NWA/Delta Merge Non-Rev Travel

[IXLR8]

So, do Delta employees get first free?

 

[Voice Of Reason]

Do you guys have ways of checking flights to see what nonrevs were let on/denied/etc? Just wondering since I'd be expecting shenanigans from one po'd gate agent side toward the other, especially when it comes to groups (parents) that likely wouldn't know better what is going on...
Airlines are known as being notoriously nasty as it is to their own nonrevs (what the h*ll for anyway? Fire those kinds of gate agents..they're the ones...ids always backward...that are equally nasty to pax)...nevermind the heated situation that will be developing with the merged ones.

 

[JohnQ]

So, do Delta employees get first free?

Yes...assuming of course that they get on at all! Also, you have to be at least 8 years old to sit in first class.

Also, I was surprised that if we wish to nonrev on NWA we have to revert to the ancient technology that characterized DAL nonrevving ten years ago--paper tickets, mandatory check in at the ticket counter etc. Is that still the procedure for current NWA employees, or is it just because the DAL folks are not in the computer databases yet?

At DAL all domestic nonrev procedures are paperless. You "meal list" (an ancient term: there are few if any meals boarded on domestic flights any more) online to get your name on the list of nonrevs. You then "airport list" via the kiosks to confirm that you actually wish to fly on the flight you meal listed; the kiosks will spit out a paper standby boarding card which you then use to check bags (if any) and get through security. If and when you get a seat, your name is listed on the "cleared list" on the monitor above the gate. You then hand your standby card to the gate agent, who scans the bar code and then prints out another slip of paper with your assigned seat. Ideally the only time you ever talk to a ticket or gate agent is when you get your standby card scanned.

Of course that is at the bigger stations with all the bells and whistles. For international flights and/or smaller cities, you may actually have to interact with a ticket or gate agent!

 

[DTW320]

Yes...assuming of course that they get on at all! Also, you have to be at least 8 years old to sit in first class.

Also, I was surprised that if we wish to nonrev on NWA we have to revert to the ancient technology that characterized DAL nonrevving ten years ago--paper tickets, mandatory check in at the ticket counter etc. Is that still the procedure for current NWA employees, or is it just because the DAL folks are not in the computer databases yet?

At DAL all domestic nonrev procedures are paperless. You "meal list" (an ancient term: there are few if any meals boarded on domestic flights any more) online to get your name on the list of nonrevs. You then "airport list" via the kiosks to confirm that you actually wish to fly on the flight you meal listed; the kiosks will spit out a paper standby boarding card which you then use to check bags (if any) and get through security. If and when you get a seat, your name is listed on the "cleared list" on the monitor above the gate. You then hand your standby card to the gate agent, who scans the bar code and then prints out another slip of paper with your assigned seat. Ideally the only time you ever talk to a ticket or gate agent is when you get your standby card scanned.

Of course that is at the bigger stations with all the bells and whistles. For international flights and/or smaller cities, you may actually have to interact with a ticket or gate agent!

The paper tickets on both sides are part of the "phase 1" of this benefit. NWA employees traveling on DAL under the new system have to get paper tickets too. NWA employees on NWA have been paperless, e-tickets for quite a few years now too. We list on the flight then verify at the gate or on nwa.com or at an airport kiosk. If the load is light enough (not sure the exact level) the kiosks or nwa.com will allow you to pick your seat and print a boarding pass just like a revenue pax. On NWA the age for first class is 6 domestic and 8 intl I think. Unfortunately, NWA employees have always been charged a nominal fee for first class. Not sure how that is working for DAL employees on NWA since they can't payroll deduct it from you.....yet.

As posted in this thread earlier, phase 2 of the program is supposed to make it all paperless.

 

[JohnQ]

NWA employees on NWA have been paperless, e-tickets for quite a few years now too. We list on the flight then verify at the gate or on nwa.com or at an airport kiosk. If the load is light enough (not sure the exact level) the kiosks or nwa.com will allow you to pick your seat and print a boarding pass just like a revenue pax. On NWA the age for first class is 6 domestic and 8 intl I think. Unfortunately, NWA employees have always been charged a nominal fee for first class. Not sure how that is working for DAL employees on NWA since they can't payroll deduct it from you.....yet.

As posted in this thread earlier, phase 2 of the program is supposed to make it all paperless.

Good to hear. And believe it or not, I actually believe that the merger will be a good thing for all sides. The SLI will eventually be resolved and we can bash mgmt together.