Standby Flying Sucks

STANDBY FLYING IS NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART!

Chris works for an airline, so he has flight "benefits" ("Flight benee's" as Chris calls them). I use the term "benefits" loosely, because they are hardly that. Although, they have helped us to fly to places we otherwise normally couldn't afford... it is definitely at the cost of your sanity.

Two weeks ago my cousin and her husband decided they wanted to fly to Hawaii out of LA on standby with his "benefits". Originally I told them no, because Chris is busy with school and I didn't have work off. However, I traded a shift at work and all of the sudden did have the time off. Chris still wanted to work on school since his final are fast approaching (He is a smart boy!). But I had time off. So, I thought, "Maybe I should go." My cousin had reserved a Condo, so I asked her if I could still go, and she said sure!

On Monday, flights looked great for Thursday. There were a good amount of seats on the plane and we were high up on the standby list.

But slowly... as the past 3 days unfolded... More and more seats were sold and more and more standby people started listing. (Who buys a FIRST CLASS ticket to Hawaii the day before?!?... because 6 people did! Guess not everyone is as effected by the economy...) And to the people who list their standby seats last minute... thanks a lot for screwing over the little newbies. If you have planned on flying standby for the last month... please don't list your family of 7 the day before and shatter the dreams, plans, and pocket books of the people with less seniority who have made hotel arrangements and rental car arrangements at the said destination. Because you really are screwing us! (Some people have a 1965 seniority date and list themselves as they are driving to the airport.) All I ask, is if you are planning on flying... list early, so others don't make arrangements and have to eat all that cost.

Anyway, we didn't make it on our flight today. After waiting and hoping, we were denied. I have looked at the standby list so frequently over the past few days that I think I am developing OCD! I obsess about the flights and as soon as I act on the compulsion to check on the status, I get irritable. So I try to not look at them, but I OBSESS. Vicious cycle. Not to mention I worked a night shift so my sleep schedule is totally off. This sucks!

We are going to try the flight tomorrow. So everyone wish us luck! But, I am definitely pessimistic...

I think that Standby Flying should come with a warning from the Surgeon General:

* Warning: Standby Flying may cause anxiety, fear, cold sweats, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea/nervous stomach, irritability, anger, frustration, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), impatience, crushed hopes, shattered dreams, sadness, depression, insanity, and insomnia.

(some "benefits")