When my missus first joined the airline, and went to the training centre in Chicago for several weeks, we were just boyfriend/girlfriend at the time. When she came back, she’d been issued with an official United tee shirt that said ‘Marry me, and Fly Free’. So I did 
One of the great things about the airline industry are the travel perks. You either get an ID00 pass (interline discount I think it stands for?) where you just pay an admin charge and airport taxes, or you get an ID90 which is 90% off the economy fare. So if the fare from LHR to Los Angeles and back is $1000 US, then we would pay only $100 US (£80 or thereabouts). On United, it is there policy to always allocate staff or dependants a Business class seat unless the flight is choccablock full, then you might get bumped down into Economy with the riff raff.
When she first started flying, it was always on a ID00 where the admin charge and taxes were peanuts, so I used to go on trips when she was working whenever I could. It was like a mini break. She just did a few hours work, then it was onto the crew minibus for the trip to the layover hotel for the night, always in four star style properties because airline unions demand a minimum standard for their members. Due to the time difference being six to eight hours behind the UK, there was always time for some sightseeing, even on a three day trip, so it was great. I clocked up some miles and it was nice to see how the other half lived in the Business cabin while paying practically nothing. However, the airport taxes have gone up so much in the past few years that you can’t really just go on a whim anymore. Don’t get me wrong, the travel is still a great perk but not the bargain that it used to be.
While doing some trips, it was amazing to see how much it cost the airline when things break down. Going mechanical the staff call it. One time, I went with the wife to Washington when she worked a trip. Coming back, we were all boarded for the flight to LHR and ready to go. However, the Captain informed us there was a problem with the cabin pressurisation. The airline mechanics worked on it but couldn’t get the system to function properly. Eventually, the flight had to be cancelled. There was no spare aircraft available so passengers and crew had to be bussed to an airport hotel for the night. Next day, the plane was fixed so we were all bussed back and the flight resumed. My wife later revealed that the problem had been some small valve or O ring which had cost just a few dollars to replace. However, the cost to United in paying out for a hotel for 350 passengers and all the crew, having the aircraft in the wrong place for its onward flights, having the cabin crew and pilots several hours behind their work schedule and in the wrong place (especially the pilots as the cabin crew were LHR based), and having their overtime payments etc. The knock on effect of a faulty $12 valve or O ring ran into thousands of dollars for the airline.
Another time in Chicago, my wife discreetly came up to me in my seat just before departure and told me they were having problems with one of the computers. I went and stood with her in the forward Business galley, and watched a mechanic coming up the jetway, gingerly carrying some sort of electrical gizmo, the size of a shoebox. Catching my eye, he drawled “I’ve gotta to be careful I don’t drop this baby. This onboard computer costs more than my whole four bedroom house with double garage”. Blimey 
I’ve talked about getting to live the Business class life for a few hours. But on three occasions I got to live the First class life. It is possible to get upgraded to First class if it suits the gate check in staff when allocating staff standby seats. One time I got the ‘golden ticket’ and went to sit down in the gate area with all the other passengers to await boarding. Although I was dressed smart/casual, I noticed some businesswoman looking at me with real disdain, like I was some Economy seat pleb. Maybe it was because I used to wear my hair a bit longer in those days. I don’t know? Anyway, she really looked down her nose at me, which I ignored. When the gate agent came on the p.a to start the boarding, she said “Good evening, we’d like to commence boarding by inviting our First class customers to come forward” Only four people stood up including me. The face on that businesswoman was a picture when she saw me stand up and stroll past her. I could feel her watching me all the way to the gate, convinced I didn’t have a First class ticket and would be turned back. However, I was warmly greeted and waved through. It was a real case of ’ don’t judge a book by its cover’ love !!! Hahahaha
