In 2012, I won the Class B Division championship in the PAL Mabuhay Miles Golf Tournament, earning two RT Business Class tickets to Shanghai.
While the trip there was smooth, our return flight to Manila from Shanghai nearly ended in disaster. At check-in, we were informed that our tickets were non-revenue, and we’d have to wait as the flight was fully booked. Despite explaining that these were prize tickets, we faced an agonizing wait, fearing we’d be bumped. After persistent pleading, we received boarding passes, only to discover upon boarding that the flight wasn’t full at all. This left me feeling frustrated and questioning the airline’s practices.
A similar incident occurred during the prestigious 76th PAL Interclub Tournament in Bacolod, a highly competitive annual golf tournament in the Philippines.
This tournament brings together the best amateur golf teams from various clubs across the country, vying for the coveted championship title.
The event is known for its intense competition, camaraderie, and the high level of golfing skill displayed. Randy Cadiogan, the Rancho Palos Verdes (Seniors Division) team captain, experienced the frustration of non-revenue tickets firsthand. He had availed of a complimentary ticket—a privilege usually granted to team captains—for the first time in his seven years as captain. Upon checking in for his return flight, he was waitlisted due to his non-revenue ticket.
Unlike my experience, his attempts to secure a seat were unsuccessful, forcing him to buy a last-minute ticket on a competitor’s airline to make his Valentine’s Day plans. Only through the tournament secretariat’s intervention did he eventually board his original flight, again finding empty seats upon arrival.
My experience and Randy’s share a common thread: non-revenue tickets are treated as non-priority.
It appears that holders of non-revenue tickets are routinely waitlisted at check-in, regardless of available seats, and often face the risk of being bumped from overbooked flights. This creates a stressful and unpredictable travel experience. While the old adage “beggars can’t be choosers” might apply, the inconsistency and potential for inconvenience make non-revenue tickets a problematic prize or perk.
The airline should review its policy to ensure fairer treatment of non-revenue ticket holders, especially considering the context of prestigious events like the PAL Interclub Tournament where these tickets are often awarded as prizes or perks.
