No, you can NOT get the employee discount!

[Flyguy]

This did not happen to me, I heard a co-worker on this call earlier tonight.

A little background. Airline employees fly free or mostly free (sometimes there are taxes) on company flights. We also get a few passes each year that we can give to family or friends. The catch is employee and pass travel is "space available". If the plane fills up, you don't go, and no one feels bad for you, you're essentiallly low-priority cargo. I always have extra unused buddy passes at the end of the year because my family and friends don't fly much, and when they do, they want to be sure they have a confirmed ticket.

So, that being said, SC calls in, and asks my CW for one of her buddy passes
I heard her say to him "Are you seriously expectng me to give one of my buddy passes to a total stranger?" Sadly, I couldn't hear the response.

For the record, we have to know personally the one to whom we give a buddy pass. I wouldn't give one to some people I know, because the Space A flier has to be on his/her best behavior. Hassle the gate agent or act like a fool, and suddenly I find my travel bennies have been revoked.

That SC would have a better chance of hitching a ride with this guy:

Keep yer flaps up, everyone!

[thansal]

you're essentiallly low-priority cargo.

BUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!

That's one of the best lines I have seen in a while. Call me simple, or easily amused, but that concept is hilarious to me.

That said:
YE GODS!

I saw the thread and thought "Ok, it's the standard idiot in a retail join pressing the OP to put in their employee code". No. It's an SC trying to get a flat out free FLIGHT, completely cold calling! WTH?

[Raveni]

I always have extra unused buddy passes at the end of the year because my family and friends don't fly much, and when they do, they want to be sure they have a confirmed ticket.

Fly on a buddy pass this time of year, and it can take you DAYS to get where you're going too. Last time I flew on one, I spent a whole day at the airport, and got bumped from every flight.


I am reminded of watching an episode of Airline, where the job applicants were flown out for interviews on what were essentially buddy passes. One of them threw a HUGE fit while waiting to get home because they kept getting bumped. Until one of the supervisors pulled her aside and explained that, if this was how professional she was going to act and travel delays upset her this much, she could make a phone call to recruiting.

[Flyguy]

I am reminded of watching an episode of Airline, where the job applicants were flown out for interviews on what were essentially buddy passes. One of them threw a HUGE fit while waiting to get home because they kept getting bumped. Until one of the supervisors pulled her aside and explained that, if this was how professional she was going to act and travel delays upset her this much, she could make a phone call to recruiting.

Oh yes. People routinely lose travel priviliges because of their misbehaving buddies. I only give passes to people I absolutely trust, but it still comes with a lecture on proper airport behavior.

Occasionally the buddy pass holder will call in and play the SC. I am a Supervisor, if a pass rider has asked to speak to me, in my mind they are instantly a SC. They are taking my time away from paying customers who need resolution of issues an agent has no authority to resolve. When I get on the line I'm already

Me-this one's obvious
SC-in this case a pass rider
EF-employee friend. The person who gave SC the pass.

Me: My name is Flyguy, I'm a supervisor in (Mycity), how can I help you?

SC: I paid money for this for this ticket, now your agent was telling me everything's overbooked for today? I HAVE TO GET TO POUGHKEEPSIE!!

Me: You paid taxes. You're allowed to fly space available, and space is not available. We are not under any obligation to fly you anywhere. If you have any further issues, contact EF. Your pass is refundable too, EF can do it for you. The only reason you can call reservations is to change your listing. Any agent can handle that for you. If you ask for a Supervisor again, you're going to get EF in trouble. Thank you for calling (Myairline). *click*

I then document sucky call one in SC's passenger record. If it happens again, EF will be asked to join his/her manager for a chat.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Occasionally I'll get someone who'll joke about "can I get your employee discount on this?" when they're buying some big ticket item.

Only to get a genuine shock when I tell them, "I don't get an employee discount. I get a free membership in the wholesale club. That's really about it."

[Megg]

you're essentiallly low-priority cargo.

BUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!

That's one of the best lines I have seen in a while. Call me simple, or easily amused, but that concept is hilarious to me.

My mom used to work for an airline. I also found this to be hilarious, mostly because it is so true! I flew standby from Texas to California, it took me two days. I spent most of the second day fighting the urge to moo as I went from gate to gate.

[PepperElf]

"I don't get an employee discount. I get a free membership in the wholesale club. That's really about it."

about the same for NEX employees. one of my coworkers said his wife got hired and was told "employee discount? you don't have to pay sales tax. there's your discount."

but yeah, giving a pass to a complete stranger?
i can just see that stranger turning into the passenger from hell. especially if they're rude enough to think they're entitled to one in the first place

[csquared]

Flying standby can be fun. A college dorm mate spent four days in San Francisco trying to get from Hawaii to Chicago. Of course his luggage went straight through (pre 9/11).

[NateTheChops]

Good to meet an airline representative. I worked as a detailer for a subcontractor of the airline with the American flag in the logo a few years ago. The reps weren't exactly my coworkers, but they gave more of a rat's behind for me than the people who actually signed my paycheck.

[thansal]

Occasionally I'll get someone who'll joke about "can I get your employee discount on this?" when they're buying some big ticket item.

Only to get a genuine shock when I tell them, "I don't get an employee discount. I get a free membership in the wholesale club. That's really about it."

I dono, that's one king hell of a discount if I remember the price of those things.

My mom used to work for an airline. I also found this to be hilarious, mostly because it is so true! I flew standby from Texas to California, it took me two days. I spent most of the second day fighting the urge to moo as I went from gate to gate.

Yah, I'm familiar with the idea of standby (My brother used to fly standby to get home from college once or twice), I just think I like the idea of classify people as low-priority cargo :P

That all said, I think you hit the nail on the head with the key to flying, take it all with a grain of salt and be ready to laugh at your own misfortune.



muuuurrrrrroooooooooo

/me wanders off giggling.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I dono, that's one king hell of a discount if I remember the price of those things.

Basically, it amounts to me not having to pay $45 a year to be able to shop at the store.

Sure, over time, it adds up (that's ~$350 I've saved over the last nine and a half years), but it's not really that significant over just one year.