catching an earlier flight

[Greenfield1984]

Hi there,

We are flying to Orlando via Washington in October. It is myself, DH and DD (2yo). There was a flight with a 40 minute layover which we figured was just cutting it too close so we went for the longer layover (about 2 hours).

My question is, if we get in on time and are able to make it on the earlier flight, and there are seats available, will we be allowed to take the erlier one?

Also, if we have a checked bag would that be a problem, because obviously we wouldn't be at the airport to pick it up when it came in on the later flight (but we are using DME)...

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[AngolaHeartsDisney]

What is your Airline?? If you are flying southwest or JetBlue.. the earlier flight option may happen if there is an opening. They usually do not charge for this. I will tell you that Florida Flights are usually jammed packed! I think you made the best decision to take the longer layover.. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[crashbb]

If you checked luggage then it depends on if they have time to move your luggage.

Technically, a passenger cannot ask to fly on a different flight from their luggage. If you are bumped (or otherwise denied boarding), you often fly separately from your luggage, but the difference is that the airline (rather than you) created this situation. I know, for example, that the airline that I mainly fly (not a US airline) will not allow voluntary bumps from those with checked luggage unless desperate.

 

[Lewisc]

If you checked luggage then it depends on if they have time to move your luggage.

Technically, a passenger cannot ask to fly on a different flight from their luggage. If you are bumped (or otherwise denied boarding), you often fly separately from your luggage, but the difference is that the airline (rather than you) created this situation. I know, for example, that the airline that I mainly fly (not a US airline) will not allow voluntary bumps from those with checked luggage unless desperate.

100% of all checked luggage is screened. Thee is no longer a legal requirement that requires passengers travel on the same flight as their luggage (even voluntary). Some airlines have such a policy. Some airlines falsely claim it's a rule. Airlines don't want to deal with passengers who demand the airline deliver luggage. SW will let standby passengers check luggage but they make it clear the luggage will fly even if you don't.

SW will almost always make a standby passenger pay the difference between the fare they paid and full fare.

 

[rynosmom]

I believe that Lewisc is correct as we have just had this happen to us on 7/29. We were flying from Orlando to Newark nonstop on Continental. We had an 8pm flight and checked our bags with disney's airline check in just before 11am. Because of bad weather in Jeresy we ended up not leaving Orlando till 11pm and arriving at almost 2am. After a painstaking search for our luggage we found that it had arrived on an earlier flight and had been at the airport for hours.

 

[TheWog]

We too have flown separate from our luggage. It arrived hours before us and enjoyed the view from the luggage storage room for US Airways. I say if you arrive early (or on time) and the other flight has not begun boarding you could ask the gate agents if there is any space on the flight, if there is space and no standbys waiting to take those seats you might be allowed to board. Of course, you would want to make sure there is enough room for all of your party and note the seats may not all be together.

 

[crashbb]

While Lewisc may well be right (and I am fully willing to accept that he is) neither of those stories prove that he is right. In neither case, did you ask that your luggage fly on a separate flight from the one you flew on, and, and I stated, that was an exception even when the rule was in place.

 

[Lewisc]

While Lewisc may well be right (and I am fully willing to accept that he is) neither of those stories prove that he is right. In neither case, did you ask that your luggage fly on a separate flight from the one you flew on, and, and I stated, that was an exception even when the rule was in place.

I flew SW standby. I checked luggage. I was told my luggage would be on that flight even if I wasn't. 100% voluntary. Another time I took an earlier connecting flight. SW told me I was agreeing to voluntarily separate my luggage from my flight and I'd be responsible to get my own luggage at my destination airport when my original flight landed.

I won't take the time to google but the positive baggage match policy started after 9-11 and ended (gov't rules) after the requirement of screening 100% of checked bags. Some airlines still have that policy and some of those airlines attribute the rule to the gov't.

edited to add I think, but I'm not sure, 100% positive baggage match may still apply to international flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

Many airlines charge a fee ranging from a nominal $25. for Delta, up to a change fee plus the difference in fare compared with walk up fare, if you want to stand by for an earlier flight than scheduled.

Years ago someone said that airlines did not discount standby because they did not want it to become a fad.

But if they know your real flight is overbooked they might let you on an earlier flight without extra charge.

If weather threatens to cancel your real flight, show up at the airport early to stand by anyway (if you can and wish). Here the airline should let you on, space permitting, without charge.

The jury is still out on whether the airline has to delivr your baggage if you succeed in standing by early and your baggage doesn't and your real flight is cancelled.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[crashbb]

I won't take the time to google but the positive baggage match policy started after 9-11 and ended (gov't rules) after the requirement of screening 100% of checked bags. Some airlines still have that policy and some of those airlines attribute the rule to the gov't.

edited to add I think, but I'm not sure, 100% positive baggage match may still apply to international flights.

I totally believe you - frankly it is more likely that the airlines that have told me that I need to fly with baggage are lying about the reason than that you are wrong!

I do know that twice within the last 4 years or so, I have been told I couldn't take a bump (once I offered when the flight before mine was really, really delayed and now scheduled to leave after my flight. I wasn't in a huge rush and was happy to give someone on the earlier flight my seat) because I had checked luggage. Either Canadian rules are different or it was an Air Canada rule, rather than a law. Come to think of it, I don't think they ever actually said it was more than an Air Canada rule.

 

[malibuconlee]

Hi there,

We are flying to Orlando via Washington in October. It is myself, DH and DD (2yo). There was a flight with a 40 minute layover which we figured was just cutting it too close so we went for the longer layover (about 2 hours).

My question is, if we get in on time and are able to make it on the earlier flight, and there are seats available, will we be allowed to take the erlier one?

Also, if we have a checked bag would that be a problem, because obviously we wouldn't be at the airport to pick it up when it came in on the later flight (but we are using DME)...

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

I've never flown international, but I'm guessing if you are from Ottowa won't you have to go thru customs in Washington? You'll definitely want the 2 hour layover then.

 

[crashbb]

I've never flown international, but I'm guessing if you are from Ottowa won't you have to go thru customs in Washington? You'll definitely want the 2 hour layover then.

This I'm definitely right on!

Most airlines out of most Canadian airports have US customs/immigration pre-clearance. You go through this before you get on your flight, so when you arrive at your US destination, you are essentially a domestic flight. So, the OP will pre-clear US customs/immigration in Ottawa and will not have to do anything in Washington.

This is the main reason I always suggest people have a US connecting city (rather than Canadian connecting city) when flying between Canada and US. Assuming, of course, that a non-stop flight is not available.

 

[Greenfield1984]

thanks for all your responses. I am from Ottawa but should have mentioned that my flight is out of rochester, so it will be a domestic flight.

I guess if we get in on time then we'll just ask at the counter to see if it's possible. thanks again for your replies!

 

[Lewisc]

The OP didn't mention his airline. Different airlines have different polices. Just remember you probably won't get seats next to each other, plan on getting middle seats. I'd just go to the gate and ask. Tell them your flight came in early and you'd like to take that flight. If they mention luggage tell them Disney will take care of your luggage. That doesn't work tell them you understand you'll be responsible for getting your own luggage at MCO. The GA might not understand how DME works.

SW generally makes you pay $$$ the fare difference but other airlines are more likely to accommodate you.

 

[Hannathy]

recently I wasn't able to fly on an earlier flight because I had checked luggage. I explained I lived 15 minutes from the airport and would gladly go and pick it up when it got in and they still wouldn't let me do it.