United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Same Day standby availabilty probability

Hi,

I have a flight tomorrow from Houston,TX - Midland ,TX : IAH-MAF at 6.47pm tomorrow. I want to fly on an earlier flight and I called United if there were any confirmed same day change flights available for the fee of $75. The cust service rep said that there were no flights available in the same fare class that I booked .

And he also said that the two morning flights were sold out . And the 2.00 pm flight has less than 5 seats. United never has seats in the same fare class for same day confirmed changes. And this is not the first time I am experiencing this.

If I decide to fly standby at the airport - what are my chances ? Generally how sold out their flights are ? And what are the chances of any of the seats opening up. How soon do I check tomorrow for the morning flights ?

Hi,

I have a flight tomorrow from Houston,TX - Midland ,TX : IAH-MAF at 6.47pm tomorrow. I want to fly on an earlier flight and I called United if there were any confirmed same day change flights available for the fee of $75. The cust service rep said that there were no flights available in the same fare class that I booked .

And he also said that the two morning flights were sold out . And the 2.00 pm flight has less than 5 seats. United never has seats in the same fare class for same day confirmed changes. And this is not the first time I am experiencing this.

If I decide to fly standby at the airport - what are my chances ? Generally how sold out their flights are ? And what are the chances of any of the seats opening up. How soon do I check tomorrow for the morning flights ?

Umm, UA has a lot of seats/offers for SDC. Especially within 3 hours of the flight.

In your specific case, the 7:33 am is Y1/B1, as is the 2:17 pm. The 4:47 is up to R1 though.

One never knows...

Umm, UA has a lot of seats/offers for SDC. Especially within 3 hours of the flight.

In your specific case, the 7:33 am is Y1/B1, as is the 2:17 pm. The 4:47 is up to R1 though.

One never knows...

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I am not familiar with the terminology. Can you please let me know what the SDC , Y1,B1,R1 terms mean. As per my ticket - My fare class is K [ available cabins Y3, YN3, B3, XN1 ]

So, is there a good chance that the flight at 7.33am will be open ? Also, any idea about the 11.40 am flight or the 2.17pm flight ? Thanks.

Y3, YN3, B3 normally means that the flight is at best full and very likely oversold. They are willing to sell up to 3 additional high-fare seats, but that's not an indication of free seats - just an indication that they are willing to oversell it a bit more and VDB/IBD people if needed (with a fare of $434, they still come out in front!)

It used to be that "M" was the fare class you needed for SDC, which was basically an indication that the flight wasn't oversold, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.

Y3, YN3, B3 normally means that the flight is at best full and very likely oversold. They are willing to sell up to 3 additional high-fare seats, but that's not an indication of free seats - just an indication that they are willing to oversell it a bit more and VDB/IBD people if needed (with a fare of $434, they still come out in front!)

It used to be that "M" was the fare class you needed for SDC, which was basically an indication that the flight wasn't oversold, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.

If you're at the gate, you'll be on the plane as long as there is any seat open.

It used to be that "M" was the fare class you needed for SDC, which was basically an indication that the flight wasn't oversold, but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
I thought it was H on UA historically??
If you're at the gate, you'll be on the plane as long as there is any seat open.
Correct.

If you're at the gate, you'll be on the plane as long as there is any seat open.

thats assuming no one is ahead of them on the SBY list

I am *gold.
My experience with confirmed same day standby, that is within 24 hrs of my originally booked flight, has been really good if the seat maps show availability, and I go to the UA club lounge and ask the rep there to make my confirmed flight change. The UA club lounge rep was able to make confirmed changes for availabilities to me that the kiosk never showed me. That UA club card has come in mighty handy.
I last did this on a United Express flight from LAS-SFO on Monday June 18. I went into the LAS UA Club lounge on Sunday June 17 to get the confirmed standby.

I am *gold.
My experience with confirmed same day standby, that is within 24 hrs of my originally booked flight, has been really good if the seat maps show availability, and I go to the UA club lounge and ask the rep there to make my confirmed flight change. The UA club lounge rep was able to make confirmed changes for availabilities to me that the kiosk never showed me. That UA club card has come in mighty handy.
I last did this on a United Express flight from LAS-SFO on Monday June 18. I went into the LAS UA Club lounge on Sunday June 17 to get the confirmed standby.

The Agents at LAS UA Club are a very nice group of people. They are always there to assist..

I thought it was H on UA historically??
Correct. Rules used to be H (or original bucket I think) greater than zero and cabin booked to at most capacity minus one (i.e., couldn't SDC into last seat).

Hi,

A follow up to my query. I arrived at the airport early and was standby for the 2.10pm flight and I made it !!:)

The earlier 11.30 am also had a few standby's get in . So , I could have gotten that also probably. But was happy leaving at 2.10pm instead of 6.47pm !

Thanks UA !

Is the confirmed standby still free for 1Ks?

Is the confirmed standby still free for 1Ks?

Yes, subject to the other conditions regarding flight times and inventory being met.

And if it is confirmed it really is SDC, not standby.