All the chatter about airline employee dress codes, and denying those employees boarding if they’re not dressed properly, went into the stratosphere yesterday. And this was all because they weren’t dressed properly. Besides determining whether or not you’ll get on the flight, I’m here to tell you dressing properly when non-revving definitely has its advantages.
During one of my NRSA (non-revenue space available) adventures I found myself having to get from Honolulu back to the Mainland. My airlines’ flights were booked full and as a last resort I purchased a ZED fare, or as we referred to them back then, an ID90. ZED (zonal employee discount) fares allow OAL (other airline) employees to purchase reduced rate (standby) tickets on airlines that have ticketing agreements between them. As a side note, airlines and airline people love acronyms (NRSA, ZED, OAL, etc).
Photo credit: Bob Logan
The ZED fare I purchased happened to be on TWA and unbeknownst to me it was on a 747. After purchasing the ticket I dashed over to the TWA ticket counter and checked in. The agent warned me that the flight was full and that chances of getting on were slim. After going through security I approached the boarding gate. The scene at the gate was frantic. Passengers were boarding and getting checked in. Towards the end of boarding the agent had the non-revs line up and she walked us down the jetway. The FAs were doing an “open seat” count to determine if any of us would get on. At the door of the airplane one of the gate agents, who had gone onboard, had been having a discussion with one of the FAs about some non-revs who were not dressed properly for the flight. The agent then went to those non-revs and told them that because of the dress code they would not be able to fly on the flight. The next two persons in line, me and another FA from my airline, were shown the spiral staircase and instructed to sit in the upper deck. YES! The flight was lovely, the crew was lovely, and my avgeek heart was filled with joy. This was to be my first flight on a 747, in the upper deck, enjoying a nice meal, wine, and a memory of a lifetime.
It pays to be properly dressed.
airlineguys 
Great story! One thing I always do when I non-rev is dress like First Class. I’m appalled at the things I see people wearing in airports these days and I wonder what happened to the days when going on an airplane used to be a privilege, not a “right”. I wish we could make every passenger watch Louis CK’s skit “Everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy” before boarding…
Thanks for your comments. People watching whenever flying can be entertaining as you never know what you’re going to see! Will need to google the referenced skit. Thanks again.
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Thanks for the link and heads up.
Thanks for the comment….. I always try to go above…. it doesn’t take a lot …. respect , that’s all
A little more respect could do wonders for the world! Thanks for your comments.
without a doubt, you can’t go wrong in suiting up… and chocolates and the such. ^_^
Chocolate fixes many things 😉 Thanks for your comments.
All airline employees must go through training each year if not annually to be certified and in compliance. Each of us knows what our responsibilitys are and what is expected of us. The airlies gives attention to newsletters and emails to reiterate what we are required to do.
It is my opinion that these snot nose youngsters that were given the opportunity to fly for free under someone’s non-rev privileges, and they chose to do the wrong thing. But then made an ass out of themselves by going public with out the bace facts. Thinking some how they are entitled to be treated with more honor or respect just because they have money or prestige.
When in reality the hard working airport employee who makes little pay but gets great benifits (because they erred them) fallows the rules and respects others are the ones who should be noticed. Trust me there are alot of us out there that are amazing human beings.
We read the rules and comply, help others, push wheelchirs, get bags for the infirm, and hold the hands of unaccompanied minors, whether we are working or flying next to passangers.
All with a smile and gratitude to have the opportunity to go somewhere, see family, or like myself recintly held my father’s hand as he was in icu. I could not have been there with out the benifits from our great jobs.
You know what is the true shame here?
Not the snot nose self-righteous so called celebrity’s. NO
The shame falls on the employee who gave them our benifits without requiring, informing, or addressing to them the absolute need to fallow the rules.
I want to thank the airlines for my job.
I want to thank all the employees out there that do a great job.
I want to tell everyone that we all work so well together, to benifit altimatly the passangers.
Thank you skywest, united, delta, and Alaska air.
Of all the articles I’ve read none have spoken about the reaction of the girls or the agent working the gate. The only thing we know is that what the person who witnessed this situation didn’t have all the relevant facts. Agree that flying is amazing and having the opportunity to fly for basically free is something to be thankful for. Hope your father is doing well/better. Thanks for your comments.
I grew up an airline brat and was always dressed up. Sport coat, tie all that even when I was very young. Yes it was a pain but it got me to a lot of interesting places for next to nothing. I remember the first flight I paid for myself and could wear whatever I wanted and reveled in the fact I had BLUE JEANS on!
That’s awesome! Dressing properly has its advantages. Nowadays almost anything flies 😉