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

[lovesmurfs]

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.

Sheesh. Take a break and relax.

 

[Lewisc]

Sheesh. Take a break and relax.

You have a point. I won't edit my post but I'll think twice in the future. I just wonder why ask a question if you're not going to believe the answers. The OP didn't list her airline, Bavaria even took the time to post the polices of a number of airlines.

SW discounts non-peak flights. The policy is designed to stop passengers from booking the cheapest flight but then standing by for the flight they really want. SW offers full fare to passengers that want flexibility and discounted fares to passengers who are willing to commit to a specific flight. SW thinks it's fair to upcharge the passengers who change their mind and want the flexibility afforded to passengers who book a full fare ticket.

 

[bavaria]

The OP didn't list her airline, Bavaria even took the time to post the polices of a number of airlines.

Which really was a waste of time in this case, and was only done to be helpful and because I could not sleep.

But it really shows the importance of

• listing vital details in a question
• checking your airline's website as every carrier has different rules

While people do try and help here, this website is no replacement for your airline's official rules, and nothing we say here will override their rules.

 

[Lewisc]

There are a handful of very frequent fliers, including Bavaria, who are very helpful in their posts. They take the time to only post facts, either from personal knowledge or by checking the website and posting information.

Flyertalk is an internet board that has many such posters. It's another place to look. I suggest searching before posting.

The chance of a Dallas rep giving an exception is zero. The chance if they show up to the gate, give the GA a nice story and getting the fare difference waived is close to zero. I guess if the OP is willing to hang out at the airport they could give it a shot as long as they don't have any checked luggage. The GA, not the person at the counter, is the person to talk to. Five years ago I got an exception, my flight came in early and the GA let me take an earlier connecting flight, but I found out later the exception I got was rare then and almost never given now.

Best thing the OP can do is see if the fare drops on the flight they want.

 

[TrolleyGirl]

This past Feb part of my family was on a 10AM flight, my DH & I were booked on the noon flight. I went to the skycap and asked if there was availabilty on the 10AM flight. Magically for a $30 tip he got DH & I on the 10AM flight, plus ticketed our entire group and took all our luggage even before the 2 hour boarding window. The skycap was able to change our flight time without any airline change fees, just a generous tip.

If you are at the airport anyway, you might try what we did. What have you got to lose?

 

[bavaria]

Sheesh. Take a break and relax.

In defense of Lewis, I did have to reread the OPs response more than once as I may have read something into it that wasn't there, but it certainly made me regret having researched a response in this case.

I'm always happy to help, (and have learned not to expect a thank you very often here) but the response may have come across to at least two of us in the way that the OP most likely did not intend.

 

[princesswendy720]

We had a flight that was delayed due to wheather. We got to the airport and asked to be put on stand by for an earlier flight (also delayed, but scheduled to depart around the same time as our original flight..actually a little earlier).

We got on the earlier flight because they had a few extra seats. It doesn't hurt to get there early and ask to be put on stand by.

We flew Continental ...according to a PP we would have been charged but I know we weren't...so I'm not sure if those policies are true for delayed flights (not that that would apply to you anyway). They said they would put our luggage on the earlier flight, but my friend's luggage didn't make it in until the next flight so I guess something went wrong.

This was in April flying from Vegas to Newark, NJ.

 

[Vickie46]

Sorry to bother all of you.. didn't mean too. Thanks for all the answers and help.. I appreciate you time and sorry if I disturb anyone.. I sure didn't mean to upset anyone.

thanks again.

 

[delmar411]

DH was able to do this on Airtran in June. It was just a bit of ultra kindness from the gate person though and she was able to manually waive all the normal fees and get him out on the next flight instead of waiting for many more hours.

So they do have some ability at the airport to circumvent the system.

 

[donac]

IT does pay to get to the airport early. My sons and a friend had their flight canceled in AUg on their way to meet dh and I in DW (we got a call at 1 in the morning that their flight was cancelled.) We were able to get them on a flight but it was 24 hours later and they would have missed an entire day in Fl. They drove to the airport and sat at the terminal. They were there before the anyone was there. The airline did not want to put them on standby because there were 3 of them. They were almost on the 10 am flight but there were only spaces for 2 not three. My younger son almost got on because his brother and girlfriend were arguing about who should go on. They didn't take the 10 am flight but were 1,2,and 3 for the 2:30 flight. They got on and were in the parks by 5:30. Their luggage was in their room before they even got on ME. They called and were going to find their luggage but I had checked and it was delivered 5 minutes later.

 

[maggiew]

We did just that this summer. Due to arrangements with the rental car, we ended up at the airport earlier than we needed to be. We didn't make the next flight, but did get on one after that. We just went from gate to gate as necessary. They checked our bags on the earlier flight and they were there waiting for us when we arrived. We were not charged a fee.

I did the same thing on a business trip and got on the next flight. But that was only for me. Its easier when there is 1 person vs. a whole family.

Maggie

 

[bavaria]

There is a big difference between

• 'confirmed' same day stand by in which one is able to pay a fee and guarantee in advance that one will be on a particular flight (and possibly even get a seat assignment)
• traditional stand by, in which one waits until the flight begins to board and then finds out if one has managed to get onto the flight

Not all airlines offer either option, and the OP's airline offers neither option. Most of the posts on this thread are actually not relevant to her particular situation, as we discovered when she came back to clarify. Nor should readers take these examples as an indication that it is possible with their particular carrier.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I appreciated bavaria's lsiting of the different rules for each airline.

Even when travelling domestically, it again illustrates how the airlines are somewhat opaquely differentiating themselves based on their policies. For my usual travel patterns, stand-by rights would probably not be a significant factor in chosing among competing airlines, but for some trips, there may be similar factors other than price (change fees, rebooking after IRROPS, etc.) that might cause me to choose one airline over another. -- Suzanne