Flying Standby on SW?

[Cajungaltx]

My flight leaves out on Saturday afternoon - I thought I had the 3pm flight, but apparently I have the one after 5pm.... I've checked online, and thus far, have found info that says: If you fly standby, you pay the difference between your fare and the walk up 'anytime' fare...

Anyone had any luck with anything 'other' than that option? Tori's play ends at 1, so I'm being dropped off at the airport on their way back to Houston, and while I don't 'mind' waiting until 5 to catch my flight....obviously I'd rather get to El Paso sooner rather than later...

I may play the 'haven't seen my husband in months cause he's deployed' card... as much as I am ashamed to say... *grin*

[WarrenG]

Donna,

It has been awhile since I have flown "regularly" but last I recall, that was the case for your outbound flight only, not if it were a return flight to your home airport. My understanding is it is to curb folks purchasing the "cheaper" ticket which may be for a "off peak" time slot, and then trying to standby for the "in demand" better time, flight.

[bondarnes]

It has been a while, but a few years back, I got to the airport a lot earlier than planned and was told that if there were empty seats on an earlier flight they would let me have it for no extra fee. Policy may have changed.

[wondershots]

Actually, my experience with SW is that you can change your reservation at anytime without charge. Except if the fare on the new flight is higher you'll have to pay the difference.

[WarrenG]

Jim, thats awesome news! So you have had luck changing your outbound flight the day of?

I often have to fly daily back and forth to San Antonio from Love for a client there, and have never been able to stand by or change my outbound flight without paying the "walk up" price, but have always been able to change / standby for my return without any charges or penalties.

Did you change your res at the gate, online, counters? I feel robbed! LOL

[Cajungaltx]

Thanks everyone - I called SW, and I gotta say - I love that airline. They told me that a one way, one day advanced notice ticket was available for LESS than the ticket I bought a month ago....so they changed my time, and gave me a credit... go figure.. ;-) SO I get to see my husband three hours earlier than before.... *yippee*

[Angelo]

Don is correct. My son was able to catch an earlier flight without having to pay extra. Southwest is very accommodating.

[andyz]

I've done that many times on American. If they have a seat on the early flight, why not put you on it and hope someone needs your old seat on the later flight! Win win in my book.

Glad it worked out. Enjoy those 3 hours.

[wondershots]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Jim, thats awesome news! So you have had luck changing your outbound flight the day of?

I often have to fly daily back and forth to San Antonio from Love for a client there, and have never been able to stand by or change my outbound flight without paying the "walk up" price, but have always been able to change / standby for my return without any charges or penalties.

Did you change your res at the gate, online, counters? I feel robbed! LOL

Warren, I never tried on the day of the flight but I work with contractors from out of town who do all the time. When I change it's usually online.

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by andyz

I've done that many times on American. If they have a seat on the early flight, why not put you on it and hope someone needs your old seat on the later flight! Win win in my book.

Glad it worked out. Enjoy those 3 hours.

Didn't know other airlines did that...I thought it was only SW. Thought it was always stupid other airlines didn't

[Richard-SSV]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

Didn't know other airlines did that...I thought it was only SW. Thought it was always stupid other airlines didn't

American used to do that, but they changed their policy back in February. Now if you want to catch the earlier flight and they have a seat available, it will cost you $50 to do so unless you are an elite miles award member (platinum, gold, etc).

The policy is really ludicrous considering how often they oversell their flights. A month or so ago I had a 5 pm flight out of Houston, but I had finished my business early and wanted to catch the earlier flight. The agent informed me of the $50 fee. I clarified with him that even though the earlier flight had many empty seats and the 5 pm was completely full he wouldn't let me fly standby on the earlier flight unless I paid $50??? He said yup!

With this scenario let's say the later flight is oversold and they need to bump a few passengers. To do so they offer up some free flights to those who got bumped. So how does that make financial sense when they could have freed up some seats by allowing free standby on the earlier flight?

[Angelo]

Richard,
Common sense has nothing to do with it.
It's their regulations and they're sticking to it, even if it costs them money and passengers.