Flying standby questions

[maxiesmom]

I have never flown stand-by before. But I'm wondering if it would be possible. My flight home from Disney in December has a 3 hour lay-over. But now I see there is another flight that leaves from the connecting city 1 1/2 hours earlier. Is it possible to maybe do stand-by in this case?

If so, do I tell the gate agent when we arrive at the connecting city, or do I need to say something to the agent at MCO? Do the airlines charge for doing this? I'm flying Delta.

I've never attempted stand-by before, but to gain an extra couple hours sleep once I get home, I might. The flight with the shorter connection wasn't there when I purchased my tickets. If I call and change my flight to the more ideal one, is it a $75 ticket charge?

TIA!

 

[drew64]

Depends on avail and airline.

Sometimes you can do same day change for free and sometimes for a fee.

Also, often you will need to confirm the standby status at the connecitng airport and wait to get a boarding pass there after everyone has boarded.

You checked bags would still be on the later flight, so you would have to wait for them once you got home.

Also, to change now, your ticket's change fee depends on your airline and the fare rules for the specifc fare you purchased.

Change fees for domestic flignts range from $25-150.

Also, to only pay the change fee the exact same fare code has to be avail on your new flight or you pay the change fee plus the dfference in fare.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you don't want to pay a fee or fare difference you can still try.

I mean an actual earlier flight standby as opposed to changing your ticket or reservation.

Just report to the gate of the flight you want to take. If the airline is concerned about overbooking of later flights including your reserved flight, it will let you standby for the earlier flight free.

 

[DebbieB]

With Delta, there is same day change and standby. They will only do standby free if there are no available seats on the flight. If there are seats available, they call it a same day change and they charge $50. If you don't have checked luggage, you could ask at your connecting city, they may do it for free if they have seats.

 

[sam_gordon]

I tried this on Delta a couple years ago when I got to the airport earlier than anticipated. They charged me $50 to take the earlier flight. I went ahead and paid since I still got to my destination before my original scheduled flight was supposed to take off.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

The DW, youngest DS, and I flew Orlando - Minneapolis - Fargo, ND yesterday, and managed to fly stand by on the direct MCO - MSP route. I was using miles, and had booked an obscure route with a stop over in Cincinnati (Standard Award Rate) which would have gotten us home about 4 hours later. I was able to call 3 hours prior to flight time, and given seat assignments for the direct route. I did not have to pay any fees to change my route, however I am Platinum Elite with Delta. My advice would be to phone Delta and ask them about the possibility of flying stand by, assuming there is flight availability on the flights that you want to take.

 

[DebbieB]

The DW, youngest DS, and I flew Orlando - Minneapolis - Fargo, ND yesterday, and managed to fly stand by on the direct MCO - MSP route. I was using miles, and had booked an obscure route with a stop over in Cincinnati (Standard Award Rate) which would have gotten us home about 4 hours later. I was able to call 3 hours prior to flight time, and given seat assignments for the direct route. I did not have to pay any fees to change my route, however I am Platinum Elite with Delta. My advice would be to phone Delta and ask them about the possibility of flying stand by, assuming there is flight availability on the flights that you want to take.

Gold Medallion and above get free same day change.

Rules here:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ticket_changes_refunds/sameday_travel_changes/index.jsp