People who have flown stand-by come here please!!!

crash2729

I usually don't post here but I'm a reg on TK and I just think y'all will know more!

Friday I was planning on flying to Chicago for the weekend to spend it with FI who is there for work. Well this trip is turning out to be full of poor planning. Turns out his hotel shuttle only runs from 9-9. My flight doesn't even leave DFW until 9:50pm. According to the hotel the cheapest taxi we can get is 28.00 flat rate to the airport and back.
So I'm trying to decide if I should try to change my flight to an earlier time and pay the change fee or if I should chance flying stand-by. I've never flown stand-by before so I don't know how it works.

 Help please? 

TexanTreasure08

I would just pay for the taxi. The change fee is going to be way more than that, and I would much rather pay extra than get stuck stranded somewhere. I'm sure the girls that have flown stand by will have better info, I just always hear bad stories about it.

Tiffany618

Hey, I'm not sure what airline you are flying....but on American Airlines it actually costs $50 to standby on an earlier flight now.   You used to be able to just get on an earlier flight if space is available, but no more apparently.

You may want to check with your individual airline on their policy before you decide, but if you are flying American I would definitely just take the cab. 

crash2729

Tiffany618:

Hey, I'm not sure what airline you are flying....but on American Airlines it actually costs $50 to standby on an earlier flight now.   You used to be able to just get on an earlier flight if space is available, but no more apparently.

You may want to check with your individual airline on their policy before you decide, but if you are flying American I would definitely just take the cab. 

 I'm taking US Airways. I looked up their policies last night and to just change is $150(no!). But to do a same day move-up is $50 and stand-by is free. So I figure if it's free it couldn't hurt. I looked up the 4:00 flight and It only has one seat, but the 5:50 plane has 7 open. So..I may just try to stand-by for the 5:50.

danac2010

If you are going to try and get on the 5:50 flight I would suggest getting there in time for the 4 flight.  Normally when you fly stand-by it's a waiting list.  If there are more than 7 people trying to get on the 4 flight and they are on the list ahead of you you might not get on the 5:50 flight either.  Also I would suggest not checking any baggage and only taking a carry on.  Flying stand-by is great at times but we have had our fair share of bad luck also.  Good luck!

bsn1752

In my experience and my personal opinon... if there's only 1 seat, I wouldn't even bother.  The chance of getting that one seat is not so great.

crash2729

bsn1752:

In my experience and my personal opinon... if there's only 1 seat, I wouldn't even bother.  The chance of getting that one seat is not so great.

I'm not really counting on the one seat, I'd really like to get on the 5:00..but we shall see. If all else fails at least I still have a ticket to go tomorrow!