OT-Flying Standby to Maine

[maciec]

Can someone please tell me how the best way to fly stand by is?

There are 4 of us flying stand by to Maine at the end of the month on a Tuesday. We are flying USAir. We really want to take an earlier flight so I was thinking stand by, but I have never done it before. So I was wondering what the process is.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Melissa

 

[CarolA]

From USAir.com

Move-Up Program
The new US Airways* understands that travelers need flexibility in their schedule. That's why we allow you to "move up" to any earlier flight on the same day of your originally scheduled departure time at the airport (with the exception of flights to Hawaii and Europe). Please note: Day-of-departure changes may only be made at the airport and not through our Reservations centers.

If there is an open seat available on any earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $25 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $100 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.

If there is NOT an open seat available on an earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats on completely booked flights may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don't show up for the flight. Please note: Unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not guarantee that you will get on the particular flight that you want and may involve waiting for two or more flights before a seat is available to you.


Also, in my experience you will probably not get seats together. If the four of you have to sit together....then don't do this.

 

[JanB]

Also, my experience with standby (on other airlines) is that you won't be guaranteed that your entire party will make the flight. Standbys are typically listed as individuals -- not as entire parties. So, if it is not acceptable for your family to fly on separate flights, then standby might not be for you. You'll want to discuss your needs and desires with USAir.

On Delta (and I presume on other airlines, as well) each person on the standby list is assigned a priority -- and it's not first-come-first-serve. It has to do with Employees (and there's a pecking order within the Employee list), what type of pass someone might be flying with, probably whether you've been bumped from another flight. I've flown standby using a Buddy Pass (from my Delta-employee brother) -- I'm always near the bottom of the list and have sometimes had to wait through 2 or 3 flights to get on a flight. When my Mother uses a Parent pass, she's much higher than me and sometimes is even seated in Business Class.

I'm not trying to be negative. Just want you to know that there is a very definite system in terms of how people get the available seats.

 

[maciec]

Thanks for the responses. I am hoping that if we get to the airport early enough that we can be first on the stand by list. I check often to see how many seats are left and there seems to be plenty on both flights. I haven't been on a sold out flight yet to Maine, so I am crossing my fingers that we will get lucky.

 

[CarolA]

I guess I am confused. Do you have a paid ticket for later in the day and just want to fly early or do you have some type of "airline employee" ticket where you never paid anything? THere are different rules.

Also as JanB pointed out time of arrival is not the only factor. Basically if I paid more for the ticket then you and arrive AFTER you for standby I can still get ahead of you. Same type of thing is someone who flies a LOT of miles on USAir. (and if you are on an airline employee ticket some of them have no real priority. You go last no matter what LOL!)

Luggage is also an issue. I find airlines are not as agreeable out standby if you have checked luggage.

 

[maciec]

I have a paid ticket for the 4 of us to fly later in the day. I just want to take an earlier flight. Maybe "stand by" wasn't the proper term to use. I just thought that was what it was called until I re-read your original post of USAir's policy now. And I have no problems paying the $25 for each ticket to get us there earlier than midnight.