How Do NFL Players Travel?

How do NFL players travel? How do they get to the away games? Do they all fly together on a team plane? What is the process?

By Plane

NFL teams typically fly commercial airlines to away games, although there are a few exceptions. Teams will occasionally charter flights if they’re traveling long distances or if commercial flights aren’t feasible. For example, the Seattle Seahawks often charter flights to East Coast games because the time difference makes flying commercial impractical.

Players have first-class seats on team charters and they’re allowed to bring guests. On commercial flights, players also have first-class seats, but they aren’t allowed to bring guests. Instead, they can purchase up to four additional tickets in first class or economy class for family and friends.

By Bus

Players typically travel to away games by bus, which allows them to sleep or relax before and after the game. The bus ride also gives the team a chance to bond and build team unity. If the game is within a few hours’ drive, the team may just take a bus to the stadium on game day. For longer trips, the team may fly to their destination a day or two before the game and then take a bus to the stadium on game day.

By Train

Although professional football is a full-time job, players only have to report to their teams’ facilities for a few hours each day during the season. The rest of the time, they are free to travel as they please. For long distances, most players choose to travel by train.

Amtrak, the national rail service, offers special discounts for NFL players. According to Amtrak’s website, players can save 25% on individual tickets and 50% on group tickets. In addition, players do not have to pay any baggage fees when they travel with Amtrak.

Players also receive complimentary first-class upgrades when they travel on Delta Air Lines, one of the NFL’s official partners. First-class upgrades are not available on all flights, but Delta tries to accommodate as many requests as possible.