Standby rules

[roselark]

I posted a few days ago about a very short connection time in Atlanta. I am feeling a little better about our chances at catching our connection, but I want to be prepared in case we dont.

I have never missed a connection, and so I have no idea what to expect. We get put on a standby list, right? If the only seats available on the next flight are first class, will we be allowed to take those, or will we have to wait for the next available coach seat? (We are flying Delta)

 

[seashoreCM]

If the only seats available on the next flight are first class, will we be allowed to take those, or will we have to wait for the next available coach seat?

YOu will have to wait for a coach seat 9unless the gate agent goofs and gives you a first class seat). But they will give you a full fare coach seat even if you have a super saver ticket or ding ticket or pirceline ticket or even a frequent flyer free ticket (there's no visible difference between the seats).

In a few cases they will put you on a different airline. This depends on the reason for the late arrival of your first flight and what agreements your airline and the "other" airline have.

Generally you should be on the standby list ahead of others, including very frequent fliers, who are just commencing their journeys.

If the next flight appears to have only first class seats, stand by for it anyway. There is a good chance someone else will be "upgraded" to take those first class seats leaving eligible seats for you.

Even though the rule for dealing with missed connections has the same rule number (not 240), for each airline the actual rule is different.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Lewisc]

If the only seats available on the next flight are first class Delta will either give you a first class seat or upgrade another pax and give you a coach seat.

From their CoC:

If space on the next available flight is available only in a higher
class of service than you purchased, we will transport you on the flight, although we reserve
the right to upgrade other passengers on the flight according to our upgrade priority policy
to make space for you in the class of service you originally purchased.

The CoC represents the "real rules". Posters are better served researching, and printing the relevant sections, rather then rely on any general advice in an internet discussion board.

 

[roselark]

Thanks! If we miss the connection, it would be their fault because they changed the flight times after we booked. Hopefully that will help our chances...

I don't care what class we fly, as long as we can get on a flight as soon as possible!

Lewisc, where did you find that info. I looked all over Delta's site and did not find anything. Didn't have any luck after Googling either... I am a very infrequent flyer and have no idea what CoC is nor how to look for it.

 

[Lewisc]

CoC is the "Contract of Carriage". It's basically the "real" rules. It's generally a pdf file that you read, or D/L from the airline's website. Just use the search field in the airlines website, search term is contract of carriage.

Thanks! If we miss the connection, it would be their fault because they changed the flight times after we booked. Hopefully that will help our chances...

I don't care what class we fly, as long as we can get on a flight as soon as possible!

Lewisc, where did you find that info. I looked all over Delta's site and did not find anything. Didn't have any luck after Googling either... I am a very infrequent flyer and have no idea what CoC is nor how to look for it.