Has anyone shown up early at the airport and try to take an early flight out, UPDATED

[wdwstar]

Has anyone shown up early at the airport and try to take an early flight out if they have opening, did you get charged any $$$ to take the early flight out?

there is an earler flight on the day we fly out and i was wondering if we went to the airport and ask if there is room on the early flight can we switch and fly out earlier, and if we would get charge any penitaly fees

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

It's been years since I've flown on a regular basis, and things may have changed over time and may be different with each airline, but it's certainly worth a shot.

A lot depends on seating availability. Let's say you have 4 people in your party, and the earlier flight may only be 75% full. Even on a 50 seater regional jet, that leaves around 12 empty seats. Plenty of room, as long as there aren't a lot of other people trying the same thing.

The day before, call your airline and ask about availability on that earlier flight. DON'T commit to any change over the phone. If the flight is open, you'll have better luck flying standby and not paying a fee at the airport. Heck, if your flight is overbooked, you may be doing the airline a favor by taking the earlier flight. That way they don't have to worry about bumping passengers.

 

[kda]

Depends on the airline. Delta let us switch a couple of years ago (don't know their current policy), but I believe SWA charges.

 

[DebbieB]

I was on a business trip to Orlando last November and got done early. I had a 7:15 scheduled, I got to the airport around 1:00. I was able to get on a 2:45 with USAirways, they had plenty of seats. They wanted to charge me $25 for the standby but their printer broke so they said forget it!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

As stated, it depends on the airline. SWA will charge you the difference between your fare and the highest fully refundable fare.

 

[safetymom]

Several of the airlines will charge a standby fee. Call ahead and see how full the new flight you want to take is.

I did this last year to MCO and back. When I went to book the fares the best times cost the most money. So I just called ahead, went to the airport and the flight wasn't full so they confirmed me at the ticket counter both ways and I got home at better times.

They charged the fee going to MCO but not returning. It still was worth it.

 

[Jon99]

If you do attempt this, be careful with your luggage... I did the very same thing a few months ago, catching an earlier flight home from Atlanta, only to have to wait at O'Hare for my luggage, which came on the flight I was originally scheduled to be on..

 

[safetymom]

It's a good idea to hold on to your luggage while you are standing by. When you know what flight you will be on then check the luggage.

 

[Pinnie]

Like everyone has said here, it depends on the airline. I usually book an evening flight out of DTW on NWA If I get off work early, I will attempt standby on NWA. They do NOT charge a fee if you are a true stand-by, but if you want to be sure you are on the flight, they do charge $100. I usually just tell them I'll take my chaces at the gate and most of the time I do get on.

However, SWA does not allow standby on most of their tickets. I is on the email notification that they send out to you.

Good luck!

pin

 

[wdwstar]

whoops i should have said i was flying ATA, we are from chicago, but we are flying out of Indy, because we couldnt pass up the cheap flight, the 4 of us are flying for what it would have cost for 1 person for our time frame on spirit out of chicago.

now that mr. winter is hanging on to us with a tight grip, we just want to get somewhere warmer faster, and yes, thank you about hanging onto our luggage.

df just came back from las vegas and he flew ATA and he called the airlines the day before he was to fly home and wanted to take the red eye home that night with his friends, but the woman told him $50 to change your flight and $262 to fly one way home. he stayed and flew home the next morning like he was suppose to. but im thinking if we went to the airport and asked and not call, if they say no, well i guess we can go have breakfast somewhere, and enjoy watching the planes take off and landing.

thanks for the info and if someone else has something to add that would be great !

 

[safetymom]

It could have been they wanted to charge him because he was trying to fly out the day before.

 

[wdwstar]

i just called ATA and they wanted $50 change fee plus $400 one way per ticket if i took the early flight out. i was told to call the night before and ask how many seats are available, even thought they are not aloud to disclose how many seats, but will say if there were seats available for my family, then go to the airport as if i was flying out on the early flight and ask to fly stand by and no extra charge. yeppi, we maybe getting down to mco a few hours early.