What is B6's Standby Policy?
#2
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: SPG, AA, BA, CO, UA, US, B6, DL, Amex MR, HH
Posts: 1,009
Here's a link from the B6 website that explains it all - whatever situation you might be in : Standby Travel
#3
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Posts: 21,624
Two years ago standby was free, and because B6 does not overbook your standby chances were excellent. I saved over $100 once by booking the red-eye and flying in the morning instead.
JetBlue wised up and closed this loophole at least partially. Good for them. The current policy still allows you to book the cheapest flight of the day and fly when you want for $25 more, although you'll certainly get a middle seat.
JetBlue wised up and closed this loophole at least partially. Good for them. The current policy still allows you to book the cheapest flight of the day and fly when you want for $25 more, although you'll certainly get a middle seat.
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 244
Standby is still free for the flight immediately preceding your booked flight, but for $25, the peace of mind of a confirmed seat before driving out to the airport is sometimes nice.
Two years ago standby was free, and because B6 does not overbook your standby chances were excellent. I saved over $100 once by booking the red-eye and flying in the morning instead.
JetBlue wised up and closed this loophole at least partially. Good for them. The current policy still allows you to book the cheapest flight of the day and fly when you want for $25 more, although you'll certainly get a middle seat.
JetBlue wised up and closed this loophole at least partially. Good for them. The current policy still allows you to book the cheapest flight of the day and fly when you want for $25 more, although you'll certainly get a middle seat.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,297
So I can only standby for the flight thats earilier than my original departure??
I am flying LGB to OAK on sat afternoon (4pm flight) but there are flights available at 8, 11 and 1pm. I would like to take the eariliest flight to OAK so I can have bit more time there and I notice the flight still quite empty. Is it possible for me to standby for free without paying any penality?? please advice!!!!!!!
I am flying LGB to OAK on sat afternoon (4pm flight) but there are flights available at 8, 11 and 1pm. I would like to take the eariliest flight to OAK so I can have bit more time there and I notice the flight still quite empty. Is it possible for me to standby for free without paying any penality?? please advice!!!!!!!
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
No, you can only standby for the flight prior -- although you could do the $25 confirmed change for an even-earlier same-day flight (as somedude says). You also must call in to be placed on the standby list, and last time I did that I got dinged with a $5 fee.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Long Island
Programs: SkyMiles, Dividend Miles, True Blue, Membership Rewards
Posts: 126
The other day I was on a DL flight ATL to LGA, not knowing how long it would take me to get there I wound up at ATL 2:45 before my flight. As I was checking in my bag I saw that there was a flight leaving in 50 minutes. I asked if I could get on it. They took the boarding pass I printed at the hotel, gave me a new one for the earlier flight and off I went. Nice and easy. Now, had JB had the same flight I would have either had to wait or pay. Although, I should have had to pay on DL with no fuss or request by me they didn't charge. And yes if they flew to ATL they would have been in the running.
Once again, IMHO it is the difference between a legacy carrier and the new players.
Now, before everybody bashes me. I do fly and like JB. I will be taking them to LV the end of July and again in November and that is just what I know so far.
Service in the air is top notch. On the ground, is fair at best where a lot of other carriers look the other way for slightly overweight luggage, flight changes, late arrivals to the airport and other issues. I have found JB to be lacking.
-Dave
Once again, IMHO it is the difference between a legacy carrier and the new players.
Now, before everybody bashes me. I do fly and like JB. I will be taking them to LV the end of July and again in November and that is just what I know so far.
Service in the air is top notch. On the ground, is fair at best where a lot of other carriers look the other way for slightly overweight luggage, flight changes, late arrivals to the airport and other issues. I have found JB to be lacking.
-Dave
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Credit Cards
Posts: 3,009
funny observation from the other night in Boston.
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: jetBlue TrueBlue, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 2,164
funny observation from the other night in Boston.
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
#12
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Lifetime Titanium), HH Gold, AA Exec Platinum, Avis Presidents
Posts: 45
Another thing to note on Jetblue's standby policy...while it is true that you can fly standy on the flight prior for free, it does NOT necessarily mean you will get the same nonstop flight and city pairs.
For example, I recently had a nonstop LGB to JFK flight. I wanted to get on the earlier nonstop flight, but was told that the flight directly before mine actually was considered to be LGB to AUS to JFK, which actually got me into JFK AFTER my original flight would have been. The only difference was that it took off from LGB (with a layover) before my original nonstop flight.
Needless to say I wasn't very happy about this policy, and the customer service agent wouldn't budge. Has anyone else had this happen to them? It seemed like a silly policy to me, so I wasn't sure if this was actually true.
For example, I recently had a nonstop LGB to JFK flight. I wanted to get on the earlier nonstop flight, but was told that the flight directly before mine actually was considered to be LGB to AUS to JFK, which actually got me into JFK AFTER my original flight would have been. The only difference was that it took off from LGB (with a layover) before my original nonstop flight.
Needless to say I wasn't very happy about this policy, and the customer service agent wouldn't budge. Has anyone else had this happen to them? It seemed like a silly policy to me, so I wasn't sure if this was actually true.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: Amtrak Select Plus, Marriott Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,123
funny observation from the other night in Boston.
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
I checked before heading to Logan to see if there were seats on the flight, and there were.
The line was extra long at the counter so I asked one of the employees if I can go on standby at the gate, and they advised "sure!"
So I breezed through security, went up to the gate and was told that there were too many people on standby already ahead of me, and no seats were available.
Oh well... unfortunately my flight boarded on time but immediately the captain announced that we will be pushing back an hour and fifteen minutes late because of the weather in NY.... kinda made me wish I made that standby flight.
--Russ
#14
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Programs: Credit Cards
Posts: 3,009
JetBlue doesn't oversell so if you get a rate for your party of 8, chances are there's at least 8 seats available, I dunno thats what I did.
--Russ
PS. you could actually go further than that, you could choose seats just before submitting payment so you can clearly see all the seats available... once thats done, do not proceed with the booking.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232