Standby on SWA?

[Ariel'sMom]

We have an evening flight out of MCO on Southwest and it looks like DH and DD may need to fly out earlier that day. We have not flown Southwest before. Can passengers fly standby on earlier flights like other airlines? How much time before the flight should they get their names on the list? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[CarolA]

The short response is no.

SW does not normally do standbys. They require you to upgrade to a the full fare to fly on an earlier flight.

There have been exceptions. SW will allow standby for weather conditions or if you miss your flight. Occassionally you will get a nice gate agent who MIGHT let you on, but that has NEVER happened to me.

 

[Lewisc]

If you're at least 14 (or 21) days out you can just change your reservation. No change fee just pay the difference in fare.

Otherwise Carol is right, SW will charge you the fare difference to full fare. The only time I got an exception my flight came in early and they let me change to an earlier connecting flight.

I think SW is concerned that everyone would just book the flights with the cheaper fares and then standby for the flights they really want. SW gave you a discount in exchange for you committing to a specific flight. By standing by for an earlier flight you're asking for the flexibility of a full fare ticket but the discount of a restricted ticket.

Other airlines have better standby policy BUT SW doesn't have a change fee and will usually give you full credit if you don't take a flight.

 

[CarolA]

Lewis is luckier then I am.

I once got to Houston on a connecting flight in plenty of time to take the earlier flight to Nashville. The only way the agent would let us on was if we paid $100. We waited. LOL!