Non-Rev Lounge

Staff Travel Stories with Claire: Bags, Lounges, and Non-Rev Adventures

Tyler and Lara record in LA with guest Claire from Liverpool, who works at Manchester Airport in ground operations, focusing on tracing delayed bags and auditing aircraft cleaning, and discusses how staff travel in the UK differs from US non-revving due to taxes, especially long-haul from London. Claire shares her aviation background starting with British Midland, love of travel and photography, and standout trips including frequent Vegas visits for shows, a whirlwind Shanghai-and-Japan trip with Golden Week crowds, app-based transport issues that sent her to the wrong Shanghai airport, and nearly missing ferries and flights. She recounts traveling to Brazil for Lady Gaga on Copacabana, leaving the crowd due to feeling unsafe, then struggling to get home by rerouting via São Paulo and Spain. The hosts also mention using tools like StaffTraveler to check loads and find routing options.

00:00 Welcome to Non Rev Lounge
01:09 Meet Claire from Liverpool
02:37 Getting to Heathrow
04:39 Claire’s Airline Career
09:12 Lost Bags and Cleaning Audits
16:35 Staff Travel Taxes Explained
20:05 Vegas Trips and Shows
26:13 Shanghai During Golden Week
30:25 Translate and Getting Around
31:04 Flights and Airline Perks
31:55 Alipay Taxi Airport Mixup
33:50 Shanghai Highlights in Golden Week
35:00 Japan Whirlwind and Rabbit Island
37:44 Osaka Airport Mistake and Escape
40:31 Nonrev Tools and Travel Community
54:32 Planning India Next
56:16 Wrap Up and Sponsor Plug

DorkFest On Location: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego, 9/11 Reflections, and a Guam Detour

Lara and Tyler record from DorkFest in Los Angeles with guests Dave and longtime listener DJ, discussing meeting fellow spotters, Hyatt Globalist perks, and their day trip riding Amtrak’s state-supported Pacific Surfliner to San Diego for lunch at the Top Gun–filming Kansas City Barbecue and a Navy SEAL museum visit with friends from across the U.S. DJ shares his lifelong train and plane-spotting background, upcoming New York plans mixing commuter rail and food stops, and bucket-list routes. The group reflects on September 11, including Laura and Dave’s experiences as flight attendants, early post-9/11 flying conditions, and DJ’s interest in the Flight 11 crew’s heroism. Tyler recounts a Guam trip with his son via Tokyo, highlighting United’s Guam hub, resort stay, and travel logistics, and notes his transfer from Phoenix to Salt Lake.

00:00 Spotter Small Talk
00:55 Live From DorkFest
01:43 Hyatt Status Perks
02:53 Meet DJ and Dave
04:43 Surfliner Day Trip
06:07 How Surfliner Works
08:28 Top Gun Bar Stop
10:21 Coastal Views and Erosion
12:34 DJ Train Plane Origin
14:21 Bucket List Rail Routes
15:28 Cousin Devin Travels
18:12 Secret NYC Train Plan
20:09 Remembering 9 11
21:30 Missionary During 9 11
24:02 Flight Attendant Story
33:07 Mission Sendoff Cut Short
34:00 Flying After 9/11
34:20 Empty Planes And Furloughs
36:20 Come From Away Memories
37:44 Honoring Flight 11 Crew
39:56 How America Healed
41:52 Why Guam Happened
45:09 Getting There Via Tokyo
47:00 United's Guam Hub Explained
51:33 Guam Highlights And Hyatt Stay
53:41 Tokyo Airports And Tips
57:17 Security And Standby Seat Stress
01:00:49 Dreamliner Window Drama
01:03:45 Beach Stories With Chris
01:04:54 Leaving Phoenix For Salt Lake
01:09:48 Wrap Up And Sponsor

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% discount code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist with your non-rev travels! Use it to find loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Non-Rev Super Traveler Brooke: 60 Countries, Group Trips, Baby Travel, and a Harry Styles Encounter

The hosts of the Non Rev Lounge (Monique, Tyler, and Lara) welcome coworker Brooke, a frequent non-rev traveler in her early 30s who has visited 60 countries, completed five of the Seven Wonders (missing Christ the Redeemer and the Great Wall), and discusses visas, including China’s challenges for non-revs and India visas. Brooke shares why she joined aviation for flight benefits, her start at Piedmont and move to mainline, and how Express employees often use benefits more. She explains planning group birthday trips, using hotel benefits, Splitwise for shared costs, and choosing destinations by weather and social media. Travel highlights include a rugged Komodo Islands liveaboard from Bali and visiting Petra and the Dead Sea. She also covers working pregnant on the ramp, traveling with a seven-month-old, and recounts meeting and repeatedly interacting with Harry Styles in Seoul and later London.

00:00 Birthday Invite Blunder
01:15 Non Rev Lounge Introductions
01:59 Meet Brooke Travel Machine
06:21 Seven Wonders Checklist
07:06 China Visa Standby Hacks
09:41 Language Barriers and Translation
11:00 Why Work Airlines
12:55 Piedmont Ramp Life
17:46 Express vs Mainline Travelers
20:34 Group Travel Rules
26:39 Planning Tools and Splitwise
31:19 Bali Liveaboard Adventure
37:17 Crocodiles and Bali Flights
37:33 Tiny Planes and Weigh-Ins
38:35 Jordan and Petra Highlights
39:43 Dead Sea and Monastery Hike
41:04 Airline Routes and Asia Dreams
41:56 Pregnant on the Ramp
45:30 Taipei Night Market Surprise
47:31 Traveling With a Baby Tips
50:19 Gear and Flying With Infants
55:54 Harry Styles Seoul Encounter
01:08:36 Wrap Up and Farewell

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% discount code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist with your non-rev travels! Use it to find loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Unreal Lounge: Salt Lake Crew Chief Transfer and Lara’s Mediterranean Cruise

The hosts discuss workplace complaints, joking that accusations of racism trigger management attention, then recap a group river outing and a Phoenix near-miss incident involving two flights with the same flight number. Monique describes a flight attendant focus group about improving the Phoenix base, including rotating reserve and a reminder not to give flight attendants the last row. Tyler announces he was awarded a Salt Lake City transfer as a crew chief, recounting a test mix-up, and talks about SIDA badge background checks and added responsibilities like HAZMAT. Intern Lara recounts an expensive cruise starting in Trieste with sightseeing in Trieste and Slovenia, then stops including Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Albania, Messina (Godfather tour), and ending in Malta; theme nights, meeting wealthy travelers, Dave breaking his toe, and difficult return logistics due to Malta Carnival, ultimately flying Delta to JFK with a condensation drench incident and getting home early.

00:00 Racist Complaint Talk
01:17 Unreal Lounge Intro
01:37 River Float Recap
03:35 Standby Secrets Banter
04:25 Phoenix Near Miss Story
05:53 Focus Group And Reserve
08:16 Back Row Seat Drama
09:18 Late Shifts And Slippers
10:05 Crew Chief Promotion
11:45 Test Mixup In Australia
14:10 Transfer Delays And SIDA
21:54 Salt Lake Ramp Culture
23:20 Seniority And New Hires
25:43 Seniority Mixup
26:20 Booking the Pricey Cruise
27:37 Getting to Trieste
29:17 Airport Lounge Detour
30:25 Upgrade Drama at Gate
35:03 Train Ride Regrets
36:21 Trieste and Slovenia Tours
38:39 Pre Voyage Rooftop Party
39:29 Penthouse Jet Set Friends
41:03 Theme Nights and Costumes
44:04 Late Nights Room Service
46:41 Ports and Excursions Begin
49:42 Croatia Bike Tour
51:11 Dubrovnik History and Heat
53:22 Sicily Godfather Excursion
55:00 Albania and Travel Scams
56:35 Malta Exit Strategy
01:00:19 Delta Nonrev Home
01:04:52 Cruise Verdict and Toe Injury
01:08:56 Staff Travel Priority Requests
01:11:59 Lounge Tips and Farewell

Become a StaffTraveler eSIM Ambassador https://esimambassadors.stafftraveler.com/

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

From River Heat to Melbourne Suites: Travel Updates, StaffTraveler Changes, and Global Entry

Hosts Monique and Tyler recap recent events and travel: a small meetup around Tyler's birthday that included tubing on a very hot day, where Tawny showed signs of heat illness, and Tyler briefly tipped his tube, followed by dinner at Mesa with guests visiting from several cities. They discuss working in extreme Phoenix heat, aircraft cooling issues, and pilots refusing planes with broken APUs. A planned Rio trip using five Marriott nights was canceled due to heavily oversold flights, so they instead flew with lie-flat seats to Sydney and continued to Melbourne for cooler weather, tours to Phillip Island’s penguin parade and the Great Ocean Road/12 Apostles, and stays at the Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton, including a suite after a room assignment error. Returning home, Katie missed Qantas, flew Delta economy, and Tyler flew United Polaris during Hawaii storm-related weight restrictions. They also cover Global Entry renewal uncertainty, new StaffTraveler points-based priority requests, and note multiple recent ramp employee deaths, plus upcoming Dork Fest and sponsor mention of the StaffTraveler app.

00:00 Welcome Back Banter
01:34 River Meetup Recap
02:34 Heat Stroke and Safety
05:23 Tubes Tips and Dinner
07:44 Phoenix Ramp Heat
11:45 Broken APU Drama
15:48 Meetup Shoutouts
16:12 Brazil Trip Canceled
21:50 Pivot to Cool Australia
24:43 Sydney Customs to Melbourne
27:21 Phillip Island Koalas Tour
28:05 Koala Encounter Chat
28:21 Phillip Island Penguin Parade
29:16 Penguin Numbers and Predators
31:13 Great Ocean Road Highlights
32:11 Tour Tips and Bus Drama
34:50 Park Hyatt Stay and City Wandering
37:26 Travel Planning Apps and Food Finds
40:23 Ritz Carlton Upgrade Strategy
45:27 Suite Surprise and Sky High Views
49:20 Non-Rev Flight Plan Trouble
53:34 Delta Standby Shuffle
55:25 United Polaris Upgrade Win
56:00 Hawaii Storm Detours
57:19 Seat Swaps and No Screen
58:31 Polaris Service and Perks
01:00:20 SFO Customs Sprint
01:03:40 Global Entry Renewal Tips
01:09:54 StaffTraveler Points Update
01:18:16 Ramp Tragedies and Farewell

Become a StaffTraveler eSIM Ambassador https://esimambassadors.stafftraveler.com/

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Non-Rev Tales: Puerto Rico Song Jokes, Italy Highlights, and an Extra-Section Ride Home

The hosts share a running joke about a “Puerto Rico” song, including a supervisor-office moment where the reference fell flat, and later a party clip that accidentally resembled a Nazi salute. They discuss annoyance with social media trend-copying, upcoming meetups and travel plans (Dork Fest, Seattle, Universal), and Lara’s London crew tour to Greenwich that drew complaints despite her planning. Monique recounts an Italy trip with standout hotel-bakery breakfasts, touring a potential wedding villa, and a beach day with reserved chairs, jellyfish warnings, and mixed water quality, then traveling to Barcelona for tapas and a World Cup atmosphere. Flying home, they use non-rev strategies and an extra-section JFK flight with only 35 passengers, scoring business seats, then deal with chaotic JFK gate agents. The episode is sponsored by the StaffTraveler app.

00:00 Puerto Rico Song Bit
01:20 Trends and Copycats
02:21 Sand Fleas and Honeymoon
03:53 Non Rev Lounge Intro
04:14 Meetup and Wild Horses
05:31 Dork Fest Plans
08:09 Back to Traveling
09:54 London Crew Tour
15:01 Hotel Drivers and Shuttles
18:32 Canceled Bags Confusion
20:32 New Planes and Screens
25:31 Door Signals and Customs
27:32 777 Retrofit Miss
32:21 Italy Breakfast and Castle
35:23 Wedding Villa Visit
37:32 May Wedding Costs
38:13 Dinner Plans Together
38:46 Beach Day Setup
40:31 Jellyfish and Dirty Water
41:24 Pina Colada Joke
44:50 Train Back to Florence
45:51 Why Barcelona Route
48:35 Tapas and World Cup
49:38 Hostel and Nightlife Plans
53:35 Extra Section Airport Chaos
57:26 Surprise Business Seats
01:00:57 Business Cabin Comforts
01:04:02 Finding Extra Sections
01:06:44 JFK Gate Agent Meltdown
01:09:20 Trip Wrap and Italy Goals
01:10:11 Cruise Nonrev Planning
01:14:14 Goodbyes and Sponsor
01:15:43 Birthday Party Fiasco

Become a StaffTraveler Esim Ambassador https://esimambassadors.stafftraveler.com/

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Non Rev Lounge: Arizona Meetup Plans and Monique’s Italy Trip, Part 1

Tyler, Monique, and intern Lara return to record in Tyler’s mostly empty house after a slow July of publishing due to busy schedules and monsoon weather, then discuss non-rev travel logistics and costs, including full London return flights and upgrade taxes, United’s added fees, and airport lounge experiences in Philadelphia before their Europe trip. They announce an August 8 Arizona meetup with a Salt River float and dinner near Mesa Gateway Airport, sharing practical tips (water shoes, towels/sheets for hot tubs, sunscreen, hats, no glass, and hydration) and noting limited public transportation and carpool needs. Monique begins recounting a family trip to Italy tied to Zachary and Natalie scouting wedding villas, detailing challenging standby routing to Zurich and Florence, trains to the Livorno coast (Castiglioncello), and a Tuscany e-bike tour with steep hills, wine tasting, and scenic views, setting up a two-part episode.

00:00 Show Planning Intro
01:00 Welcome Back Empty House
01:59 Monsoon Stories Airport Ops
04:04 London Loads Taxes Upgrades
07:43 Meetup Announcement Details
09:16 Salt River Float Tips
12:50 Carpool Logistics Dinner Plan
17:02 Meetup Memories Shoutouts
18:52 Southwest Red Eye Hawaii Talk
23:38 Italy Trip Origins Routing
31:33 Sneaking Into Lounges
31:55 Sapphire Lounge Wellness
33:23 Business vs Premium Economy
35:49 Emotional Flight Moments
37:29 Zurich Connection Chaos
40:42 Standby Win on Swiss
42:44 Arriving in Coastal Italy
49:15 First Night Food and Gelato
52:04 Tuscany E-Bike Adventure
01:02:54 Route Explorer Trip Planning
01:06:06 Meetup Plug and Sponsor

Become a StaffTraveler Esim Ambassador https://esimambassadors.stafftraveler.com/

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Maui Trip Recap, Phoenix Salt River Meetup Plans, and Non-Rev Tools & Travel News

Tyler and Monique discuss upcoming work trips and announce an August 8 Phoenix meetup to float the Salt River (tube rental about $25, potential group discount, sunscreen, and water shoes recommended) followed by dinner, with signups via email/Instagram/Twitter. They share a StaffTraveler eSIM ambassador opportunity and how Route Explorer helps plan complex non-rev itineraries. They react to a news story about an Air Canada pilot who flew for 20 years without a pilot’s license and review a non-rev-themed movie, “Travel Companion,” which they disliked. Monique recaps a Maui trip: weight-restricted Hawaii flights, helpful crew, a seat-kicking child, an oceanfront Airbnb with turtles and stingrays, higher food costs, widespread pay-to-park beaches, and the continuing devastation in Lahaina after the fire. They cover snorkeling, windy beach conditions, Road to Hana rain, Black Sand Beach reservation requirements, and begin planning non-rev routing to Italy via other European gateways.

00:00 Welcome Back Banter
01:19 Parking Lot Gripes
02:23 Work Trips And Italy Prep
03:06 Phoenix Meetup Salt River
07:55 StaffTraveler eSIM Ambassador
09:51 Route Explorer Trip Planning
12:02 Air Canada Pilot Mystery
14:13 Travel Companion Movie Review
19:20 World Cup Culture Shock
29:01 Maui Nonrev Flight Win
35:15 Maui Arrival, Jeep And Costco
38:11 Airbnb Kitchen Supply Lessons
39:07 Sticker Shock Groceries
40:21 Airbnb Cove Wildlife
42:54 Coastal Drives Whales
44:23 Pay to Park Beaches
47:16 Lahaina After Fire
49:21 Sacred Beaches Respect
50:49 Boat Tours Highlights
52:54 Windy Beach Hacks
54:19 Snorkeling Wins Turtles
58:11 Road to Hana Reality
01:06:16 Last Day Travel Blues
01:09:18 Airport Lounge Standby
01:13:37 Italy Flight Gameplan
01:17:15 Europe Heat Warning
01:18:55 Wrap Up Sponsor

Become a StaffTraveler Esim Ambassador https://esimambassadors.stafftraveler.com/

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Girls-Only Non-Rev Lounge: Summer Travel Plans, Italy Tips, and Airline Stories

Monique and Lara host a girls-only Non Rev Lounge episode while Tyler is busy moving, thanking production Dave and Tawny. They discuss Lara’s packed summer travel—Hawaii (including the Road to Hana and seeing Lahaina after the fires), then a quick turnaround to Italy with Zachary, plus a St. George girls’ trip and Dorkfest plans involving a train ride to San Diego. Lara shares Italy recommendations like grappa, Aperol Spritz, pizza differences, and buffalo mozzarella caprese. Monique talks about working London flights, the UK “luxury tax,” bonded liquor rules, and a humorous first-class passenger she jokes might be MI6, plus federal air marshal logistics and a military upgrade story that led to an emotional challenge coin. They also swap flight attendant stories, including “Booker T” being arrested at a Raiders game, and mention Monique’s potential move to Richmond when Drew gets a flying job.

00:00 Tipsy Soap Moment
00:36 Girls Episode Kickoff
02:14 Hawaii Plans Maui Return
05:53 Italy Trip Prep
08:41 Italy Food Drink Picks
11:49 Nonrev Strategy Summer Travel
14:06 London Luxury Tax Story
16:09 Upgrading Military Passenger
20:15 Parents Senior Mission Talk
24:52 Summer Work London Chaos
27:18 New Hotel In London
28:40 First Class Shakeup
29:31 MI6 Guy In 4A
33:02 Air Marshals And CBP
37:02 Bonded Liquor Rules
38:08 Carding On Flights
39:07 Booker T Flight Friend
41:04 Raiders Fan Arrested
43:48 Moving To Richmond
47:43 Shoutouts And Wrap Up
48:36 Dorkfest Train Plans
52:06 Sponsor And Cabana Boy

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge

Non-Rev Travel Stories, Gate Challenges, and Airline Benefits Talk

Monique and Tyler record at Monique’s house and discuss recent travel and work experiences in the airline world. Monique recaps a Flagstaff trip for Hayden’s 21st birthday, including tight non-rev flights, a risky slip-and-slide game on gravel, and the stress of getting Zachary home after losing a seat, helped by friends at the airport. They compare non-rev benefits and policies—check-in time vs seniority, buddy passes vs a second registered companion, and not paying for upgrades—and reflect on how flight benefits enable frequent travel and occasional lie-flat first class experiences. Tyler shares work updates, including bidding cooler basement duties, handling oversized bags, mentoring challenges during a hectic boarding, meeting Gabby Giffords on a flight, and operational delays from a tire change and a dead jet bridge that required towing.

00:00 Welcome Back Setup
00:50 Pajamas And Halara
01:22 Lara Scarf Swap
02:09 Flagstaff 21st Trip
04:29 Slip And Slide Games
05:43 Nonrev Flight Chaos
09:36 Southwest Codeshare Talk
11:36 Basement Bag Room Shift
17:29 Mentoring At The Gate
23:44 Gabby Giffords Flight
25:23 Jet Bridge Breakdown
29:06 Airline Seniority Years
31:54 From Side Gig to Career
33:24 Pay Scales and Perks
34:23 Trips Made Possible
35:39 Lie Flat Weekend NYC
38:20 TWA Hotel Detour
39:54 Benefit Rules and Retirement
42:39 Imposter Syndrome Up Front
44:16 How Flights Stay Full
47:07 Best and Worst Policies
55:00 Job Joys and Flexibility
59:33 StaffTraveler and Italy Plans
01:01:14 Wrap Up and Sponsor
01:02:10 Farm Feed and Thumbs Down

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler   https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released.  Send any feedback to [email protected]

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE  https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge