Taking earlier flight once at the airport?

[woody5]

I currently have a 2pm flight booked from MCO after a cruise. The cruise docks at Port Canaveral at 7am. If we walk off the cruise with our own luggage do you think we could make a noon flight? We have a private car picking us up. If I don't change flights now how do you ask at the airport assuming we arrive in time? I booked AirTran through Southwest. Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I currently have a 2pm flight booked from MCO after a cruise. The cruise docks at Port Canaveral at 7am. If we walk off the cruise with our own luggage do you think we could make a noon flight? We have a private car picking us up. If I don't change flights now how do you ask at the airport assuming we arrive in time? I booked AirTran through Southwest. Thanks!

We recently stayed at Cocoa Beach. We left the hotel around 9, filled up the rental, and were at the check in desk at MCO by 10:30. I would say timing is no problem.

Ask at the AirTran desk when you get to MCO whether they can move you to the earlier flight. Someone will be along shortly to tell you if they charge for a "same day" flight change.

 

[DebbieB]

Southwest requires that you pay the difference in fare to the price of the earlier flight that day, which is typically the "anytime" fare (not "wanna get away").

 

[sam_gordon]

Southwest requires that you pay the difference in fare to the price of the earlier flight that day, which is typically the "anytime" fare (not "wanna get away").

Really?

Delta charges $50pp (but only if they fit you on the flight). And thats not per flight. We got on earlier flights (original and connecting) and just had to pay the fee once. It did get us home about 3 1/2 hours earlier than svheduled.

 

[DebbieB]

Really?

Delta charges $50pp (but only if they fit you on the flight). And thats not per flight. We got on earlier flights (original and connecting) and just had to pay the fee once. It did get us home about 3 1/2 hours earlier than svheduled.

http://www.southwest.com/html/air/fare-information.html

It depends on the fare:

Business Select
Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted with no change in fare; however, you may lose the privilege of boarding in the first portion of the "A" group.

Anytime

Standby travel between the same city pairs and on the original date of travel is permitted with no change in fare.

Wanna Get Away

Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Airtran seems to have two choices..

1. Pay $50 and get on guranteed.

2. Go to the gate and hang around and see.

However, if you MUST sit with the kiddies this is not really recommended. "go to the gate" means you do hang out until the very end and IF there is room they put you on and you get the remaining seats, not "seats we like all together" So it's likely middle seats scattered all over the plane.

 

[woody5]

I think I will try the stand by and see if I can get on the earlier flight. We don't have to sit together as the "kids" are 17 and 20. I assume I check at AirTran as it s their flight. I booked with points. As it stands right now there is still plenty of seats on the flight.

 

[lylone]

We were in the same situation in April. We got to FLL way early after cruise and flew air tran. We just went to the ticket counter to see if we could jump on an earlier flight. We had to wait to male sure all the seats weren't taken on the next flight, but we were able to.
If you upgraded to business class they would led u on the earlier flight if the seats were available when u check in...now I guess you have to stand by for them to be sure. I guess this is a change since SW took over.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Airtran seems to have two choices..

1. Pay $50 and get on guranteed.

2. Go to the gate and hang around and see.

However, if you MUST sit with the kiddies this is not really recommended. "go to the gate" means you do hang out until the very end and IF there is room they put you on and you get the remaining seats, not "seats we like all together" So it's likely middle seats scattered all over the plane.

Because the OP booked through Southwest, the fees which apply to your flight are those of Southwest, as the Marketing Carrier. Expect to pay to upgrade your tickets to Anytime if you want to fly on an earlier flight.

Southwest does appear to follow the flat tire rule which allows you to fly standby without a fee if you miss your flight by up to 2 hours. The OP may be better booking the noon flight and then hoping for standby if the cruise is delayed.

If its a DIsney cruise, you should usually be able to make a noon flight. The exceptions are for situations like the Fantasy cruise through Hurricane Sandy when passengers were lucky to catch 2 pm flights. -- Suzanne