for a vacation. At peak times, it is better to avoid staff travel if at all possible, as it can be unreliable. If crew are commuting, it can be complicated as most airlines do not agree with it, and if you are late for your duty, ultimately, you could lose your job. However, United Airlines recently agreed to a commuter policy in its new flight attendant contract, which protects crew somewhat.
Is It Worth It?
Staff travel can be a perk of being a flight attendant, but it is not suited to everyone. Some may use it to commute to their airline base; others may want to use it to visit family or go on vacation. Of course, traveling at a discounted rate is a huge bonus, but a seat is never guaranteed, and travel rarely goes to plan. It’s all very much on a wing and a prayer, quite literally.
If a flight attendant chooses a not-so-popular route at a non-peak time, they are much more likely to get a seat. If possible, the passenger load should be checked in advance to assess the chances. If the flight is already fully booked, unless you are very senior and there are passenger no-shows, the chances are very limited. A confirmed ticket may be a better option.
Although discounted or free travel sounds like a great thing to have, it is not quite what it seems. Sometimes, additional costs are added to the ticket, such as departure taxes, government fees, and fuel surcharges. Your chosen route may be almost impossible to get on, especially at peak times, and there should always be a backup plan or two. Seats are never guaranteed and are only assigned at the last minute based on seniority, just after passengers have been boarded. However, if you have plenty of time and don’t mind the wait, it can be an easy and affordable way to travel.
