Flying Stand By, Help Wanted

[STANCPA44]

We are a party of four, we have already booked our flights, round trip to Rome. We are cruising on the Westerdam. We had planned on staying an extra day in Rome but do to the miscounting of days we are short one day.
I called Northwest about changing the flight from 10/20 to 10/21 but they wanted $250. per person to change.
What if we flew stand by, can we make arrangements with no or little cost with Northwest to do so?
Any help or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
This is the great wonder of the CC board.

Thanks,
Stan

[1cruiselvr]

If you have the time to sit in the airport and wait, it's okay. But if you must return by a certain day for work or family obligations, you'd better get a guaranteed seat. Standby only works when you have flexibility. Happy Sailing!

[pollux]

I would not take a change in Europe for stand by. First they would hassle you that you ticket is expired. One way or the other they make you pay more or buy a new ticket.
I fly to Europe a lot and pay you will one way or the other.

[gliles]

I would call NWA and ask them how the flights look the next day and make sure they note that you will be standby so the ticket stays active. I am an airline employee and my father was before me so between his years and mine, I have been flying standby for 37 years, it isn't that big of a deal if you do your homework. That's $1,000 savings over paying the fee, worth it IMO but then again, $1,000 isn't small change to me (as I said I am an airline employee!).

[ocngypz]

Standby rules are different for paying passengers than for non-rev (airline personnel) passengers.

Many airlines now require that you have a full fare coach ticket in order to qualify for standby. You'd better call NWA and get the scoop.

I'd pay the change fee, pay the difference (if any) in fare.. and get confirmed seating.

[gliles]

Standby rules are different for paying passengers than for non-rev (airline personnel) passengers.

Many airlines now require that you have a full fare coach ticket in order to qualify for standby. You'd better call NWA and get the scoop.

I'd pay the change fee, pay the difference (if any) in fare.. and get confirmed seating.Yes, obviously the rules for paying pax are different than for nonrevs but I would lay money that all the majors have the same basic rules and I did tell her to call NWA. I don't know of any major that requires a full fare for standby, that would only apply when the flight is completely sold out as a full fare carries no penalties. $1,000 is a large chunk of money.

[digby]

We are a party of four, we have already booked our flights, round trip to Rome. We are cruising on the Westerdam. We had planned on staying an extra day in Rome but do to the miscounting of days we are short one day.
I called Northwest about changing the flight from 10/20 to 10/21 but they wanted $250. per person to change.
What if we flew stand by, can we make arrangements with no or little cost with Northwest to do so?
Any help or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
This is the great wonder of the CC board.

Thanks,
Stan

Don't you think you should call NW and ask them. Only they would know the rules of your ticket.

[shipgirl56]

I'm flying Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles next month. I was told I could fly standby and fly out earlier or wait until my flight at 5PM. I paid a discount ticket non-changeable, non-refundable and not full fare. Just check with the airlines to make sure your ticket will still be good the next day you fly.

[MISSYLOU]

We too have been flying standby for 36 years and unless you are experienced at traveling this way it can be quite a hassle. You could be stuck for more than 1 day which could cost more than the price of upgrading your tickets when you consider the cost of extra epenses for meals and possibly hotels. Weather delays throughout an airlines system can back up travel for quite some time.

Consider how much you have invested in the cruise and how long you can afford to be away from home before making your final decision.

[Jana]

Actually, the rules for international travel are fairly rigid these days. I don't think you can fly standby; even domestically, you might be able to standby for an earlier or later flight the same day at no charge (most airlines have recently disallowed this) but not the day after your scheduled flight.

Even if it were later on the same day, international rules would prohibit it, I think.

[1cruiselvr]

Where have you been? I've missed your posts. When is your next cruise? We are doing Princess Oct 30th to Mexico and HAL Dec. 6th to Hawaii.
Happy Sailing!

[STANCPA44]

I guess what I will do is when I check in I will ask NW what are the rules for standby and whether or not it would be a feasible idea. I thank everyone for their input.

STAN

[gliles]

Stan -

I really do think it will be ok but you should check with NWA before that because if the answer for some reason is no and you have to pay the penalty, you would know ahead of time. The other problem that could happen is by the time you leave, the flights on the 21st could be full then you wouldn't even have the option of paying the penalty to change.

[Jana]

Stan,

If you don't ask until check-in, you could be putting yourself at great risk. You will be talking to a ticket agent or gate agent intent on checking you in, and not necessarily someone who is conversant with international travel rules.

Gliles, I worked for (I believe) the same airline you work for and although I retired a year ago (oh happy, happy, HAPPY! day) I am almost positive that he cannot use his tickets to stand by, especially on a subsequent date. I worked in international passenger services, and -especially after 9/11- the rules tightened and changed and are pretty rigid.

The worst thing that could happen is that you get, from your ticket agent or gate agent, what you think is an OK to go standby on the 21st, then you show up and you have to purchase four one-way tickets back to the States because the info you were given is incorrect. Why don't you call NWA's international department and ask? They know all the rules; don't leave it until the last minute.

Jana

[pollux]

Cruiselvr. We are fine,been travling Europe, Booked for Nov. 9 Carnival Spirit 8 days SD-Alcapulco.
29 Jan.05 Oosterdam 7 day Mexico again. DH want fly. Then 1 may 05 with my sister RCC Legend Miami -London but we are getting off in Zeebrugge instead of London. You see I keep on going.Hope your family are well and I see you keep on cruising also.

[Roadwork]

I think I would bite the bullet and pay for the change. As someone else mentioned it could cost you more if you have to find a hotel and buy some meals. You would also have less stress.
Good luck with whatever your decision is.

[Host Walt]

Many (most) airlines allow for next flight standbys for people who just miss a flight (traffic, security issues, etc.) but not for 24 hours.

My worst case was ehen we were in France last May (2004) and were ticketed to fly from Marseille to Frankfurt to LA on Lufthansa. Before we left home we decided to skip Marseille and stay an extra two days in Paris...and would use the train to Frankfurt.

I called Lufthansa and was told that I would be penalized $150 per ticket if we wanted to drop the Marseille to Frankfurt leg in advance of our first leg and would have the entire ticket voided if we simply failed to check in in Marseille...which would also cancel our ticket from Frankfurt to LA and require that we buy a full fare one way ticket.

Needless to say, we decided to pay the $300.

I agree completely with those who say that you absopositively MUST call NW and get everything resolved before you start your trip.

[Budget Queen]

The problem with this standby problem is they want to fly AFTER their scheduled flight. The ticket may have very rigid flight restrictions and perhaps NO value if you miss your purchased flight or a reduced value with the same fee. In Europe- you are taking a big chance on standby- there could be seats but there is a LOT of freight that loads on Europe flights- Rome is probably the worse and seats are left empty. I too have plenty of experience flying nonrev due to airline employment- you need back up plans for the back ups and extra days on each end. Flights are full. For a sure thing either forget the later departure or pay the fee.

[Jana]

Walt, I can see that happening. It's a good thing you called Lufthansa when you did!

Most people don't realize that an airplane ticket is a contract just like a cruise ticket is. If your "contract" says Marseilles to Frankfurt to L.A., what it is really saying is Marseilles to L.A. and the fact that you are changing planes in Frankfurt is beside the point. By trying to pick up your flight in Frankfurt you would have "voided" your contract and would have had to start all over again.

It happens all the time; certain cities are cheaper to fly out of for various reasons... trying to generate business in an outlying area, a fare sale to compete with SouthWest... someone might buy a ticket out of Rockford routed through Chicago, for example, because it's much cheaper. They really prefer to go out of Chicago, but if they miss their Rockford leg, they have nothing... the contract is void.

International rules are even stickier, so you are right, Stan should check first, before he makes plans to stay the extra day that he's shorted.

Jana

[KSCnCA]

I am not an airline employee but I make a lot of travel arrangements for my bosses and coworkers. I would not suggest traveling without a return ticket you can use. (especially out of the country!) We have had plenty of tickets go unused when people skip a leg and drive to the connecting airport. We then buy a new ticket, no advance, usually not very cheap. I would suggest you call NWA again, be very polite and if they won't change your tickets ask for a supervisor. Do be as nice as you can. Ask them for advice, be very personable. You would be surprised what kind of results "making friends" does. Maybe you'll end up paying the $250 per person, or maybe less, but don't risk getting stuck out of the country without a ticket home.

[ocngypz]

Your fare code must allow for standby travel.

Standby travel is only good for the day of departure listed on your ticket.

Standby rules are listed on NWA's website.