Have I gone too far, am i abusing the flat tire rule?
Nov 3, 2009, 3:02 am
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ/HKG
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Have I gone too far, am i abusing the flat tire rule?
I'm booked on 6:39am BOS-LAX flight continuing on to SIN on Nov 12, But I just found out I have to be in another city until 8pm the night before, and the earliest flight won't get me in until 8:30 am.
I know the right thing to do would be to change the ticket, but i'm very flexible with my arrival time in SIN, and don't mind standing by at all. Would it be possible to OLCI and then show up at the gate 2 hours late looking to standby.
The change fee + fare difference is simply too much to bare, and my only other option would be to drive 10 hours through the night.
Do you guys think this would be crossing the line, and abusing system, has anyone else pulled a stunt like this before?
I know the right thing to do would be to change the ticket, but i'm very flexible with my arrival time in SIN, and don't mind standing by at all. Would it be possible to OLCI and then show up at the gate 2 hours late looking to standby.
The change fee + fare difference is simply too much to bare, and my only other option would be to drive 10 hours through the night.
Do you guys think this would be crossing the line, and abusing system, has anyone else pulled a stunt like this before?
Last edited by spkg; Nov 3, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Nov 3, 2009, 4:41 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
I've done it on WN within CA, not on UA and not internationally.
It should be possible, just make sure you show up WITHIN 2 hours. Another option is to call 1K desk and ask them to reconfirm you on a later flight 3 hrs (or is it 4 hrs?) before the flight. Not sure if this'll work with an int'l itinerary.
It should be possible, just make sure you show up WITHIN 2 hours. Another option is to call 1K desk and ask them to reconfirm you on a later flight 3 hrs (or is it 4 hrs?) before the flight. Not sure if this'll work with an int'l itinerary.
Nov 3, 2009, 4:44 am
#3
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I've done it on WN within CA, not on UA and not internationally.
It should be possible, just make sure you show up WITHIN 2 hours. Another option is to call 1K desk and ask them to reconfirm you on a later flight 3 hrs (or is it 4 hrs?) before the flight. Not sure if this'll work with an int'l itinerary.
It should be possible, just make sure you show up WITHIN 2 hours. Another option is to call 1K desk and ask them to reconfirm you on a later flight 3 hrs (or is it 4 hrs?) before the flight. Not sure if this'll work with an int'l itinerary.
Nov 3, 2009, 4:58 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE, BA silver
Posts: 2,906
I don't really understand your situation, but standby on international flights is not permitted.
On domestic flights you can standby for any flight on the same day (same routing or switching to nonstop). If you are ticketed for the first flight of the day you can standby for the last one (obviously risky, but perfectly allowed), and the other way around.
Edit: I think I understand now. If taking the later flight out of BOS makes you lose the connection to SIN (there are no nonstop flights to SIN, I guess you're going via NRT), then you're definitely not allowed to standby for a later flight. (Some agents might do it for you but don't count on it.)
On domestic flights you can standby for any flight on the same day (same routing or switching to nonstop). If you are ticketed for the first flight of the day you can standby for the last one (obviously risky, but perfectly allowed), and the other way around.
Edit: I think I understand now. If taking the later flight out of BOS makes you lose the connection to SIN (there are no nonstop flights to SIN, I guess you're going via NRT), then you're definitely not allowed to standby for a later flight. (Some agents might do it for you but don't count on it.)
Nov 3, 2009, 5:24 am
#5
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Edit: I think I understand now. If taking the later flight out of BOS makes you lose the connection to SIN (there are no nonstop flights to SIN, I guess you're going via NRT), then you're definitely not allowed to standby for a later flight. (Some agents might do it for you but don't count on it.)
Nov 3, 2009, 5:40 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: UA AA MR HH B6
Posts: 1,419
what city are you going to be in? can you fly to LAX from there? or perhaps take the train? there are some trains deep into the night on Amtrak. or bus. driving 10 hrs overnight would be real rough!
Nov 3, 2009, 5:50 am
#7
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As for flying to LAX, i don't think UA will let me fly after i skip the first segment.
Nov 3, 2009, 6:03 am
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ATL
Posts: 516
I need to be in YXU the night before, no direct flights, and flights from nearby cities won't get me there in time. and since driving would just get me there in time, i don't think bus or train will be an option.
As for flying to LAX, i don't think UA will let me fly after i skip the first segment.
As for flying to LAX, i don't think UA will let me fly after i skip the first segment.
Nov 3, 2009, 6:08 am
#9
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maybe the fare difference would have been in your favor in that case, or else this would defiantly something that could be taken advantage of my people living in hub cities.
Nov 3, 2009, 6:16 am
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: ATL
Posts: 516
That's definitely possible, but I explained my situation and after a long talk with a supervisor the phone agent came back and said it would be $150 though she had tried to get it all taken care of.
Nov 3, 2009, 6:22 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: UA AA MR HH B6
Posts: 1,419
man, that's a rough drive to make in 10 hours. Frankly you might not even make it there on time! Is there anything you can do? I see flights out of Buffalo to BOS about 9:30, Detroit to BOS 9:55 ish. Or do a re-route and see if you can fly out of Cleveland in the morning to connect with your new *A partner Continental to Lax (CO 735 at 8:45 AM?) . Good luck in any case
Last edited by closetasfan; Nov 3, 2009 at 6:27 am
Nov 3, 2009, 6:27 am
#12
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man, that's a rough drive to make in 10 hours. Frankly you might not even make it there on time! Is there anything you can do? I see flights out of Buffalo to BOS about 9:30, Detroit to BOS 9:55 ish. Or do a re-route and see if you can fly out of Cleveland in the morning to connect with your new *A partner Continental to Lax (CO 735 at 8:45 AM?) . Good luck in any case
.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 3, 2009 at 6:35 am Reason: merge
Nov 3, 2009, 6:51 am
#13
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Driving 10 hrs alone, in the wee hours of the morning is easier said than done.
You still may have to go with your other option if you fail to make it to the gate on time.
You still may have to go with your other option if you fail to make it to the gate on time.
Nov 3, 2009, 6:57 am
#14
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Nov 3, 2009, 7:04 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Maybe UA would be nice enough to let you begin your trip in Syracuse at 0550 the next morning, connecting to LAX through IAD and arriving at 10:56. Once upon a time UA let me change a flight MRY-SFO-ORD to SJC-ORD, but that was six years ago.