Should I book an Earlier Flight?

[kaffinito]

I originally booked a DTW - MCO - DTW flight with my arrival in MCO at 8:19 PM. AirTran still has an earlier flight available, but it's more money. Should I switch flights to the one that arrives at MCO at 2:10 PM?

TIA!
Karen

 

[sam_gordon]

Depends on how much more $. Also, doesn't AT charge a 'change fee'? Unless the total added expense is <$50, I'd probably just suck it up and take the later flight. You can hope they change the flight times giving you the opportunity to ask for a flight change.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Well I wouldn't spend the money but what I would do since you are traveling alone, is to fly stand by for the earlier flight. We have done this many times on Airtran and have had great luck.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The later in the day the flight, the more likely it will be delayed due to the domino effect of earlier delays. I try to leave my home airport no later than 9:00 AM and arrive in MCO no later than 2:00 PM if I need to connect somewhere (very few direct options for me).

To me, it's worth it to pay more for an earlier flight.

 

[DebbieB]

Was there a time change to the flight you originally booked? If not, you will be hit with a $75 change fee per ticket, plus increase in fare.

 

[kaffinito]

Well I wouldn't spend the money but what I would do since you are traveling alone, is to fly stand by for the earlier flight. We have done this many times on Airtran and have had great luck.

Can you still fly stand by if you have already booked another flight? If so, I might just do that. Is it easy to get standby even over Spring Break?

Oh, and how do you let them know you want standby?

Was there a time change to the flight you originally booked? If not, you will be hit with a $75 change fee per ticket, plus increase in fare.

No time change, and that $75.00 sounds nasty plus an extra $100.00. I'm flying out April 17th.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

To fly standby go to the ticket counter the day you are suppose to fly out and ask if you can fly stand by. Tell them what flight you want to fly standby for if there are seats they will reissue your ticket for the earlier flight.

YOu can look the night before on Airtran website to see how many seats are available for the flight you want to fly on that way you will have a good idea if you can do standby

 

[SpaceshipEarth]

Again, it depends on the cost, but if it weren't too much, I would jump on the opportunity to get to the World sooner! Plus if you miss your flight for some reason, there will be later flights. But with the late flight, your next flight might not be until the next morning.

 

[kaffinito]

To fly standby go to the ticket counter the day you are suppose to fly out and ask if you can fly stand by.

YOu can look the night before on Airtran website to see how many seats are available for the flight you want to fly on that way you will have a good idea if you can do standby

That's good info! I did check on the flight I wanted and only half of the seats have been picked. It's a non stop flight so that might make a difference, eh?

Again, it depends on the cost, but if it weren't too much, I would jump on the opportunity to get to the World sooner! Plus if you miss your flight for some reason, there will be later flights. But with the late flight, your next flight might not be until the next morning.

But if I have already booked a flight, can't I just go to the airport for the earlier flight time, ask to standby, and then if I can't just get on the flight I was originally supposed to get on? Does asking to standby cancel out my ticket?