Flying Standby on Southwest???

[bizeemom4]

This is our first flight on Southwest. Has anyone been able to fly standby without paying a fee to upgrade their tickets?

My flight is sold out and I was thinking I'd take an earlier flight. I bought the Internet rate tickets and Southwest says that I have to pay alot more to get on the standby list.

 

[Lewisc]

This is our first flight on Southwest. Has anyone been able to fly standby without paying a fee to upgrade their tickets?

My flight is sold out and I was thinking I'd take an earlier flight. I bought the Internet rate tickets and Southwest says that I have to pay alot more to get on the standby list.

EXCEPTIONS: During very bad weather, FL hurricaines, SW will waive most restrictions to assist passengers. This change is posted on their website and is basically limited to hurricaines, snow storms and the like.

SW makes more discounted seats available on the non-peak flights. They don't want customers booking the discounted flights then standing by for the flight times they really want.

What time is the flight you have a reservation for and what time is the flight you want to take? If the flights are within an hour you might get to the airport early. The only way they might budge is if your flight is scheduled to be delayed or way overbooked and then you'll be the last people to board and your party WON'T BE SITTING TOGETHER.

Unlike other airlines SW doesn't charge a change fee and will get you a full credit even if you don't show up for your flight BUT if you want to standby you have to upgrade your ticket to an unrestricted, full fare ticket. Their position you got a discount by agreeing to fly on a specific flight. By standing by you're asking for the flexibility of a full fare ticket and they require that you pay for one.

 

[CarolA]

I have never had success trying to do standby on SW. I wouldn't even bother trying if I were you.

 

[Lewisc]

I have never had success trying to do standby on SW. I wouldn't even bother trying if I were you.

Frequent business flyers will cancel/no show on their original reservation leaving ticketless funds for future travel and then use a RR ticket for their new flight. If your flying standby on an earlier flight; willing to pay the extra money or are flying on a full fare (including a RR ticket) you can check in at the ticket counter not with the skycap and add a standby leg to your ticket. You can then check your luggage on the earlier flight. Your luggage will make the flight even if you don't.

I agree, OP is wasting her time.

 

[Pinnie]

The OP should check her email confirmation. Right under where they tell you the fee breakdown it tell you if your fare is eligible for standby status.

************************ FARES RULE(S) *************************
VALID ONLY ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
NON REFUNDABLE/NO STANDBY

pinnie