Worried Sick About Flying Standby on Sept. 13th

[Disneylvr]

My parent's best friend happens to be a mechanic for Delta Airlines. This past March he gave my dad some extra Friends and Family vouchers for standby airline travel 2 of which my dad gave to me. Dad and his friend asked me what I wanted the destination to be and of course I chose Orlando! These type of tickets are also called Buddy Passes. Anyway, my DH and I chose to return to WDW before our AP's expire on January 2002. The very low resort rates at WDW and my husband receiving a bonus vacation day on September 17th pretty much determined that we will return to WDW this week departing late evening of September 13th (a Thursday) and returning home on September 18th (a Tuesday). Being on Buddy Passes means that we will be the very last standby passengers to board the plane.

You might remember me from the "airplane for large people" thread. Well, I am a very plus-sized person(but now on the path to some serious weight loss) and I am worried sick about flying standby on Thursday. I have nightmares about being in that middle seat between 2 strangers who will just hate me, not that I blame them. I have access to the Delta Friends and Family travel line and as of today it is reported that my chosen flights look "excellent" for standby travel. Flight 2048 (76 coach seats, 4 first class remaining) from STL to ATL connecting flight 1165 (84 coach seats, 13 first class remaining) from ATL to MCO. It is very important to me that I either sit next to my husband so I can raise the arm rest between us, have an empty seat next to me OR have a first class seat. I know it isn't wise to have these kind of requirements when flying standby but I really have no choice if I want to have a pleasant flight as well as the passengers near me. I purposely chose a very late evening/night flight hoping it would be less booked.

It is now 4 days away from my flights and I wondered what you airline experts thought my chances were about getting my preferences mentioned above. At the very least I would like to be in a window seat, DH in a middle seat and we can raise the armrest. But even better would be a window seat for me, empty middle seat and a stranger (or DH) in the aisle seat or a first class seat of course. If all goes well with the flights that day (no mechanical problems or weather problems on earlier flights) will I be okay? How many people actually book flights less than 4 days away from the trip? On average how many standby passengers are on late evening flights in mid-September going to Orlando.

Needless to say, I will probably never chose to fly standby again, at least until I lose a significant amount of weight. I like being able to choose the type of aircraft and chose my seats but dad bought me the tickets (allot less that regular fare) and I have to use them sometime. Any help to calm my nerves would be VERY MUCH appreciated. Thank you thank you thank you!

 

[seashoreCM]

Try to get to the airport early in the day so you will have many chances to stand by before you miss the last flight and your first Disney resort night.

It is your responsibility not to inconvenience strangers by raising the arm rests or sticking your elbows into them. One of them might complain and ask to have a standby passenger deplaned so he can reclaim one whole seat, and that standby passenger might be you.

If an armrest on the aisle raises, you can try swapping seats for that aisle seat.

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

 

[Disneylvr]

It is impossible for me to get to the airport early in the day as I work and have no more vacation days left unless I cancel my December trip. The most open flight is that night flight anyway and leaving the next day, a Friday, doesn't look good for standby travel.

I would never raise the armrest next to a stranger. I meant the armrest in-between my DH and I or between me and an empty seat. I have already decided that if I am given a seat next to any person other than my husband then I will cancel my trip and not even board the plane. Geez, I never thought I would actually get kicked off the plane. Maybe this trip just isn't meant to be!

 

[tarmand]

Don't worry so much. It looks as though the plane is hardly booked, and as you said, I doubt many people book a flight to Orlando that late.

 

[madaboutMickey]

Have you tried going to Delta's website and looking at the flight? You can actually see what seats have already been assigned. This may ease your fears. Hope it helps.

 

[CarolA]

The other thing is to be sure you dress for First Class. Delta used to have rules on these tickets for putting you in First Class. Now most of the time they fill First Class up with paying passangers, but if there is an empty seat the non-rev with the "appropriate" clothes would get it, even over someone with a higher priority. (Don't qoute me on this, we have not used these tickets in YEARS!)

 

[Disneylvr]

Yes, we knew this and plan on dressing up as per Delta's first class rules. I do realize that being seated in first class with buddy passes is very rare though. However we did pay for our tickets (actually my dad bought them as a gift to us) and I believe it was around $80 RT. Not too long ago Delta had a sale on the STL to MCO market and the RT fare was $114 so some of these "paying" customers didn't pay much more than I did for the flight yet they have the 100% more rights than I do about flying.

And madaboutMickey, yes I have checked availability on Delta's web site. I check several times a day actually as well as the Friend's and Family line which gives a more accurate count of available seats. Thanks for the tip though. 3 more days to go!!! And keeping my fingers crossed. The flights still look "excellent" for standby travel according to Delta. I am a worrier by nature. My biggest concern is making another passenger uncomfortable. That is the last thing I want to do.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

I know on our buddy passes that if the 1st class is open and you are dressed for it and have an upgrade to use then you can go first class. hopefully this can happen for you. if you discreetly explain to the agent who checks you in your dilemma he or she should be nice enough to help you. does the non-rev line tell you how many people are listed for standby? this should be a guide to help you figure out what your chances are. good luck. relax take a deep breath and hopefully it will work out to your advantage.

 

[Disneylvr]

Thank you so much Beverly Lynn. Your reply to my post has calmed me down considerably. The non-rev line does not tell how many standby passengers are on the list for our flights. It states how many seats are actually available and now many they are authorized to sell. I will certainly let the gate agent know my dilemma and hope for the best. Thank you again for your help. It is appreciated very much.

 

[madaboutMickey]

Disneylvr,
My DD and BF (who works for Delta) flew to Orlando last Friday mid-morning. They got first class with no problem. On their return flight this morning (7:45) they had to sit in coach but they knew there were no seats in first calss available last week. They had been checking the flight for about a week before hand and nothing really had changed. I think you have a very good chance to get what you need. GOOD LUCK!
BTW, we will be arriving Friday morning. Maybe we will run into each other.

 

[Disneylvr]

madaboutMickey,

Thank you!! This information has helped me too. With your DD and BF since he is a current Delta employee he did get to board before I will but it is still encouraging news. Buddy passes are the very last standby passengers to be boarded or so I was told. Will you be flying on Delta as well on buddy passes?

 

[madaboutMickey]

No, unfortunately we had to pay full price for our airfare. LOL However it wasn't too bad even tho we are flying out of Cinti. Anything close to $200 I'm usually happu with . If it's under that I'm doind the Happy Dance.
DD only paid $58 RT for her buddy pass. What a wonderful perk for their employees.
There was one trip that DD and BF were on where she had to fly coach but he was given first class. He just told them to give it to someone else and he sat with DD. He has worked for Delta for 13 years so he does manage to "bump" alot of his "co-workers".