Posts Tagged ‘travel’

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Madrid Free Attractions and Cheap Food

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

Museo Del Jambon in Madrid, or as the crews calls it, Museum of Ham, is the cheapest restaurant we have found. A 10 ounce beer is.7 Euro and a sandwich is .5 Euro. But the cheapest deal is 9 Euro for a Pichure of Sangria, a pitcher of beer, and four taps plates. This is enough for four people. It is an incredible deal for Europe, let alone Spain. NonRev Website.com would like to that thepilotspalate.com for this great tip. See more about Madrid deals Madrid NonRev Page.

For those of you who want American fast food in Madrid, Burger King has a happy meal for you. They serve 12 ounce beers in their establishment that cost 2 Euro and can be substituted in the value meal. The only problem is you can’t supersize it. See more about Madrid deals Madrid NonRev Page.

Free Attractions in Madrid

Madrid has some great museums that are free. The only catch is that you have to know the days and/or the times. One of the best is the Muse Del Prado. Spain’s most popular tourist sight a The Museo del Prado is Spain’s premier art gallery, housing the finest works of art Spain has ever produced. See more free stuff at Free Madrid Attractions .

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Ultimate Interactive NonRev Checklist

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Did you ever have that sinking feeling when you reached your destination that you had forgotten to pack something, and it was a major item? That is why NonRevWebsite.com created the Interactive NonRev Checklist. Several years of travel experience has gone into this tool to guarantee nothing is forgotten. A great feature about this checklist is….it’s interactive. As you put items into your suitcase, you can check them off the list.

The Interactive NonRev Checklist is divided into 5 sections so as to not miss anything. The first section is Must Need NonRev Stuff. As the name implies, these are the tools you must have when traveling standby. It includes links to tools like a NonRev Timetable for all the world’s airlines and most trains. .

The next section is Must Need Stuff. This is also a great checklist if you are working a trip or not NonReving. It includes the basics like passport, drivers license, travel clock, etc. . It even has links to sites that help you get your passports replaced if you lose them, they expire, or you run out of room for stamps

Next there is a section on First Aid Supplies. Items such as Dramamine, Pepto Bismol, asprin….etc. It also contains items active people need on adventure vacations like BandAids and after bite salve.

Then there is the Hygiene Supplies section. All the things you need to stay clean. This includes all the things you would expect, but also includes what you might not think of, but you can’t live without if you go on a safari for example. These include tissues and toilet paper.

Finally there is an Other section. It contains the things you might not have thought of and were not covered in the other sections.

NonReving is difficult enough without forgetting something you really need. This Interactive checklist has been designed to eliminate that problem. There is even a mobile version of the Interactive NonRev Checklist allowing users to take the checklist on their phones. Enjoy this new tool and never have that sinking feeling again.

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New Tool: Nonrev Commuting App

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

  Nonrev Website Commuter App

With the difficulty of summer commuting fast approaching, I have been asked to find a web app to help make the struggle home easier. I could not find one with all airlines and all hotels, so I created one. Now when you are at the gate and they cancel your flight to work or to your vacation, all you have to do is pick up your smart phone and go to Nonrev Commuter App  . This web app has three tools to help you.

First is the “All The World Timetable” which has links to every airline in the world with phone numbers in case you need to try to list for a flight. It also has links to US Airports that allow you to view which airlines are on time or cancelled. Finally, it has some train timetables too if the airport is shut down.

Next is the rental car tool. Several Nonrevs I work with in New York are pitching in and renting a car to get home. This has happened so many times that it is becoming a viable alternative to a non-rev flight. Here I give directions on how to get a car without paying too much.

Finally, there is a Hotel Tool to get a room when all your other nonrev travel options have disappeared. This has a search function and instructions to not pay any more than you have to.

Now if there is bad weather or the flight fills up unexpectedly, you will have a tool to help you right on your phone. Remember, the sooner you go to the tool when trouble rears its ugly head, the less numbers in case you need to try to list for a flight. It also has links to US Airports that allow you to view which airlines are on time or cancelled. Finally, it has some train timetables too if the airport is shut down.

Next is the rental car tool. Several Nonrevs I work with in New York are pitching in and renting a car to get home. This has happened so many times that it is becoming a viable alternative to a non-rev flight. Here I give directions on how to get a car without paying too much.

Finally, there is a Hotel Tool to get a room when all your other nonrev travel options have disappeared. This has a search function and instructions to not pay any more than you have to.

Now if there is bad weather or the flight fills up unexpectedly, you will have a tool to help you right on your phone. Remember, the sooner you go to the tool when trouble rears its ugly head, the less of a chance you will have to use the last function of the Web App.

For those of you with phone Scanners, use the bar code below.

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Rotation Reroute, Nonrev Negator

Monday, March 14th, 2011

I was just flew to a city where another crew from my airline was laying over. It seems they got a reroute that turned there one day layover into a three day layover. What happened was their flight, which started in the middle of the United States, had low loads for the two days after they took off. The flight from the coast to the same city also had low loads for the next two days. Operations rerouted the passengers that would have departed from the middle of the US to the coast which didn’t affect the passengers much, but hurt the nonrev passengers many ways and here is how.

The most obvious way this effected the Nonrevs who looked at leaving on the cancelled flight for their vacation had there disrupted. They had to scramble for another way to get to their destination. But who else that was effected where the commuters to the coast. Over 200 seats we use to get to work disappeared overnight. Those seats that the nonrev expected to be open, and were verified open on the company site, were not available.

The solution is too be ready the night before by finding all the flights to work. This can be accomplished by going to the NonRev Timetable . And don’t forget to bookmark this site on your phone Then just before you go to work, check your company site. Once you get to work, go right to the gate and see if there are any problems. DON’T WAIT AROUND. If there is, go to the NonRev Timetable you put on your phone.

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Like to Travel? Win $25

Monday, February 21st, 2011

It’s time for our annual Customer Appreciation Contest. As a thank you for your support of NonRev Website, we created a contest where the odds are in your favor. From now until March 31st, you can win a $25 Starbucks Card. All you have to do is tell all your friends about the NonRev Website Newsletter.

When your friends sign up, they will automatically be registered in our raffle to win a $25 Starbucks Card. The card can be used anywhere in the world Starbucks is selling Coffee. It can even be given to someone else as a gift!

But here is how you have a chance to win your own $25 Starbucks Card. If you tell another person about our newsletter contest and that person informs us that you were the one who told them, you could win your own $25 Starbucks card. The more people who say you told them about our contest, the more times you are registered, the greater the chances YOU could win! You can even tell your spouse and children, and your family could win both cards! Just forward this email to all you know and at the top of the email tell them to make sure they put your name in the box “Please Tell Us How You Found Out About Us.”

Use the following link to register http://www.nonrevwebsite.com/signup.html

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Stuttgart Travel Deals

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Looking for Non Rev Travel Deals in the Holiday Season?  Why not go to place where the Christmas Market is defined. It is one of the cheap deals, free. Thats right, a free attraction in Europe. It’s to find a better travel deal than that.  

Here is the Granddaddy of all the Christmas Markets! The Stuttgart Christmas market is so good, people from all over Europe go here by car, plane, even bus tours. It is huge and takes all day to go through. People shop during the day, eating and drinking as they go, then relax at night watching the people go by, even ice skating. The shops are full of handmade wooden crafts like Christmas Ornaments, Nutcrackers, and Nativity Scenes. Germany considers this the jewel of all their Christmas Market.

Once the sun sets, the food booths have a variety of winter treats. Besides the spiced wine, Christmas beers, and bratwursts, you can get the traditional Kartoffelpuffer, or potato pancakes. This is the best way to have dinner with all the decorations, lights, and shoppers.

To find more information this Christmas Market and other free attractions, go to NonRevWebsite.com . They also have information on other Christmas Markets around Europe as well as the world.

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Why You Can’t NonRev in September

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

I just rode in on Jet Blue and received some bad information for NonRevs. Jet Blue’s All You Can Jet Pass promotion is sold out. That means between September 6th and October 6th the planes will be more than full. I was lucky enough to meet the Senior Analyst for Network Planning and he gave me some great insight on how to NonRev in this difficult period.

With the kids going back to school,  September is known to be a great time to non-rev because the loads are low. This is why JetBlue does this promotion now. That means the demographics of people flying will be those without kids. Without those kids, there won’t be child weights on the numbers and more planes at JetBlue having weight and balance issues. So that empty seat may not be available. Make sure you ask when you sign if it will matter and plan you options accordingly.

According to last years numbers, the worst days to travel is Fridays and Sundays. The don’t have hard numbers for this year because the promotional passes can be booked up to 3 days prior to a flight. And don’t worry about the people booking a seat and not showing up because JetBlue has as ingenious solution, charge them $100 or more if they don’t show up!

The worst city pair was between Chicago and New York. The interesting thing is this is one of the shortest legs they have. It also shows how underserved this market really is. Hey Airlines! This is a hint! More seats between New York and Chicago! And guess what the busiest airport will be? JFK, their hub.

The best solutions to this problem in NonReving to New York I have written in a post “Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Non-Rev to New York.” I have the 5 top problems but more importantly the solution and the ways to avoid the problem. But the best solution to bring chocolate, lots of chocolate. Gate Agents love that stuff. I think it has something to do with their stress level.

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NonRev Dream; Free Tour in Budepest for Free Stuff

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

I just took the FREE Budapest walking tour and it was great! Not only was it free, it told me where to go for free, where to eat for less, and most importantly, how to avoid admission fees. This is a dream if you non-rev or layover in Budapest. The tour lasts at least 2.5 hours and in there is a talk at the end of the tour on what the local people really eat, hint goulash isn’t one of them, where the nightlife is, and much more. A word of warning, the people are young and fit and the tour has a great deal of walking.

When we started the tour at Saint Stephens Square, her first tip was a great one. Our tour guide told us to ask local people under 25 questions because they speak English. She then told us the history and architecture of St. Stephens and how some say it has the best view of the city and for 3 Euros you can see for yourself. Later she showed us a better view for free. We went through a park to explain the new craze in Europe that started in Hungary and then the long walk to the palace. Along the way our guide told us about the history of this great country. We went past St Matyas Church and was told how to get in for free. Like my mother she said “go to Mass!’ If you want answers to the tip deals, you will just have to take the tour. And if that doesn’t entice you, how about finding out why the genitals on the statue of a warrior’s house are shiny.

I have been on several other free walking tours in Munich, Dublin, Paris and this one was even better because it described what to do to save money when touring the city. This is a great help to those on a budget. Even though the young people flock to this tour, there is something here for everyone. Would I do it again? I would and I will soon on the Free Communist Walk and the Free Jewish District and Best Pubs Tour. Stay tuned.

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When not to Non-Rev

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

I was just in Italy talking to the crew that brought my flight in. The Captain of the inbound flight tried to have his wife Non-Rev with him because the flight was wide open. They even check the flight the day before. The day of the flight, the flight was oversold. The captain asked the gate agent what happen to the loads. She said the airlines have a new airline policy on selling tickets which basically negates all our pass privileges.

When a flight has open seats a day or two before a flight to Europe, the DEEPLY discount them to fill up the seat. The prices are so low, they can’t afford to pay the commission on other web pages so you have to go directly to the airline’s website. How low are the prices? He was told $600 round trip to Italy. But it gets worse.

The person who paid $600 for his ticketed volunteered to give up his seat because the flight was oversold. He received a $200 voucher, accommodations for the night, and positive space, wait for it…, in First Class. Let me beat this dead horse. This person paid $400 round trip to Italy…in First Class. Just throw out those buddy passes now.

So if you are planning to non-rev this summer to Europe, think again. But there is a solution. Go to … to find out.

The Solution to this summer’s Non-Rev Crisis

The  beauty of this is we can use it to our advantage. If you would like to non-rev somewhere and see the flight you want is wide open, watch it like a hawk. If it stays open, the day or two before go to the airline’s public website and check out the prices. If they are rock bottom, buy them.

This next part depends on your flexibility. When you go to airport to catch your flight, talk to the gate agent, show them your badge and see if they are buying people off. And be very nice about it. If they are, tell them you would like to be on the list. If not, you may get the upgrade if there is room and you are nice. My secret is chocolate, works every time.

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TAXI TIPS, How to Avoid getting Ripped Off

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

  Taking a taxi can be a convenience or waste of time and money. There are several rules as well as scams when you get into a cab, especially in a foreign country. Here are a few.

  Many taxi drivers lie and say they can’t break your larger notes and you’ll end up grossly overpaying. If your cab fare is $10 and all you have on you is $20s, there is nothing you can do if he doesn’t have change. Many cash machines give large bills like 50 Euros which just makes the situation worse.  The solution is to get money at cash machines close to the hotel. Then cash any large bills to small ones and then always carry some small bills with you. At the end of the trip, you can always use them for tips. 

Many drivers will short change you, say goodbye and rush you out of the cab. Stay in the cab, get your cash, and count it until it you are satisfied with the numbers.

 Many taxis charge higher rates at night time. Don’t think it’s a scam if the evening ride back from the restaurant costs more than the afternoon ride to the restaurant.

Dishonest drivers may take the great circle route to jack up your fare. Have a city map and pretend to follow along with your progress. Ask the driver which route he’s taking. Act engaged in your routing. I layed over with a Captain who had a huge boy scout compass. When he pulled it out, it made everyone one think twice about the directions you gave him.

These are some one the scams that happen with taxies. There are hundreds of more that befall unsuspecting travelers. It is so prevalent these days. Thousands of travelers lose hundreds in currency a day. To see more scams, go to Scams At NonRevWebsite.com . And to see travel advice, go to Advice at NonRevWebsite.com .

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