Have you ever arrived at the airport early and hoped to get on an earlier flight?

[Vickie46]

We really wished we booked an earlier flight.. ( we would have but the cost was too much) do you think we could get on the earlier flight for just a switch??? or would they charge us the difference?

I understand it should be a cost... but I am just wondering has anyone ever been able to just switch at no cost???

 

[mom2aiden]

I have done this many times on business trips. Airlines differ in their policies. If you want to book an earlier flight before you arrive to the airport, you will be charged a change fee (usually $100) + the difference in airfare.

To do as you are saying and show up at the airport in hopes to fly earlier, most airlines will charge you a small fee (usually $25) to confirm you a seat when you arrive at the counter. They have changed the rules (again this differs by airline), but if there are seats available, you will have to pay that fee. If there are not seats available, you can go to the gate as a stand-by customer and if some folks don't show up, you can get on that flight for no fee.

I hope that makes sense. This reflects my recent experience, but you may want to call your airline to confirm what their policy is.

It really is nice to get on that earlier flight when you need to. good luck!!

 

[vsimeone]

We did this YEARS ago but not on purpose. When flying to Alburqerque (yikes! I foget how to spell it!) we had a layover in Kansas City. When we got there, we noticed that SW had an earlier flight to NM and we asked about it. They let us take the earlier flight - it was almost empty - but our bags had to stay on the later flight. It didn't matter since we were staying at a hotel right near the airport with free transportation. We got in early, ate dinner and DH rode back to the airport to get our bags. With all the security stuff going on now, I'm not sure how easy it is to change flights but it's worth a try!

 

[Vickie46]

I have thought about calling the main customer service number in Dallas and talking to them instead of just the 800 number

 

[cndij]

Nowadays (since 9/11) if you have checked bags, you most likely will not be able to standby at the gate for an earlier flight. You might possibly luckout but it's against travel regulations (suppose you had checked a bag in your luggage and purposely tried to travel on another flight, at least that's their thinking) the best thing is to just arrive early and when checking in ask about the possibility of a seat on an earlier flight like PP mentioned. If they have plenty of empty seats, it shouldn't be a problem, with a $25 fee.

 

[Leigh Bacon]

You can usually get on another flight if there are weather concerns free, otherwise you have to pay. I flew last week and to get on an earlier flight Delta told me I had to pay $50.00 non refundable, empahsis on non refundable. Hope this helps!

 

[cats mom]

Of course it depends on the airline, but in general I think it used to be much easier to do this than it is now. In the last few years many airlines have started differentiating between business and leisure fares. One way they make business fares more attractive is by allowing much more lenient change/refund rules. If they let the lowly discounted rate leisure folks change on a whim, what's the incentive for business travelers to pay the higher rate? (since business travelers often know going in that their schedule could change & they may need flexibility)

I fly SW a lot and while I love a lot of their policies, this is one that I don't even mess with anymore since they are absolutely rigid about it. Never really understood that attitude personally though.

I had a fairly long layover on one SW flight and asked about getting on an earlier flight instead. Sure, no problem... it would only cost me $90. No thanks! The early flight left about half full. My flight an hour or so later (to the same destination) was oversold and they paid 3 people to take a bump. Interesting business decision on SW's part.


I'd call your airlins and see what their policy on your fare type is.
Good Luck! It never hurts to ask.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can, but unlike hotels (properties vs. toll-free reservations line), the individual locations do NOT get to make the rules.

See your airline's website for information on standby and alternate flights. As indicated above, it's not possible on Southwest - they will charge you any difference in airfare. JetBlue will, I think, let you fly standby for $40, or on the day of your flight change to the flight immediately before yours for $25 (or the other way around). Other airlines have other rules - see your specific airline's website for details (yes, I'm repeating myself - intentionally).

 

[mrsklamc]

After our honeymoon cruise, when the cruise line dropped us off at the terminal in Vancouver, United put us on an earlier flight, without us asking and without charging us.

 

[Coll0610]

Our flight was delayed (the plane was late getting there) and there was a good chance we were going to miss our connection and have to spend the night in Atlanta. There was another flight leaving 5 minutes earlier and they let us standby for that. Not only did we get on, we were seated in first class! Our bags were on our original flight, so there was a chance they wouldn't arrive until the next day but we only live 5 minutes away from the airport so that wasn't a big deal. As it turns out, Airtran held the flight in Atlanta for the delayed flight we were suppsed to be on, so our bags arrived fine.

 

[brockash]

I remember a time that we for whatever reason were at the airport very early, and when we checked in they asked us if we'd rather go on the earlier flight. We did and there was no cost. This was many many years ago though (like at least 10 years ago,) so I'm not sure how much that helps you. I also have no idea what airline it was. It was at O'hare, and if I had to guess I'd say it was probably United, but I have no idea what things are like now it that circumstance. Good luck!

 

[bavaria]

We really wished we booked an earlier flight.. ( we would have but the cost was too much) do you think we could get on the earlier flight for just a switch??? or would they charge us the difference?

This is exactly why most US carriers have a fee for same day confirmed standby. Cost concious passengers book the cheapest, often least desirable flights, and then try and change to the most desirable flights at no cost, thereby displacing the passengers who are willing to pay more for those flights.

Calling the 'Dallas' number will be no different than dealing with the information listed on the website or obtained from the airline reservations department.

I'm not sure why you are not giving the most important detail - the airline. While many of us fly weekly and are happy to help, it really makes it difficult to discuss specifics if there are not important details given, and the airline is key. Most airlines raised their fees this year and the $25 several posters quoted is outdated. It is as high as $75-200 on some airlines.

Confirmed same day standby is usually at a fee; traditional stand by may be available at no fee on some carriers only.

Also be aware that either type of standby virtually guarantees that your party will not be seated together. With reduced capacity, the chances of standbys clearing at all on most routes for non-elite passengers is very low.

 

[emerson7]

We just did this (not on purpose) with Jetblue. We got off the Disney cruise and we were at the airport by 8:30 am. Our flight was at 2:30 p.m. I sent my husband over to ask if it could be done (since we had already checked our bags with magical express). He shouted over he needed everyones id pronto. The gave us standby tickets and off we went through the airport like the Amazing Race for a 9:30 flight. No charge, no hassle. no problems. My husband just had to go back to the airport later that night to get all the bags that were on the later flight.

 

[Lewisc]

SW will charge the difference between the fare you paid and the fully refundable (full) fare.

They don't want passengers booking the cheap flight but standing by the for the flight they want.

SW will be pleased to let you make the change now, or the day of your flight. NO CHANGE FEE, just pay the fare difference.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Nowadays (since 9/11) if you have checked bags, you most likely will not be able to standby at the gate for an earlier flight. You might possibly luckout but it's against travel regulations (suppose you had checked a bag in your luggage and purposely tried to travel on another flight, at least that's their thinking) the best thing is to just arrive early and when checking in ask about the possibility of a seat on an earlier flight like PP mentioned. If they have plenty of empty seats, it shouldn't be a problem, with a $25 fee.

Not entirely true -- I used to do this all the time when I traveled on business (through 6/2008). They'll check your bag on the earlier flight, and place you on standby for it, along with a boarding pass for the flight you were originally scheduled on. Sometimes there's a possibility of confirmed standby, but I've seen less and less of this opportunity. And, if they're offering confirmed standbys, it means there are plenty of seats available on the flight (I've never not gotten on standby when I've refused the confirmed standby).

If you get on the flight, you arrive with your baggage. If you don't, you take the flight you were originally scheduled to be on, and you get to find your luggage, which arrived hours before you did (although I've never permanently lost a bag).

 

[bavaria]

A sample of some recent stand by fees (may not be current; always check your airline website - did anyone hear an echo of kaytieeldr kaytieeldr kaytieeldr?)

• UA and AA offer free at-airport standby
• UA charges $75 for a confirmed same-day change
• AA charges $50 for a confirmed same-day change
• DL allows free standby only for elites (and not at all for non-elites) and charges $50 for confirmed same-day changes
• NW charges non-elites $25 for standby or confirmed same-day changes
• US charges $50 for confirmed same-day changes; regular standby is free, but US only permits standby for free only in the case of oversold flights
• CO charges non-elites $50 (elites $25) for confirmed same-day changes; no standby option except for oversold flights and then for a charge
• WN charges no fee but requires a buy-up to the standard (non-discounted) fare

 

[tripplanner]

I've done this in the past with business trips. I also had one trip to Disney when the kids were little where the person checking us in started a conversation with us and then just moved us to an earlier flight.

I would really be surprised if you would be able to do this now. Every flight that I've had to Orlando lately has been packed with people on stand by. I'm just noticing that the flights are generally packed no matter where I'm flying.

 

[CruiserMom]

My DH does this alot, but I think the airlines are more willing to let you change if:

1. you are a frequent flyer
2. if the flight you are scheduled on is oversold, and the earlier flight is not
3. if there are weather concerns where you might miss a connecting flight if you take your scheduled flight rather than an earlier flight

Sometimes he has to pay a little more, sometimes nothing.

 

[Vickie46]

Sorry I left out my airline.. it sure wasn't on purpose.. didn't mean to start a problem.. I didn't mean too..

Anyways.. its Southwest..

We fly a lot to see my family.. but we are not business travelers...

I will call and see.. thanks for your help!

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry I left out my airline.. it sure wasn't on purpose.. didn't mean to start a problem.. I didn't mean too..

Anyways.. its Southwest..

We fly a lot to see my family.. but we are not business travelers...

I will call and see.. thanks for your help!

What was the purpose of your post? You asked if you should call and several poster told you SW's policy is firm and definitive.

There isn't any reason to call. Your question is the same as calling and asking if SW will discount your fare an extra 20%. It's not going to happen. Don't hear what you want to hear, you can standby for an earlier flight but you'll pay the difference. Ask if you can standby for an earlier flight and you might be told yes. Ask if there is a fee to standby for an earlier flight the answer is NO. No fee, just the fare difference.

Sothwest has a large sign in the gate area that says standing by requires paying the difference in fare.

Passengers flying on expensive tickets will pay the difference. Short flights might not require that much $$ to buy up.

SW will let you change your flight online, you pay the difference between what you paid and the best available fare for the flight you want. Wait until you get to the airport and you'll be paying the difference to full fare.

IF you get to the airport early, and your original flight is going to be delayed for more then 30 minutes you'll be accommodated without paying the fare difference.

IF YOU MISS YOUR FLIGHT SW has a "flat tire" policy that will let you standby for the next flight at no extra charge but flights to/from MCO tend to be booked and you may have problems getting a flight.

edited to add you didn't say when your trip is. You can check for fare sales and DINGS. Try to book 8 seats for the flight you want. If you can't book 8 seats, or even if the only fare left is full fare, you're probably won't see a fare sale for that flight.