ba staff travel waitlist

Scripting must be enabled to use this site.

• Your questions
• Search tips

Online services for airline employees (staff travel)

As an airline industry employee where can I find help with my personal admin and/or booking staff travel concessions?

Serving and retired employees of British Airways:

Please refer to the BA intranet -  my.baplc.com - for all Staff Travel and Employee Self Service functions.

If you're a former staff member/retired, the Touchdown website  has all the information you need, with a special staff travel section within the "Help" area.

You'll need your staff number/user ID and a BSAFE password to log into this system. If you don't have a BSAFE password, or have difficulties logging in, please contact the BA IT Service Centre on+44 020 8562 4000.

Queries regarding Hotline bookings should be emailed to the "Hotline Helpdesk" team, accessed via the 'Travel' section of the BA intranet or on the home page of the former staff intranet site.

Employees of other airlines:

Staff from other airlines should list for the British Airways flights they hope to travel on using this site: https://idtravel.ba.com  . Please contact the interline/staff travel team within your own airline if you have any problems listing with your ticket.

How well did this answer your question?

Published answers.

• Waitlists on British Airways flights
• Saying "thank you" to British Airways staff members
• On Business vs Executive Club
• Carriage of UK deportees by British Airways
• How do I know if an Additional Distance Charge is included in the price of my rental car?

Scripting must be enabled to use this site.

• Your questions
• Search tips

Waitlists on British Airways flights

I can't book a confirmed seat on the flight I want, can I waitlist for it? What is a 'waitlist'?

We operate a process whereby customers, when booking on our flexible/non-restricted fare types, can register their names to wait for a confirmed seat to become available on a flight that's currently "full". Seats could become available if any passengers on a same ticket type cancel their booking at a later date. 

If the flight you're looking at is full and you would like to see if you can waitlist yourself, please contact your nearest  British Airways office .

We operate a fully-automated waitlist clearance system and if space does become available more than 48 hours before the flight, customers are offered them on a priority basis -  starting with our Executive Club members by membership tier. 

> Learn more about the benefits of joining the Executive Club

How well did this answer your question?

Published answers.

• Overbooking of British Airways flights
• Reserving seat numbers
• Choosing seats when you're travelling on separate bookings
• I'm booking pre-paid car rental, why can't I request a car seat?
• How much does it cost to fly to....? / How far in advance can I book to....?

• Our Culture
• Rewards & Benefits
• Hiring Process
• Inclusion & Diversity
• Sustainability
• Military Schemes
• Head Office
• Cabin Crew FAQs
• Future Pilots
• Pilots FAQs
• Customer Services
• Engineering
• Ground Operations & Cargo
• Emerging Talent
• Graduates, Business Placements & Internship Programmes
• Apprenticeship Programmes
• Work Experience & School Programmes
• Discover more

Search job by keyword

Search job by location

Rewards & Benefits

It’s not just about bringing the best talent to British Airways. We want to make sure our colleagues are in it for the long-haul once they join us

That's why our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary, with benefits that can help you save for the future, make what you earn go further, and fit with what's important to you.

We recognise that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play.

Pay & bonus

You'll receive a market competitive salary that reflects the role that you do. Individual bonuses are also given in line with our financial, operational, and personal performance.

We offer a market-leading defined contribution (DC) pension. Colleagues are enrolled at 2% employee contributions and 7% employer, with the option to increase your contributions to either 5% and 11% or 6% and 15% depending on your role.

Flexible Benefits Scheme

Choose from benefits including critical illness cover, cycle to work, additional life insurance cover, private medical insurance, dental plan, tech scheme, and healthcare cash plan.

Flexible working

Flexible working is part of our culture here at British Airways. Options are available based on business and operational requirements.

Training & Development

Every role at British Airways comes with the scope to learn and grow. There is always an investment in upskilling our colleagues.

Tech Scheme

Get up to £1,500 towards tech purchases, including white goods, with the cost spread over 12 months through your salary.

Family Leave

As well as parental, co-parental and shared-parental leave, we offer all primary parents the option to return to work on a reduced hours arrangement, paid at their normal basic pay for up to six months.

Electric car & parking

Eligible colleagues can access a fully-maintained electric car through salary sacrifice. For all colleagues we also offer free car parking at our West Base site near Heathrow for up to two weeks when you go on holiday.

Cycle to Work

Eligible colleagues can participate in this scheme to purchase a bike. This benefit is subject to salary sacrifice, so you will make tax and NI savings.

We'll pay the cost of an annual membership upfront, which will then be deducted from your pay over 12 months. Colleagues on a permanent contract will be eligible for this benefit after three months.

Season ticket loans

The Season Ticket Loan Scheme allows you to purchase an annual season ticket for your train and/or tube journey to work and spread the cost, which is deducted from your salary, over 10 months. You will be eligible for this benefit after three months.

Heathrow Express

Whether you are commuting to Heathrow or heading off on holiday, you’ll be entitled to buy Express Saver tickets with a 75% discount.

Fly the world

British Airways colleagues get access to brilliant staff travel benefits from the day of joining. This includes unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways, and up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.

After six months, you’ll also be eligible for concessions on other airlines with whom British Airways has an agreement.

After one year, you will receive an Annual Bookable Concession which is upgradeable to either First or Club.

• StaffTraveler
• Download app

How to Get Cleared on Standby

Working for an airline provides a great opportunity to travel the world for a significantly reduced cost, but the process of flying standby can be daunting. While you’re anxious to use your travel benefits, you’ve probably heard horror stories of days spent stranded in the airport as flights go out full. But the good news is this: with proper planning, flexibility, and a pinch of luck, you can be sleeping under the stars in your dream destination instead of under the bright lights of the airport terminal. Read on as our guest blogger Josh from Cleared List shares some of his best tips for planning the perfect standby trip.

Finding a destination: the right place at the right time

To increase your chances of finding flights with empty seats, take vacations in the off-season such as February and November. If you must travel during peak times, fly mid-week instead of weekends or go where no one else is going. For example, skip the beach resorts over the Christmas holiday. Instead, bundle up and head north for the Aurora Borealis light show in Iceland or Norway.

Get inspired

Don’t know where to go yet? The StaffTraveler blog has plenty of inspiration ! Need a bit of motivation to pack your bags and go? We’ve got you covered .

Research regional trends

It’s also important to understand regional holidays. Simple Google searches will teach you a lot about the peak vacation times for regions around the world. For example, February is a great time to fly standby in the Western Hemisphere; however, in Asia, families take time off to celebrate the Chinese New Year. You’ll be in for a rude awakening if you land in Hong Kong and expect to find a cheap last-minute hotel or open seats on an inter-Asia flight. On my blog, Cleared List , I post a few suggestions for off-peak standby destinations for each upcoming month. Rove.me is another excellent resource. This website suggests the best countries to visit based on climate and activities during the dates you select.

Visa requirements

Speaking of China, countries with visa requirements make great standby destinations. Most people don’t want to pay the up-front cost of obtaining a tourist visa, so you’ll be competing with fewer standbys for the remaining seats on flights to places such as Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, and St. Petersburg.

A note on flying standby to tropical destinations

Destinations in the mid-latitudes such as Southeast Asia and Central America, typically have a dry season and a wet season. If you can handle a little bit of rain, the wet season is a great time to experience these places with plenty of open seats, cheap hotel deals, and fewer crowds. Do some research as rainy season varies by place and time from a casual afternoon shower to dangerous monsoon downpours. The transition period between these two seasons, known as the “shoulder season,” is another great time to visit tropical destinations.

Check the forecast

Most travelers are locked into a destination months in advance, helplessly praying for good weather. Flying at the last minute on standby, you can look up the forecast before deciding. Calling for rain all weekend? Why not switch it up and try somewhere else. Remember to be flexible.

 Shoulder Season

• Cambodia & Thailand  April & October
• Central America  September-November
• Hawaii  May & September
• Indonesia  May-June & September

How to get there

Now that you have a place in mind, it’s time to dive into the details on how to get there. In most cases, these are three methods of traveling, and you should be familiar with each in case “Plan A” doesn’t work out.

1. Pass riding on your airline

This is option number one for multiple reasons. First, this is the cheapest option. Most airlines allow their employees to travel on company flights for free or significantly reduced cost. Secondly, your priority will be the best. Airlines give away empty seats to standbys in a rigid hierarchy and pass riders who work for the company always go first. Your airline should provide information on how to lookup loads and list yourself for flights. The loads can change at any time so it’s generally a waste of time to look at them more than a week before the flight.

2. Pass riding on other airlines

Your airline most likely has reciprocal agreements in place with a multitude of other airlines. This allows you to expand your map and travel to far-off places your airline doesn’t serve on its own. These tickets are a great deal but unfortunately they’re not free and you will be boarded behind pass riders who work for the respective company. These days, most agreements are run through the ZED (zonal employee discount) program. The airfare is based off the flight segment mileage and the fare level agreed upon by the carriers (ZED low, ZED medium, or ZED high). Your airline should provide a list of available airlines and details on how to list for flights. When it comes time to check the loads, don’t forget about StaffTraveler! Download the app to request load information from a network of thousands of employees representing nearly every airline.

3. Traveling confirmed

Even though you can fly standby, it’s always worth checking full fare options. Sometimes buying a ticket on a budget carrier can even be cheaper than a ZED ticket. You can look into trains, rental cars, and rideshares too. Enter your origin and destination into Rome2rio.com to see all methods of transportation with pricing between those points.

Using these options, make sure to come up with a few backup plans because loads can change at any time. Flightconnections.com is an excellent resource to browse route maps sortable by airport and airline.

Pack carry-on only

You need to pack carry-on only. If you check a bag, you can’t change flights at the last minute or make tight interline connections. So when planning your backup destinations, make sure the climates match. Trying to fit beach attire in with ski clothes will take up more room than you have in your carry-on. The exact dimensions vary by airline, but normally a suitcase must be within 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) to be considered a carry-on. The Travelpro Flight Crew 5 fits these dimensions perfectly and is used by flight crews around the world. I’ll use either my trusty Travelpro or the Osprey Porter 46. The Porter backpack is great for adventure travel and fits in the overhead unlike comparable bags. I also use packing cubes to help organize and compress clothes.

Dress smart

Getting denied on a flight just because your outfit doesn’t match the airline’s dress code must be about the silliest reason to miss your flight. In 2017, United Airlines denied boarding to two standby passengers for wearing leggings. Don’t be that person! Read my post on staff travel dress codes around the world before you get dressed!

Don't leave the gate

Don’t leave the gate until the plane has pushed back and is taxiing away!   I can think of at least three times in my non-rev travels when doing just that landed me a seat on a full flight.   The last time, on a trip from Seattle to Paris, my travel companion and I were at the bottom of a list of 20 or so non-rev standbys on an oversold (by 15) flight.   At about 10 minutes prior to door closure, the gate staff told all non-revs to head to the service center and get relisted for the next day’s flight.   We stayed put and at the last second there were two no-shows and we were rushed on and quickly seated… In two business class seats!

Tip by Chris King

Planning your trip

You found your destination, packed your bag, got a Lonely Planet… It’s time to get you there! Even if you have chosen an off-peak period to travel, your flights may well be overbooked. Obviously, you don’t want to spend the night on an airport bench. Luckily, you’ll most probably have multiple options to get to your destination. So how do you get to know your odds of getting on the flight? That’s where StaffTraveler comes in!

You can download StaffTraveler from the App Store or Google Play Store . Everyone who is eligible for staff traveling can create an account on StaffTraveler. The app enables you to get the loads of the flights you wish to take. You can easily request the seat availability of multiple flights, with different airlines or on different dates. Your requests will be answered by the people who work for the airlines that you have requested the loads for. Within minutes, you’ll have a complete overview of the odds for every flight. Flight overbooked? Maybe better take that other airline or wake up early to get that early morning flight!

Flying standby comes down to being flexible, always having a backup plan, and packing carry-on only. As long as you remember these tips, you’re well on your way to new adventures as a “staff traveler.”

Josh works for an airline in the US and spends his days off traveling the world on standby. His blog, Cleared List, features standby tips and destination guides to help you maximize your benefits.

10 Simple Rules for Non-Rev Travel

As a seasoned non-rev enthusiast, I’m often asked whether non-rev travel…

5 Reasons why you Should be a StaffTraveler

Being a StaffTraveler has many advantages. Having access to accurate and…

Flying in Style: Staff Travel Dress Code Made Easy

With recent controversies like the leggings incident on United Airlines,…

I would like to find information for people transitting as nonrevs through Abu Dhabi or Doha. Can anyone provide information for transitting nonrevs (i.e., visa requiremens or transit visa, where to go to check in, etc.)? If I do not get on a flight and have to go to a hotel, what kind of visa will I need?

Add comment Cancel reply

Privacy preference center, privacy preferences.

Multiple disruptions affecting travel

Updated 10 hours ago.

Welcome to the all-new British Airways Travel Partner Connect!

Explore exciting features and a fresh look, replacing the old BA Travel Trade, while still providing you with all the essential travel information you need

Latest news

British airways launches two new routes this winter.

British Airways launches two new routes to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

Travelport distributes BA NDC content

British Airways NDC content is now available via Travelport+ in over 100 global markets.

Sabre and British Airways agreement to distribute NDC content

Sabre will start integrating British Airways’ NDC content with the new agreement.

Requests and queries

Corporate fares.

For Corporate Fare filing issues (including published fares)

Customer relations

Customer Relations requests on behalf of your customers.

Book with confidence

Our Trade Helpdesk team will validate the ticket eligibility

Leisure fares

For Leisure Fares Distribution issues (including published fares)

Ticketing authority

Access to our flight inventory and ticket issuing on our behalf.

Refund requests

Requests for refunds when you're unable to do this in your GDS.

Good to know

Your feedback helps us understand what works well, and what doesn't..

Thank you for letting us know

We value your feedback

Overall, how satisfied are you with the webpage?

Please select an option.