Southwest standby policy

[TedL]

I hope someone can answer this question. I have a Southwest reservation for next Saturday 3/20 out of PVD to MCO (nonstop). My flight time is 5:30. In checking the Southwest site, I know that there are seats available on the 4:30 flight (also nonstop). What is Southwest's policy if I wanted to jump on the earlier flight? Would they try to charge me more (only the most expensive fare is available on the website)? I've flown with Southwest many times and have been on their website, but I can't seem to find anything about it.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by TedL
Would they try to charge me more (only the most expensive fare is available on the website)? I've flown with Southwest many times and have been on their website, but I can't seem to find anything about it.

SW will require that you pay the fare difference. There are signs by the gate. You got a discounted fare in exchange for committing to a specific flight. By taking a different flight you are asking for the financial benefits of a discount without living up to your part of the bargain. Basically SW is concerned everyone will just book the flights with the cheapest fares (bad times and/or stops) and then stand by for the flights they really want. Would make for an even bigger zoo.

Ted--I tried to send you a PM, you might activate that in your profile.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I believe they will charge you the difference between your fare and the highest fare there is, which in your case is the only one available.

 

[Pinnie]

Check your email itenerary

Mine says this:

************************ FARES RULE(S) *************************
VALID ONLY ON SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
NON REFUNDABLE/NO STANDBY

I think that pretty much says it all.

pin

 

[luvmarypoppins]

So does this mean that southwest does not overbook any of their flights. I see our flights have no seats left and I really dont mind taking another flight as long as it is direct and we get some sort of compensation. We were offfered it on delta before. This will only be our second time flying southwest.

 

[Pinnie]

I am not quite sure what you are asking when you questioned whether SWA overbooks flights. Most airlines do. The fact is, they won't ask for volunteers until you get to the gate and they see how many actual people show up for the flight. If you do volunteer, you may be offered compensation.

One night we had a transfer in St Louis and people were offered a seat on the first flight out the next morning and an voucher for an overnight stay.

I have yet to see someone volunteer and get a flight BEFORE their's leaves and I fly about once a month!

pin

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by luvmarypoppins
So does this mean that southwest does not overbook any of their flights. I see our flights have no seats left and I really dont mind taking another flight as long as it is direct and we get some sort of compensation. We were offfered it on delta before. This will only be our second time flying southwest.

Their compensation policy is written in their Contract of Carraige, which is on their website.

SWA rarely overbooks or oversells and rarely has to bump anyone.
Delta, on the other hand, does it often. We have been bumped by Delta in the past (we volunteered).

There is a difference between being bumped (voluntarily) and trying to fly standby.

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
SWA rarely overbooks or oversells and rarely has to bump anyone.

There is a difference between being bumped (voluntarily) and trying to fly standby.

Gail,

Did you happen to see the episode of AIRLINE where SWA overbooked by 52 pax? Now THAT was overbooking!!!!

pin

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pinnie
Gail,

Did you happen to see the episode of AIRLINE where SWA overbooked by 52 pax? Now THAT was overbooking!!!!

pin

Nope, actually, my first time watching the program was last Monday. Great show, btw. I would say that was quite an overbooking!!!! Glad I said "rarely". LOL

 

[DebbieB]

I've been watching Airline and at first I thought it was a publicity show for Southwest, but some of the things they show aren't that good. The 52 passenger overbooking was a nightmare, especially when most were cruise passengers going to Ft. Lauderdale. From what they show, they overbook alot. A couple weeks ago a kid traveling by himself to see relatives was without a seat. They begged and begged for someone to give up their seat for him with no volunteers. Luckily someone didn't show up last minute and he got a seat. I always thought being a gate agent would be a neat job but not after seeing this. Almost every week they have a drunk passenger trying to check-in (or someone who smells ).

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DebbieB
I've been watching Airline and at first I thought it was a publicity show for Southwest, but some of the things they show aren't that good. The 52 passenger overbooking was a nightmare, especially when most were cruise passengers going to Ft. Lauderdale. From what they show, they overbook alot. A couple weeks ago a kid traveling by himself to see relatives was without a seat. They begged and begged for someone to give up their seat for him with no volunteers. Luckily someone didn't show up last minute and he got a seat. I always thought being a gate agent would be a neat job but not after seeing this. Almost every week they have a drunk passenger trying to check-in (or someone who smells ).

Debbie,
There is a difference between overbooked and oversold. All airlines over book, but rarely does it become oversold. I hope that I don't have this backwards, I read it quite some time ago.

That one show I saw definitely quelled my desire to be a gate agent. They don't pay well to start with, but, there is not enough money in the world for me to work that job. I fear there would be a body count in a very short amount of time.
There is a British version of this show and it is a good show also.

 

[dcfromva]

My flight time is 5:30. In checking the Southwest site, I know that there are seats available on the 4:30 flight (also nonstop). What is Southwest's policy if I wanted to jump on the earlier flight? Would they try to charge me more (only the most expensive fare is available on the website)?

TedL,
SWA will charge you the full unrestricted fare if you try to catch the earlier flight with few exceptions.
One exception: We took a flight to FLL in Jan and coming home there was a big ice storm going on at our destination airport. I called SWA early on in the day and they said they would change our flight with no penalties, if we wanted. We monitored conditions throughout the day and decided to stick with our original plan. It turned out we got home on our orignally scheduled flight--just a tad late.
Other times on SWA, when everything was running normal and we arrived at the airport early (we always get there at least 2 hours early), we thought we would just make an inquiry about catching an earlier flight and we couldn't do it without paying more.
Other airlines are more lenient on this--because once a flight takes off with an empty seat--that seat is worthless. If you fill it, it gives them another opporutnity to sell the seat you previously held on the later flight (especially if the earlier flight is quite empty and the later flight is overbooked). Perhaps SWA always has the flights filled up to the point that they never take off with empty seats... (That always seems to be the case at BWI, anyway ).
-DC