How does 'stand-by' work??

[iluveeyore]

We've flown several times, but never used stand-by. Does it cost extra, like an up-grade? The reason I ask, my daughter and I are flying out on a 6:30 am flight connecting in Atlanta with Airtran - our connection isn't until 12:30, but there are passengers on our first leg that are connecting on a flight that leaves 2.5 hours sooner than ours to Orlando - can the two of us request stand-by for that flight since we'll be there at the same time?? I didn't book that flight because the price went up $50 the day I decided to book it (of course), so we took the next cheaper flight.
Thanks for your help!

 

[mrscoobs]

Yes you can fly standby for the earlier flight on AirTran and there will be no additional charge. If you are checking luggage make sure that you ask the agents at your originating airport so that your luggage can be checked to be on the flight that you want to go on and they may be able to tell you how full that flight so you know the chances of you getting on as a standby passenger.

If you are not checking luggage then when you arrive in Atlanta you can proceed to the gate that the earlier orlando is leaving from and request to be placed on the standby list.

If they have seats available then they will either call you up by name for your seats or make an announcement in the manner of "any standby passengers that do not have seat assignments please approach the podium". If they do not have any seats then they will not call you up and you will just have to fly on your originally scheduled flight. HTH and good luck!

 

[iluveeyore]

Thank you so much! We're hoping to pack light and not have any checked bags and if this works that's three extra hours at Disney

 

[Lewisc]

Shouldn't be an issue for the OP, given the ages of their kids, but others reading this thread should anticipate winding up with middle seats scattered throughout the plane.

Also decide what you'll do if there is only room for part of your family. Are you using DME? At least part of your group can go to the resort, check in and use the pool.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

...At least part of your group can go to the resort, check in and use the pool.

Now that's just mean...

 

[tkldisney]

We just did standy by in ATL on Airtran. We didn't have checked bags, so went directly to gate for the earlier flight we wanted to take. The flight wasn't full so rep. just printed out new boarding passes for us. NO CHARGE!!

DH traveled on DL last week and wanted to standby for earlier, they charged him $50.00 to take the earlier flight. He told rep. he'd start thinking real hard about flying them again. Just a way to get an extra 50 bucks!!!

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

We flew standby in July and there were several other people trying to fly stand by also but we showed up first There were only 4 seats left on the plane after last call 3 were in business class so I flew for free while my children and mother flew up front for 69 ea. (cost of the business class upgrade at the gate)

 

[Traveliz]

We just did standy by in ATL on Airtran. We didn't have checked bags, so went directly to gate for the earlier flight we wanted to take. The flight wasn't full so rep. just printed out new boarding passes for us. NO CHARGE!!

DH traveled on DL last week and wanted to standby for earlier, they charged him $50.00 to take the earlier flight. He told rep. he'd start thinking real hard about flying them again. Just a way to get an extra 50 bucks!!!

Airtran will change your flight for 50.00 if its available or they will let you fly standby for no charge - but then no guarantee you get the flight. I read though alot of airlines do charge for standby but for now Airtran isn't one of them.

My husband did this twice last week.

Liz

 

[Lewisc]

I didn't book that flight because the price went up $50 the day I decided to book it (of course), so we took the next cheaper flight.
Thanks for your help!

Yes you can fly standby for the earlier flight on AirTran and there will be no additional charge.

DH traveled on DL last week and wanted to standby for earlier, they charged him $50.00 to take the earlier flight. He told rep. he'd start thinking real hard about flying them again. Just a way to get an extra 50 bucks!!!

Different airlines have different rules. SW goes to the other extreme. The charge is the difference between whatever fare you paid and the current fare for the flight you want to take ($$$ fully refundable fare).

Some airlines want to discourage passengers from booking the flight with the lower fare but then standing by for the flight they really want to take. It's not just a "money grab" but a way to protect a pricing model that charges more for peak flights.