Alitalia MilleMiglia - International Standby

I called Alitalia and asked about their policy regarding going standby on an earlier international flight. They replied that it's at the discretion of those at the airport. (Even if there's availability there's no guarantee that they'll put you on the flight)

Any experiences going standby on an international flight with Alitalia? Please also include if you had any form of SkyTeam status.

what do you mean by "going standbye"? there are so many ways to go standbye..... ;)

Really, has no one tried to go standby for an earlier (same day) Alitalia flight?

They replied that it's at the discretion of those at the airport. (Even if there's availability there's no guarantee that they'll put you on the flight)

well it's not really at the discreption of those in the airport there some fact u need to consider if you wanna try to go sby on a previous flight. One of there is whether you sent any luggage if you're transit :in that case sby on previous flight is not allowed. second it depends on the availability of the flight consider that if the flight is overbooked priority goes to those booked on that flight but that for overbooking reason went sby. Third you need to consider your fare. Most of those fares don't allow you to get an earlier flight unless you pay a penalty starting from 50 euros, and some fares don't even allow you to change unless you buy a brand new tkt. Full fare and c fares usually allows you to do that.
Moreover your skyteam staus ,even if you're plus won't help you , as what i wrote before are the basic conditions to get you on an earlier flight.
Sometimes but it happens very rarely there is some deregulamentation for some reason and fares and not even considerated but as i told you some extraordinary factor has to come up in order to do that.

things don't happen at the discreption of someone....there are rules to follow even if you think alitalia is messed up :) hope i made it clear for you
bye bye

there are rules to follow

Thanks for the reply.

I thought there'd be rules, but it seems the Alitalia rep isn't aware of them. She as very certain that it only depended upon:

(a) The plane is not full and has open seats (of course) [Not checking bags and being present at the airport/departure gate are also basic requirements]
(b) The agent deciding to allow you on the earlier flight

Without (a), then (b) is irrelevant. But even with (a) she said there is no guarantee that the gate agent would put you on the flight [unless you pay a change fee and difference in fare].

If fare class matters, then I'll have to call back and find a rep that evidently knows that rule.

well what i can tell you is that it is my job and i do it everyday...checking people in boarding flights rebook pax on other flights...i do it at fco airport for az...i don't want to underestimate my colleague's job or contradict her-him but i do it physically..and i can assure you there is not discreption rule applicable..at all...

I assume the OP is based in the US?

Allowing standby travel for an earlier flight seems to be normal practice in the US. In Europe (ie on European airlines) it is not, and it depends on the fare class. If your ticket is non-exchangeable, then you can't exchange it, even at the airport, and even if the flight before yours is empty. (The argument is that otherwise, no-one would pay the extra for a flexible ticket.)

In practice, you might be lucky if the flight on which you are booked is full/overbooked, and the earlier flight has plenty of space, which means that by moving you, they are clearly benefiting someone waitlisted on the flight you are booked on.

But otherwise, they are effectively giving you a benefit for which you haven't paid. It would be like giving discretionary lounge access if your ticket doesn't entitle you to it.

I assume the OP is based in the US?.

Yes, US based.

In Europe (ie on European airlines) it is not, and it depends on the fare class. If your ticket is non-exchangeable, then you can't exchange it, even at the airport, and even if the flight before yours is empty. (The argument is that otherwise, no-one would pay the extra for a flexible ticket.)

Thanks, this is helpful.

The main argument for allowing standby is that that an empty seat on a departing flight is an expiring good - so if an airline has the availability to utilize it now and free up a seat on the later flight - even if it's the seat on the later flight is not immediately needed - the airline is better off to do so (as it's a free option for the airline). Many of us have seen weather or mechanical issues that makes empty flights suddenly book up. Secondarily, (wayyyyy down in the list) is that it's a positive customer service experience.

The counter argument in the US is that if standby is allowed customers will buy the cheapest flight after their desired departure time, then go standby for the earlier flight(s). Although this is possible, there are no guarantees that the passenger will get on the earlier flight and may end up spending HOURS in the airport waiting for their booked flight. Hence why this argument doesn't hold a lot of water and it's clearly not practical for business travelers, groups or anyone connecting - especially with high load factors due to reduction in fleets.

Yes, US based.



Thanks, this is helpful.

The main argument for allowing standby is that that an empty seat on a departing flight is an expiring good - so if an airline has the availability to utilize it now and free up a seat on the later flight - even if it's the seat on the later flight is not immediately needed - the airline is better off to do so (as it's a free option for the airline). Many of us have seen weather or mechanical issues that makes empty flights suddenly book up. Secondarily, (wayyyyy down in the list) is that it's a positive customer service experience.

The counter argument in the US is that if standby is allowed customers will buy the cheapest flight after their desired departure time, then go standby for the earlier flight(s). Although this is possible, there are no guarantees that the passenger will get on the earlier flight and may end up spending HOURS in the airport waiting for their booked flight. Hence why this argument doesn't hold a lot of water and it's clearly not practical for business travelers, groups or anyone connecting - especially with high load factors due to reduction in fleets.

Yes, we have exactly the same discussion in Europe, and most airlines take the counter-argument view, particularly as on many routes the flights are rarely full. Some (I think Easyjet) operate more of a US-type policy, so it will be interesting to see if things change, particularly in these straitened times.

The counter argument in the US is that if standby is allowed customers will buy the cheapest flight after their desired departure time, then go standby for the earlier flight(s). Although this is possible, there are no guarantees that the passenger will get on the earlier flight and may end up spending HOURS in the airport waiting for their booked flight.

There are no such guarantees with a flexible ticket, either!! A flexible fare doesn't mean that you can get on a full flight! So, you pay a lot of money to be able to change, and still run the risk of having to wait for hours...

It's a no-brainer for the airline!