Overnights?

MLily79 · 06-15-2008, 01:07 PM

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

My boyfriend recently started flying reserve for a national airline. He's had several short trips where he flies somewhere (or multiple places) and returns the next day. I've heard mention of significant others going on "overnights" with their pilots. I've mentioned it to him, but he doesn't know much about it. (Although right after I mentioned it, he went on a trip and asked the captain about it, which I thought was really sweet and shows he likes the idea.)

We still don't have a lot of information though, so I'm hoping someone can fill me in. How do overnights usually work? Are there stipulations? It's probably best to go with if he's only going to one place, staying overnight, and coming back, right?

I have non-rev'ed with him a couple of times but never while he was acting as pilot.

Any insights would be much, much appreciated!

-MLily

Brenda · 06-15-2008, 01:19 PM

Well, I've never gone on an enrtire multiple day trip with hubby. But I have chosen one of those days and gone with him. I usually try and go on one that has a long enough layover so that I can enjoy my time with hima dn actually make it worthwhile.
So, say he has a 3 day trip. The first night isn't very desirable, but the second one is and he flies into ATL or wherever he flies from and then to Mexico. I'll meet him in Atlanta and then hop on his flight.
Did this make any sense?

MLily79 · 06-15-2008, 01:26 PM

Yep, that made sense. Once you're getting on his flight, is it just like non-revving? Would you have non-revved to get to ATL? Do I have to be his wife to do this?

Bigsweetie · 06-15-2008, 01:29 PM

Does he get buddy passes? You can use those. I'm not sure how his airline works, some I think have passes for gf's but i'm not sure. If you were a spouse, you'd most likely have travel benefits (not all do though, I don't for example).

Good luck! And like Brenda mentioned, go when he has a long layover somewhere. It's fun to be in the back when they're flying the plane, but if you don't get to spend any time with them, it's not as much fun.

Good luck!

felly · 06-15-2008, 03:08 PM

i haven't gone on an overnight with my boyfriend, but i can tell you that as his girlfriend i still have benefits. he has me listed as his travel companion (or something to that effect) and i can non-rev for about 25 dollars round trip.

madlibs · 06-15-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLily79

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

My boyfriend recently started flying reserve for a national airline. He's had several short trips where he flies somewhere (or multiple places) and returns the next day. I've heard mention of significant others going on "overnights" with their pilots. I've mentioned it to him, but he doesn't know much about it. (Although right after I mentioned it, he went on a trip and asked the captain about it, which I thought was really sweet and shows he likes the idea.)

We still don't have a lot of information though, so I'm hoping someone can fill me in. How do overnights usually work? Are there stipulations? It's probably best to go with if he's only going to one place, staying overnight, and coming back, right?

I have non-rev'ed with him a couple of times but never while he was acting as pilot.

Any insights would be much, much appreciated!

-MLily

Not a stupid question at all. Every single person on this message board has been new to aviation at some point and "learned the ropes" the same way you are now. What's nice about this board and others like it is that it gives everyone a chance to get different points of view from those who are at diferent points along the way. New-to-the-lifestyle, Been-doing-it-for-years, fly-regionally, fly-internationally, fly-pax, fly-cargo... etc. etc. etc. Never be afraid to ask ANYTHING.

As for me, I've flown with my husband a TON. So much so that I know most of the CA's, FO's and FA's at this base. He is always wanting me to come on overnights, and I try to as much as possible. (For awhile there it was almost once a trip.) I'm kind of burnt out on non-reving right now, and am actually enjoying the quiet of being at home with the pooch. I'm sure that I won't feel this way for long, though.

Anyway, like others said, try to look at your boyfriend's trip and see when he has a good overnight. You mentioned that you've non-reved with him before...are you listed as his travel companion then? Because if so, there's nothing different about traveling with him on an overnight. Just check the loads, find an open flight, and you're good to go. You should be fine to ride in the hotel van with the crew, but it's sometimes a good idea to call the hotel to make sure. There were a couple times we arrived pretty late, and the hotel shuttle was no longer running. In cases like that, the hotel then pays for a taxi for the crew - but only for the crew. The cabbie didn't mind me coming, but we had to pay my share of the ride. No biggie, though.

If you'd like to continue on your boyfriend's trip with him, but don't feel like riding with him on any flights he has before his next overnight, you could try and get to the overnight before he does. For example, you guys just went on the first night's overnight in Ohare (ORD). The next night is in Washington Dulles (IAD). Before he finishes in IAD, he has to fly to Houston. (IAH). Instead of you going ORD-IAH-IAD, you could just try to go ORD-IAD, and head to the hotel. You've GOT TO have your boyfriend call the hotel beforehand to arrange this, though. Not every hotel will allow you to check in before him, but a lot of them will. He would just call the hotel, ask if this would be ok, and leave your name. You'd then ride the hotel shuttle over, show them your ID, and you're good to go.

I'd definitely recommend going with your boyfriend whenever you can. They're gone enough as it is! Nice to spend any extra time with them you can.

AnnaRose · 06-15-2008, 04:19 PM

I am listed as my boyfriend's significant other and have the same benefits as I would if I was his wife. I've gone on two trips with him. One to Las vegas and one to Atlanta. Its nice when you have the whole day to walk around and hang out. The only thing you have to make sure of is that the flight isn't oversold by too much if you dont live near the airport. You don't want to fly all the way to Atlanta and not get on

Although, when I went to Las Vegas with him the flight departed at 7:30 on a Friday night out of FLL and was oversold by 10, and I was like #5 on the non-rev list. Who would have thought it, but I made the flight! So find out what kind of benefits you have, look for a trip with a long overnight and don't let oversold flights get you down : ) Have fun!

katbuad · 06-16-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlibs

If you'd like to continue on your boyfriend's trip with him, but don't feel like riding with him on any flights he has before his next overnight, you could try and get to the overnight before he does. For example, you guys just went on the first night's overnight in Ohare (ORD). The next night is in Washington Dulles (IAD). Before he finishes in IAD, he has to fly to Houston. (IAH). Instead of you going ORD-IAH-IAD, you could just try to go ORD-IAD, and head to the hotel. You've GOT TO have your boyfriend call the hotel beforehand to arrange this, though. Not every hotel will allow you to check in before him, but a lot of them will. He would just call the hotel, ask if this would be ok, and leave your name. You'd then ride the hotel shuttle over, show them your ID, and you're good to go.

Thanks madlibs, I have wondered if something like this was doable. I'm going to mention it to hubby and see if he would be willing. I think he has double overnights in Chicago at the end of the month and if I could just leave my stuff at the hotel it would make a perfect couple day's vacation.

Brenda · 06-16-2008, 05:35 PM

I'm taking a bit of a risk, but that's okay. Can't believe I'm that brave with 3 kids, lol. Dh has 3 consecutive overnights in MTY and we are all going with him. While he flies his r/t to ATL, I'll hang out with family, go exploring(I've lived there) and just hang out at the pool. Should he happen to get reassigned I'll stick around and pay the company rate for the room.

madlibs · 06-16-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brenda

I'm taking a bit of a risk, but that's okay. Can't believe I'm that brave with 3 kids, lol. Dh has 3 consecutive overnights in MTY and we are all going with him. While he flies his r/t to ATL, I'll hang out with family, go exploring(I've lived there) and just hang out at the pool. Should he happen to get reassigned I'll stick around and pay the company rate for the room.

Ooo, Brenda that's going to be a blast And hanging out by the pool... what hotel will you be at? I might have to meet you there...

06-15-2008, 01:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
MLily79 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MN, USA Posts: 12 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Overnights? I hope this isn't a stupid question. My boyfriend recently started flying reserve for a national airline. He's had several short trips where he flies somewhere (or multiple places) and returns the next day. I've heard mention of significant others going on "overnights" with their pilots. I've mentioned it to him, but he doesn't know much about it. (Although right after I mentioned it, he went on a trip and asked the captain about it, which I thought was really sweet and shows he likes the idea.) We still don't have a lot of information though, so I'm hoping someone can fill me in. How do overnights usually work? Are there stipulations? It's probably best to go with if he's only going to one place, staying overnight, and coming back, right? I have non-rev'ed with him a couple of times but never while he was acting as pilot. Any insights would be much, much appreciated! -MLily

06-15-2008, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brenda Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: EVV Posts: 1,219 Recipes: Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Overnights? Well, I've never gone on an enrtire multiple day trip with hubby. But I have chosen one of those days and gone with him. I usually try and go on one that has a long enough layover so that I can enjoy my time with hima dn actually make it worthwhile. So, say he has a 3 day trip. The first night isn't very desirable, but the second one is and he flies into ATL or wherever he flies from and then to Mexico. I'll meet him in Atlanta and then hop on his flight. Did this make any sense? __________________ - Brenda, wife to Eric, Capt for Shuttle America.

06-15-2008, 01:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
MLily79 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MN, USA Posts: 12 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Overnights? Yep, that made sense. Once you're getting on his flight, is it just like non-revving? Would you have non-revved to get to ATL? Do I have to be his wife to do this?

06-15-2008, 01:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bigsweetie Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Clinton Township, Michigan Posts: 1,567 Recipes: Thanks: 8 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Overnights? Does he get buddy passes? You can use those. I'm not sure how his airline works, some I think have passes for gf's but i'm not sure. If you were a spouse, you'd most likely have travel benefits (not all do though, I don't for example). Good luck! And like Brenda mentioned, go when he has a long layover somewhere. It's fun to be in the back when they're flying the plane, but if you don't get to spend any time with them, it's not as much fun. Good luck!

06-15-2008, 03:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
felly Jetgirls Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spring/TX/USA Posts: 184 Recipes: Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Overnights? i haven't gone on an overnight with my boyfriend, but i can tell you that as his girlfriend i still have benefits. he has me listed as his travel companion (or something to that effect) and i can non-rev for about 25 dollars round trip.

06-15-2008, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
AnnaRose Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 312 Recipes: Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Overnights? I am listed as my boyfriend's significant other and have the same benefits as I would if I was his wife. I've gone on two trips with him. One to Las vegas and one to Atlanta. Its nice when you have the whole day to walk around and hang out. The only thing you have to make sure of is that the flight isn't oversold by too much if you dont live near the airport. You don't want to fly all the way to Atlanta and not get on Although, when I went to Las Vegas with him the flight departed at 7:30 on a Friday night out of FLL and was oversold by 10, and I was like #5 on the non-rev list. Who would have thought it, but I made the flight! So find out what kind of benefits you have, look for a trip with a long overnight and don't let oversold flights get you down : ) Have fun! __________________ "A person travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it..."

06-16-2008, 05:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Brenda Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: EVV Posts: 1,219 Recipes: Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Overnights? I'm taking a bit of a risk, but that's okay. Can't believe I'm that brave with 3 kids, lol. Dh has 3 consecutive overnights in MTY and we are all going with him. While he flies his r/t to ATL, I'll hang out with family, go exploring(I've lived there) and just hang out at the pool. Should he happen to get reassigned I'll stick around and pay the company rate for the room. __________________ - Brenda, wife to Eric, Capt for Shuttle America.

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