magical express and stand-by

[wdwmaw]

I work with a friend that I am helping to go to disney in Oct. She is getting a discount on her air through us airways. There is no problem getting her to resort POP, but getting her back to the airport is where I have a question. To get her discount she is on stand by for US Airways. What do I tell magical express. I do know she will have to take her luggage on the bus with her. Please someone walk me through this so I can help her.

 

[LWcalif]

She should call ME and explain her situation. Maybe they could tentatively book her a time and when she knows her exact flight, she could call to see if she can make a change.

We were there last week and did a late check out, but still found ourselves sitting in the lobby with 1 hr. to wait for our ME bus. I called ME and asked if it were possible to get on an earlier bus and they checked with dispatch and they said yes. Bus was pulling in as we spoke, she told me the bus # and said to let the driver know that it was OK. There were 5 of us and by the last stop, the bus was full. I think if there is room, they will let you make a change.

 

[Lewisc]

Just give DME the flight your friend plans on standing by for. DME doesn't need to know if the passenger has a confirmed reservation. DME will schedule a pick up approximately 3 hours before that flight. Does your friend want to get to the airport earlier? Does it matter if they check in earlier? Just have them tell the DME CM when they check in if they want an earlier pick up time.

 

[wdwmaw]

Thank-you. I will just give them a tenative flight #,she has a possiblity of 5 different flights. We are just going to shoot for the 3 later ones and get her there then go on stand-by from there.When she gets assigned a flight then the airline check-in will add the destination strips.She is traveling with just her son and she is pregnant. Will a skycap be able to help her from the ME bus unload area to the check-in desk for US Airways?

 

[Lewisc]

Does your friend realize she may not be able to get a seat next to her son?

Skycaps are normally available. I don't think a skycap can check the luggage for standby passengers, I guess she could tip the skycap to get her bags as far as the counter line inside but it might be easier to rent a cart. She may have to move her own bags when she is online.

Thank-you. I will just give them a tenative flight #,she has a possiblity of 5 different flights. We are just going to shoot for the 3 later ones and get her there then go on stand-by from there.When she gets assigned a flight then the airline check-in will add the destination strips.She is traveling with just her son and she is pregnant. Will a skycap be able to help her from the ME bus unload area to the check-in desk for US Airways?

 

[wdwmaw]

No, she doesn't and I tried to get her to book with SW ( a ding couple of weeks ago) but you know they think they can't beat a booking when it's a company discount. Her son is a minor (8years old), does that matter?I'm trying to make it as easy as possible the rest she will have to experience and next time........oh well !! We are trying to pick the flights with the most seats open,I will watch till I leave. She will be traveling the same timeframe as me. Thanks for the info.

 

[Lewisc]

Her son is old enough to sit by himself. Your friend can't fly standby if she can't accept being split. Open seats may not matter. There may be standby passengers paying a higher fare ahead of her. A passenger with an aisle or window seat may not be willing to switch to a middle seat.

Some of the real frequent fliers may post but I think some airlines actually have rules that prohibit people flying on some of the standby employee fares from even asking if a passenger will switch seats. Your friend should also find out if they are subject to some kind of dress code.

Her son is a minor (8years old), does that matter?

 

[wdwmaw]

Oh my!!!!!! I had no idea there are such restrictions. I really hate to mention all of this to her. I have heard her on the phone with the lady that does the booking and she has made it sound like the whole thing is just so easy and no problems.

 

[bavaria]

Her son is old enough to sit by himself. Your friend can't fly standby if she can't accept being split. Open seats may not matter. There may be standby passengers paying a higher fare ahead of her. A passenger with an aisle or window seat may not be willing to switch to a middle seat.

Some of the real frequent fliers may post but I think some airlines actually have rules that prohibit people flying on some of the standby employee fares from even asking if a passenger will switch seats. Your friend should also find out if they are subject to some kind of dress code.

Great information, Lewis. One of my closest friends works for an airline and she flies standby all the time. She also has a child.

Here are some thoughts based on her experience, and on mine as a frequent flyer.

• standbys are cleared about 20-30 minutes before departure; often once boarding has begun
• every airline prioritizes standbys differently - ie top tier elites may trump employees, etc. On most of my regular carriers, revenue standbys trump non-revenue standbys. Elites trump employee passes/fares
• this means that she will be one of the very last to be assigned a seat. Flights these days are carrying very heavy loads and have very few empty seats; if one chooses to fly standby there is usually very little choice as to seat assignment
• non revs and those on employee passes/fares are subject to codes of conduct and usually to dress codes as well. For employees, this may include women wearing hose, no jeans, no shorts, etc. The rules aply to children as well. And yes, Lewis is correct - some airlines include not asking for seat changes on board as part of the code of conduct

I would suggest that the chance of two standby seats opening up side by side are slim, especially to/from a high volume destination like MCO.

Also in regards to your comment about choosing a flight with the most open seats - the seat map is NO indicator of passenger loads. On United, the seat map may appear full to a non elite as the Economy Plus section is reserved for elites, and middle seats next to elites are blocked. This leaves very few open seats on the seat map for non-elites. Other seat maps for other airlines may look open as a number of seats are reserved for airport checkin. I have said it again and again here - the seat map is not an indicator of passenger loads. Fare buckets are an indication; I don't recall seeing those on the US Airways site although they do show on the United site for United metal flights.

 

[bavaria]

Here's a 2005 thread on dress code for buddy/guest passes. You may want to have your friend confirm if she needs to adhere to any code of conduct and standards of dress (and note that this one is more casual than other airlines)

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-481067.html

 

[seashoreCM]

At least a day before checkout, make sure of or modify your Magical Express return reservation to match the first flight you want to stand by for. Your bus should be about three hours in advance of that flight's departure time.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[wdwmaw]

Thank-you for all of this. I really had no idea. Her husbands boss insisted she do this and has thus given her no choice. There employer is Fed ex and original departure is Lex. Ky. connection in Charolete (sp)to orlando.How can I search this info this weekend and talk to her Mon. at work? This is why I love the dis, what things you can learn and boy am I thankful for our Delta flights !!!

 

[bavaria]

CLT-MCO can be a heavy load - CLT is a major hub for US Airways, and a lot of United flyers end up using CLT to connect to MCO. Plus Monday can be a busy business as well as leisure travel day. I have flown that route many times.

Not to sound negative, but it IS best to be aware and be prepared....