US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-2005 America West merger) - Award travel standby

First timer here, but I combed through the archives all day today and didn't see a thread specifically addressing my question, so here goes:

I'm using a 50k mile award ticket to travel to europe next month. Getting there is fine, getting back is the problem.

I've put a seat on hold that returns from Amsterdam to Charlotte on August 24, thinking I can fly standby. My desired return date is August 8, but there was nothing available until the 24th.

The fare rules are pasted below. I have the following questions:

1) Can I fly standby on the 8th instead of the 24th, with no penalty?

2) Does there have to be an Award seat available for me to get on a flight on the 8th, or can they put me in any available seat?

3) Are people on the standby list assigned seats in the order that they're on the list?

4) When does the standby list open? In other words, what is the absolute earliest time I can add my name so as to get as close to the top of the list as possible? (Assuming USAir gives standby preference to Gold members and the like, I want to be first on the list among my peers who aren't of any preferred status.)

5) I have a BofA signature card. Does that help me at all with standby?

Thank you very much in advance for any help anyone can lend. This is a great forum and I'll definitely be hangin around a lot in the future.


***************FARE RULES**************
BK CODE
X -

PENALTY
CHANGES CHANGES PERMITTED. NOTE - FLIGHT DATE CHANGES INCLUDING CONNECTIONS ARE FREE. ROUTING CHANGE WITHIN SAME AWARD CODE PERMITTED FOR USD 50.00. REDEPOSIT FEES MAY APPLY BASED ON TIER STATUS AT TIME OF REDEPOSIT. TAXES ARE REFUNDABLE

RES/TKTG
SGMTS USING THIS RULE MUST BE CONFIRMED.

MAX STAY
RETURN TRVL MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12 MONTHS. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM ORIGIN TO DPTR FROM LAST STOPOVER POINT.

SEASONS
1MAY-30SEP. SAME DATES APPLY EACH YEAR. SEASON IS BASED ON TRIP DATE RATHER THAN DATE OF ORIGIN.

BLACKOUTS
TRAVEL IS NOT VALID 18JUN05, 25JUN05, 2JUL05, 9JUL05, 16JUL05, 23JUL05, 30JUL05, 6AUG05, 13AUG05, 20AUG05, 27AUG05, 3SEP05, 10SEP05, 17SEP05, 24SEP05, 4JUN06, 11JUN06, 18JUN06, 25JUN06, 2JUL06, 9JUL06, 16JUL06, 23JUL06, 30JUL06, 6AUG06, 13AUG06, 20AUG06, 27AUG06, 3SEP06, 10SEP06, 17SEP06 OR 24SEP06.

EFF/EXP
TICKET MAY BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 26MAR03 AND MUST BE ISSUED BY 15MAR10. 26MAR03 IS THE FIRST DATE THAT TRAVEL MAY COMMENCE. ALL TRAVEL AT THIS FARE MUST BE COMPLETED BY 15MAR10. BASED ON TRIP DATE RATHER THAN DATE OF ORIGIN.

FLT APPL
NO FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.

STOPOVERS
A FREE STOPOVER IS PERMITTED. A STOPOVER OCCURS WHEN THE PASSENGER DOES NOT DEPART AN INTERMEDIATE POINT WITHIN 24 HOURS. *** NOTE - GENERAL RULE DOES NOT APPLY 1 FREE STOPOVER PERMITTED. NO STOPOVER OCCURS IF PASSENGER TAKES NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT WITHIN 24 HOURS. NOTE - ENROUTE STOPOVERS CANNOT BE BOOKED AT USAIRWAYS. COM. ONE FREE ENROUTE STOPOVER IS PERMITTED BETWEEN ORIGIN AND DESTINATION PROVIDED THE DESIRED ENROUTE STOPOVER OCCURS AT A CONNECTING HUB OR GATEWAY CITY OF THE OPERATING CARRIER AND THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE TRANSFER POINTS IN EACH DIRECTION ARE NOT EXCEEDED.

TICKET RESTRICTIONS
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED: ON THE PLATE OF US TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED: BY 8WI4/N819/R497/USU /N8H9 NO SEGMENT OF TICKET MAY BE ON ANY OTHER CARRIER EXCEPT US OR TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED: BY US TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED: BY CRC/UWT/HDQ NO SEGMENT OF TICKET MAY BE ON ANY OTHER CARRIER EXCEPT US

DISCOUNTS
*** NO DISCOUNT OTHER THAN THE NEGOTIATED DISCOUNT IS PERMITTED.

TRANSFERS
APPLY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TRANSFER PROVISIONS -----------------PROVISION 1----------------------------- 8 TRANSFERS PERMITTED, 4 IN EACH DIRECTION. NOTE: ALSO APPLIES TO US AIRWAYS EXPRESS. -----------------PROVISION 2----------------------------- UNLIMITED TRANSFERS AS PERMITTED ON THE ROUTING/MPM.

COMBINATIONS
TRAVEL ON OFFPEAK AWARDS MUST OCCUR WHOLLY WITHIN THE SPECIFIED SEASON. TRAVEL ON ANY PEAK DAY WILL RESULT IN THE ENTIRE JOURNEY BEING ASSESSED AT THE APPLICABLE PEAK AWARD. SINGLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED. WHEN SINGLE OPEN JAW IS BOOKED, NO ENROUTE STOPOVER IS PERMITTED. CIRCLE TRIP-SEE ENROUTE STOPOVER.

CO-TERMINALS
-THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF CITIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THE SAME POINT EWR - HPN - NYC - ISP, LAX - ONT - SNA, BED - BOS, BWI - WAS, FLL - MIA, GSO - INT, ORF - PHF, SFO - SJC, UCA - SYR.

INTL CONST
MAY BE COMBINED WITH APPLICABLE ARBITRARIES.

FARE BY RULE
IF TRAVEL IS VIA ANY US FLIGHT OPERATED BY US/ ANY US FLIGHT OPERATED BY DI/ ANY US FLIGHT OPERATED BY VF THEN THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS APPLY ELIGIBILITY- FARE- FARE HAS BEEN CALCULATED AS 00 PERCENT OF AMS-CLT ONEWAY YPVT FARE. PARTICIPATING CARRIERS - NO CARRIER RESTRICTIONS. SUBJECT TO TRANSFER/ROUTING PROVISIONS.

MISC

NOTE - ONE WAY TRAVEL IS PERMITTED AND IS ASSESSED AT THE ROUND TRIP MILEAGE LEVEL.

Yes. That is one of the best features of US Awards. Even "X" is allowed to stand-by. You may only stand-by for the destination of booking. Any changes to the routing will incur a fee per the rules. Also note that the Saver Award does not allow travel on August 6, 13, 20, and 27. If you are a Preferred Member these dates do not apply. As for getting on the list. You can only get on the list at the airport on the day of departure; however, I would call US the day before or use ITN to see how many seats are still for sale. All you need is one empty seat and it can be yours (do not need "X" inventory, but it will not be confirmable until day of departure. As for the order of the list -- I don't know if Sig Visa gets you anywhere. The standby is prioritized by and I'm sure someone out there will correct me if I'm wrong:
1. Must fly crew (FA's or Pilots that need to be on the flight)
2. Misconnects/Reroutes
3. Preferred Members in order (CP, GP, SP)
4. Perhaps Sig Visa
5. General Dividend Miles Members
6. Any other revenue passengers
7. Non-Revs

Hope that helps. I would also keep checking with US to see if "X" inventory opens for your preferred date as it gets closer.

Thanks for the help!

Another question: There are 3 flights that day that I can try for. If I check my bags with the first one, go to the gate, and don't get on, will my bags go to Charlotte without me? If so, will they just be held at the airport until I get there? I'm thinking worst-case scenario, I might have to stay overnight in Amsterdam. Should I pack the essentials in a carry-on that I can keep with me?

It's probably a dumb question, but I'm trying to plan for the worst and just want to be certain.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the help!

Another question: There are 3 flights that day that I can try for. If I check my bags with the first one, go to the gate, and don't get on, will my bags go to Charlotte without me? If so, will they just be held at the airport until I get there? I'm thinking worst-case scenario, I might have to stay overnight in Amsterdam. Should I pack the essentials in a carry-on that I can keep with me?

It's probably a dumb question, but I'm trying to plan for the worst and just want to be certain.

Thanks again.

Forgive my earlier rudeness -- Welcome to FT.

Luggage is a serious problem with international travel. Positive bag match requires that only bags of passengers onboard the aircraft go. If someone checks in and then doesn't board an international flight the airline is required to search through the luggage and remove it from the flight. US probably won't accept your bag for checking unless you are going to make it on the flight. That said any FTer here will give you the same advice..... if at all possible bring all of your stuff in a carry-on bag and don't check luggage.

If they check it and I don't get on for some reason, and the bag is pulled off the plane, what happens to it?

Packing everything into a carry-on will be a stretch - I'm going for almost 3 weeks. But let's say I manage to squeeze it all into something just small enough for the x-ray scanners. I can check it at the gate, like I do on my domestic flights, correct?

If they check it and I don't get on for some reason, and the bag is pulled off the plane, what happens to it?

Packing everything into a carry-on will be a stretch - I'm going for almost 3 weeks. But let's say I manage to squeeze it all into something just small enough for the x-ray scanners. I can check it at the gate, like I do on my domestic flights, correct?

In theory, your bags will be tagged with a standby sticker attached and would not be loaded until you clear. I've had that happen before while standing by as a volunteer and the bags did arrive at my destination with me (gasp!).

4) When does the standby list open? In other words, what is the absolute earliest time I can add my name so as to get as close to the top of the list as possible? (Assuming USAir gives standby preference to Gold members and the like, I want to be first on the list among my peers who aren't of any preferred status.)

Standby list opens when the flight opens for check in. In AMS that is 9:40am. However, be cautious of your intentions. US only operates one flight daily to/from AMS (the 12:00 noon flight to PHL). The other two are codeshares on UA, and I'm 90% sure that you wouldn't be able to standby for them.

The other two are codeshares on UA, and I'm 90% sure that you wouldn't be able to standby for them.

Uh-oh. Can someone confirm this?

Confirming, there is only ONE US-operated flight a day. On a related note, do you know who operates the flight you are booked on on the 24th? In other words, are you connecting through PHL, IAD, or ORD?



Uh-oh. Can someone confirm this?

Yes. That is one of the best features of US Awards. Even "X" is allowed to stand-by. You may only stand-by for the destination of booking. Any changes to the routing will incur a fee per the rules. Also note that the Saver Award does not allow travel on August 6, 13, 20, and 27. If you are a Preferred Member these dates do not apply. As for getting on the list. You can only get on the list at the airport on the day of departure; however, I would call US the day before or use ITN to see how many seats are still for sale. All you need is one empty seat and it can be yours (do not need "X" inventory, but it will not be confirmable until day of departure. As for the order of the list -- I don't know if Sig Visa gets you anywhere. The standby is prioritized by and I'm sure someone out there will correct me if I'm wrong:
1. Must fly crew (FA's or Pilots that need to be on the flight)
2. Misconnects/Reroutes
3. Preferred Members in order (CP, GP, SP)
4. Perhaps Sig Visa
5. General Dividend Miles Members
6. Any other revenue passengers
7. Non-Revs

Hope that helps. I would also keep checking with US to see if "X" inventory opens for your preferred date as it gets closer.


When standing by on an Envoy award (80K), who has priority, upgrading or award passengers?

European reservation agents seem to have no clue.

I'm going to copy/paste from a response that I got from USaviation from a Gate Agent on how upgrades/standbys/everything else clears. According to this, upgrades clear first, then standbys clear.

Agents are supposed to work the PALL list (also known as the Priority List) from top to bottom.

If you are holding a "Y" (or other economy class ticket) which has been upgraded to First Class and choose to standby for an earlier flight, then you are on the priority list as an "SB" for a Y class seat (ticketed cabin) and not a "UP" (upgrade to f/c).

The priority list looks something like this (and in this order, bear in mind there are more classifications):

FLIGHT 637 PHL-BWI
G*L637/PALL

MR USCREWA 9A
MR USCREWB 9B
MR USCREWC 9C
OS1 HAWKINS
OS4 LEE
OS4 CHAN
V1 SMITH 6A
UP1 PINEYBOB 17C
UP3 HOWARDS 19D
UP3 JOHNSON 14E
SB2 HHAROTZ
SB4 CALDWELL
SB4 HOWARDMAN
SB4 COWANS
S3 LIGHTYEARS
S7 COHEN
S7 DOBBS

MR= Mustride crew...we will InvolDB pax to accomodate such crewmembers.

OS1/2/3/4= Customers on an oversold flight without seat assignment. OS1=US1,OS2=US2,OS3=US3,OS4=all nonstatus

V= Volunteers. Can be a V1 or V2 or V3 based on the volunteers 'expense to US for reaccomodation. V1 is least expensive, V3 most expensive. Determined V1/2/3 at gate agents discretion. Not correlated to status

UP= Pax waiting for upgrades. UP1/2/3/4 based on status. Place on list within dividend miles status is determined by checkin time, not time palced on the list. Based on this list, Pineybob is first on the list for an u/g because he is a US1. Howards and Johnson are number 2 and three on the list as US3s. Howards would get the upgrade before Johnson because he checked in first.

SB= Revenue Standby pax, based on status (SB1=US1, SB2=US2, SB3=US3, SB4=everyone else).

S= Non-revenue standby...S1/S2/S3/S4/S5/S6/S7/S8/S9 based on various criteria.


According to this list (working the list from top to bottom), if FC has 2 open seats, Pineybob (a US1) and Howards (a US3) would get the FC seats because they are confirmed on the flight. HHarotz would get a coach seat (even though he is a US2 because he is further down on the list and was not originally confirmed on the flight). If a third FC seat opened up at last minute, it would then go to Johnson because he has higer standing on the priority list. If (by chance) a 4th FC seat would open up at last minute, then HHarotz could get the seat ony if there is no one else higher than him on the priority list eligible for the upgrade (in which case there isn't)...but this would be done only after he has recieved a coach seat assignment for the flight first.