Questions on flying standby

[vbarry]

We normally fly once or twice a year but I have never tried to fly standby and I am wondering about this for our June trip.

We are to fly out on Thursday June 30. There are about 10 flights out to MCO that day and one is direct which we are on but it does not leave until after 5:00 p.m. There are several non direct flights connecting in Atlanta. There will be 5 of us. Can we get to the airport earlier and try to fly standby?? Is this even a good idea with a connecting flight?

 

[Disflyer]

It really depends on your airline. Airlines now charge stand-by fees to non elite members and those who are not holding a full fare ticket.

My experience is that 5 is an aweful lot to try and hassle with on stand-by. Not only do you have to worry about having enough seats on one flight but the connection flight too. This is something that could quite easily backfire on you if you decide the stress is worth it.

I fly stand-by a lot and can tell you the stress of not having a ticket for just myself is more than enough, 5 people would put me in a hospital! If you have a confirmed reservation, stay with it or look into changing flights to times that appeal to you better. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a change fee and difference in fare for each ticket changed (depending on the fare you are booked on).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Since you are connecting in Atlanta I am going with it's either Delta or AirTran

Delta does not do standby anymore. They do same day confirm. For $50 each you can get "confirmed" on the flights if there are seats. Keep in mind "Seats" does NOT mean that all of you sit together. Generally all that is left are middle seats.

AirTran will let you fly standby for free... Same deal on seating however.

 

[TaraPA]

Unless you have status with the airline it can still cost you to fly stand-by, so I'd check their policy before you head out early with 5 people.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

5 is a bit too many to fly stand by. Usually me and DH have not had an issue with flying stand by but 5 people is a lot. Good Luck

 

[DisneyOHFan]

I come from an airline family and have flown standby for 47 years. I will say from experience, standby for 5 people would be very hard. Also, unless you fly frequently with an airline, it will cost you to fly standby (some won't permit it at all).

 

[crashbb]

Agree with the others.

Especially since you are looking to fly stand-by on TWO flights (into Atlanta and out of Atlanta). You could end up stuck in Atlanta (assuming the airline even lets you do it).

 

[MAH4546]

Unless you have status with the airline it can still cost you to fly stand-by, so I'd check their policy before you head out early with 5 people.

Most airlines now require that you have status in order to do standby. Otherwise you can only do same-day confirm.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Between load factors in this economy and the fact you'll be in peak travel season, I wouldn't bet on being able to get your entire party on the same flight sequence, even with same day confirm. If you do manage to find a flight with 5 seats you can snag, none of them will be together... or desirable.

Keep your 5 pm departure. Browse DTD, enjoy a lunch at the Earl.

 

[piratejill]

My husband works for an airline and we fly standby all the time. If you aren't high on the standby list, I think flying 5 of you would be difficult. ATL to MCO is NOTORIOUSLY a difficult flight to fly standby on. We typically have had to fly separate (kids and I go in the morning and he goes in the afternoon) from my husband since its usually so crowded on the afternoon flights.

 

[vbarry]

Thanks everyone! I am going to keep checking prices and may pay the $50 charge fee so we can get to WDW earlier that day!! This is our outbound flight and the nonstop flight is $70 cheaper a person than the connecting flights so this is why I chose it....but as it gets closer I find myself wanting to arrive earlier that day....especially due to an early ADR the next morning!!

Thanks again!

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks everyone! I am going to keep checking prices and may pay the $50 charge fee so we can get to WDW earlier that day!! This is our outbound flight and the nonstop flight is $70 cheaper a person than the connecting flights so this is why I chose it....but as it gets closer I find myself wanting to arrive earlier that day....especially due to an early ADR the next morning!!

Thanks again!

Most (all?) airlines will charge the change fee plus the difference in fare. You'll be paying $120 per ticket. Wait and you might get lucky with a sale but be unable to get seats together.

When you booked you decided it wasn't worth $70 to get to WDW earlier. Why is it now worth $120?

Are you talking about $50 for a same day change? Are you prepared for middle seats? Possibly splitting your family on different flights? If it wasn't worth $70 when you booked is it worth $50?

You didn't indicate your airline. I guess it wouldn't hurt to call when the window for making a same day change opens up. Find out exactly when you can call. Midnight? A few hours before the flight you want to change to? 24 hours before your flight.

Don't bother unless you're comfortable with middle seats scattered on the plane.

 

[dester]

If you were flying on a Tuesday the last flight out I would say give it a try otherwise good luck!

 

[DopeyDame]

My husband works for an airline and we fly standby all the time. If you aren't high on the standby list, I think flying 5 of you would be difficult. ATL to MCO is NOTORIOUSLY a difficult flight to fly standby on. We typically have had to fly separate (kids and I go in the morning and he goes in the afternoon) from my husband since its usually so crowded on the afternoon flights.

This. My mom works for an airline and we grew up as a family of 5 flying standby. In order to do that, we flew at the oddest of times (for years I assumed that everyone got up at 3 in the morning to get the 5:30am flight out of town in order to go to Disney World ) There's no way in the world I would risk that, especially when you combine it with a connecting flight. Getting stuck in Atlanta would be FAR worse than getting to WDW a little later in the day.