#247 "Adventures in Travel: Lara, Katie, and a New Chapter"

Mar 4, 2026

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Non-Rev Lounge: Recording Mishaps, Travel Updates, and a Move to Salt Lake

Tyler opens the episode explaining Monique’s family emergency, a recording mistake that cut a 70-minute Laura conversation down to about 30 minutes, and brings on his wife, Katie, to join. Tyler and Laura recap their attendance at the Cranky Network Awards, discuss pilot hiring challenges affecting Laura’s son, Drew, and talk about Middle East disruptions, including an American Airlines Philadelphia–Doha flight that turned back over Spain with the crew and non-revenue passengers stuck in Doha. They cover recent Mexico trips, spring travel concerns, a Charlotte ramp worker arrested after texting a bomb joke, and a British Airways crew reportedly eating cannabis gummies from a passenger. Tyler and Katie discuss the pros and challenges of a non-rev-heavy lifestyle, then reveal plans to transfer from Phoenix to Salt Lake City for cooler weather, family proximity, and better schools, as well as a new StaffTraveler “Route Explorer” tool for finding routing options.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Swap
01:28 Katie Aviation Roots
02:26 Lara Returns to Lounge
03:12 Network Awards Recap
05:17 Airline Hiring and Furloughs
06:44 Dave Full Time Flying
09:01 Middle East Diversions
12:42 Cancun Trips and Safety
14:20 Miles Deal and OKC Stop
20:04 Airport Bomb Joke Arrest
22:48 Gummy Gift Controversy
25:47 El Paso Closure Story
27:21 Airspace Closed Shock
28:15 Working Together Couple
29:36 Travel Perks of Benefits
33:30 Lifestyle Tradeoffs and Home
36:00 Kids Logistics and Bragging
39:17 Getting Stuck and Lounges
44:09 Cancun Plans and Crowds
46:44 Family Seating Long Flights
50:27 Route Explorer Tool
55:47 Moving to Salt Lake
01:03:07 Podcast Plans and Wrap

Check out Route Explore from StaffTraveler https://route-explorer.com/

StaffTraveler wants our feedback to help build Route Explore before it is officially released. Send any feedback to support@stafftraveler.com

StaffTraveler is offering a 10% code for any of our listeners who buy their eSIM.

Use the Promo code ST10NONREVLOUNGE https://share.stafftraveler.com/nrl-esim

✈StaffTraveler is a great app that can assist your non-rev travels! Use it to find the loads for your non-rev travel! Use this to sign up:

https://stafftraveler.com/nonrevlounge