On Southwest, if we arrive early....

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

If we are booked on a flight and we make it to the airport earlier than expected, will Southwest put us on an earlier flight if we ask and there is availability? If so, what would the cost be--the difference in cost of the flights?

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, the difference in fare between the fare you paid and the current (non-refundable $$$) fare for your flight. Most of us fly to MCO using deeply discounted fares and aren't interested in paying the upcharge.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I've done this several times without any problems. Plus, I've never had to pay a cent more. They were happy to fill the flight & open a few seats on my originally intended flight. There have been times, however, when they were booked solid & couldn't put me on an earlier depature.
Good luck & have a great trip!

 

[Lewisc]

I've done this several times without any problems. Plus, I've never had to pay a cent more. They were happy to fill the flight & open a few seats on my originally intended flight. There have been times, however, when they were booked solid & couldn't put me on an earlier depature.
Good luck & have a great trip!

That is not Southwest policy. Take a look at flyertalk.com . An exception, your original flight has scheduled delays.

A few years ago GA may have been nice and waived the upcharge. According to posters who fly a lot those days are gone.

 

[gigi1313]

we've tried and always told there would be an upcharge...

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

Thanks for the info. We are flying home after a cruise, so are planning a 1:30 flight. Often we get there way too early, but I am more comfortable with the idea of waiting around than worrying about missing our flight due to a delay. I'll ask what the upcharge will be for an earlier flight. If it's too high, no big deal hanging around MCO for a few hours.

 

[Lewisc]

The cost will be the difference between whatever you paid for the the ticket and the current cost for a ticket. The current cost will be the fully refundable fare, probably around $360.

They will waive the fee if your original flight has a delay scheduled.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

My husband does this all of the time for business travel and never pays anything else.

 

[Lewisc]

My husband does this all of the time for business travel and never pays anything else.

Your husband wouldn't have to pay anything else if his company booked a fully refundable (or business select) fare. Frequently business travel is booked too close to departure to qualify for discounted fares.

Go over to flyertalk if you want confirmation.

Most of the posters on DIS book deeply discounted fares.

http://www.southwest.com/html/air/fare-information.html

Wanna Get Away
Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare.

There is generally a sign in the gate area informing passengers that standing by for an earlier flight requires paying the difference of fare to full fare.

 

[DebbieB]

http://www.southwest.com/html/air/fare-information.html

Anytime
These fares are refundable and changeable and may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines.
Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted with no change in fare.

Wanna Get Away
Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines.
Should a passenger fail to apply the nonrefundable ticket toward the purchase of future travel within the eligibility period, the entire amount of the fare, which includes without limitation, all fees, taxes, and charges, will be forfeited.
Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare.

 

[wdwfan1]

We were never able to do this without paying the difference.

 

[Dacky619]

We tried twice in the last 6 months, and both times we were directed to the self serve areas where we would have had to pay the difference for the ticket.

edited to add: As Lewis and Debbie pointed out, we book "wanna get away fares" for our family vacations.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I didn't mean to misinform anyone. I guess I've just been really lucky in the many times that I was able to do this (including 2 weeks ago). Apologies for misleading anyone. Next time, if I'm lucky enough for a next time, I'll definitely be sure to show my gratitude to the agent.