Trying to get on an earlier flight?

[PoppyGirl]

We are booked on AirTran Thursday at 7:09pm. There's an earlier flight at 4:30 and we are goint to arrive at the airport early and see if we can get on the earlier flight.

Has anyone ever done this?

I'm wondering
1. What do we do about our luggage? We were not planning to use ME since our flight would be arrivng so late--we were just goign to pick it up ourselves and take it with us. I can take the ME yellow tags with us but how do we know if we can get on the earlier flight or not?
2. Who do we talk to about getting on that flight?
3. If we are standby on the early flight and don't make it, have we lost our status on the later flight? Or can we still get on?

Thanks!

 

[N365PA]

I can't say for certain what airTran's rules are but at Continental these were our rules:

1. If you have a checked bag, we did not allow standby on earlier flights. I want to say this is a TSA rule.
2. If you were an elite level, no fee. If you weren't elite, I want to say it was a $75 or $100 fee.
3. You still have your seat on the later flight

That all being said, I have "Revenue Stand-by'ed" many times. I personally would not go out of your way to get to the airport earlier. If you happen to be there early, it never hurts to ask the gate agent. Many times we'd be in a good mood and just change ya to the earlier flight, if available, for no charge. All depended what type of mood I was in and how nice of a customer you were

Clint
Former Airport Agent with Delta & Flight Attendant, Continental

 

[jmasgat]

From Airtran's web site....

"Changes at the Airport on Day of Travel
Customers have two options for changing to a flight other than their reserved flight at the airport on the day of travel. Based on space availability, customers may reserve a confirmed seat on an earlier flight to the same destination for $50 per person per segment. Or, customers have the option to standby for another flight to the same destination at no charge. These options are only available at the airport on the day of travel"

Not sure how they deal with checked luggage. Best thing is to call now and find out.

 

[PoppyGirl]

Thanks! I didn't even think to check their website.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I can't say for certain what airTran's rules are but at Continental these were our rules:

1. If you have a checked bag, we did not allow standby on earlier flights. I want to say this is a TSA rule.
2. If you were an elite level, no fee. If you weren't elite, I want to say it was a $75 or $100 fee.
3. You still have your seat on the later flight

That all being said, I have "Revenue Stand-by'ed" many times. I personally would not go out of your way to get to the airport earlier. If you happen to be there early, it never hurts to ask the gate agent. Many times we'd be in a good mood and just change ya to the earlier flight, if available, for no charge. All depended what type of mood I was in and how nice of a customer you were

Clint
Former Airport Agent with Delta & Flight Attendant, Continental

Okay, but this really isn't relevant to the OP's question. Plus, Continental is no more,

OP, this information is always available on your airline's website.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

OP is this a direct flight that you want to stand by for? If its a connecting flight you will also have to factor in that there will be available seats on the connecting flight for your family as well.


Oh BTW I just looked at your flight and I see that if you try to purchase that same flight on SWA web page is shows that the 4:40 flight on Oct 25 out of BWI is sold out and AirTran is only offering the business class fare. So I am not sure there will be 4 available seats for standby.

 

[lylone]

We have asked a few times about jumping on an earlier flight if we arrive early at the airport and have had great luck with Airtran.
One time we were asked if we "minded" being on the earlier flight!
We have NEVER been charged the $50 fee or etc.

Don't check in early on line. Go and ask at the check in desk at the airport if you can stand by for an earlier flight. Sometimes they will just switch you to the earlier flight if it is not full or sometimes you have to be stand by.

The thing is that you have to ask when you get to the airport....they won't do it over the phone beforehand without charging you.

The last time we checked bags, we did stand by and were able to get on the earlier flight. Our checked bags were on the same flight and everything was great.


Bad things - If you want assigned seat you may not get it. You will have to jump from one gate to another to see if you can get on the flight. If you can't get on earlier ones you may waste a day at the airport.

But MCO is a nice airport and the gates are not that far apart.