The 'MoveUp' program on US, Standby, Same day confirmed (merged) [master thread]
Feb 16, 2011, 7:39 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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The 'MoveUp' program on US, Standby, Same day confirmed (merged) [master thread]
Hi all,
Today I ran into a situation I'd like some feedback on. I had a flight scheduled for 7:55 AM from MCO to PHL. I got to the airport super early though and was there in time for an earlier flight on the same route that departed at 6:15 AM. This flight had PLENTY of extra room on it according to the Gate Agent. I asked the Gate Agent then since I was there, would it be possible for me to just take the earlier flight. They wanted $50/ticket in order to do this. I asked if there was any way that the fee could be waived since it's the exact same route, there's plenty of space and it would just free up some seats that they could sell on the later flight anyway. They refused to do anything to help me out.
Is this typical? Did I just get a really grumpy gate agent? I feel that sitting around in airport for an extra 2 hours for no reason makes no sense and they should've let me take that earlier flight since there was plenty of space on board. Has anyone else encountered this? I'd appreciate feedback on this and if this is something I should complain to US Airways about.
Thanks everyone!
-Matt
Today I ran into a situation I'd like some feedback on. I had a flight scheduled for 7:55 AM from MCO to PHL. I got to the airport super early though and was there in time for an earlier flight on the same route that departed at 6:15 AM. This flight had PLENTY of extra room on it according to the Gate Agent. I asked the Gate Agent then since I was there, would it be possible for me to just take the earlier flight. They wanted $50/ticket in order to do this. I asked if there was any way that the fee could be waived since it's the exact same route, there's plenty of space and it would just free up some seats that they could sell on the later flight anyway. They refused to do anything to help me out.
Is this typical? Did I just get a really grumpy gate agent? I feel that sitting around in airport for an extra 2 hours for no reason makes no sense and they should've let me take that earlier flight since there was plenty of space on board. Has anyone else encountered this? I'd appreciate feedback on this and if this is something I should complain to US Airways about.
Thanks everyone!
-Matt
Last edited by aztimm; Feb 17, 2011 at 5:41 pm Reason: Chanded thread title
Feb 16, 2011, 7:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
The fee is waived for any preferred members, but yes, those are the rules.
ThemBeTheRulez
I didn't used to be that way, but they changed it a few years back. I can remember in college, (I went to school outside of CLT, flew home to PHL) I'd just book the cheapest flight and show up to the airport whenever I felt like leaving via standby since flights ran roughly hourly.
So, become preferred, don't pay. Until then, pay up. Doesn't make a ton of sense, but it's money that the powers can be can but on a balance sheet to indicate revenue. You can't indicate lost revenue from a potential ticket not sold on a later flight on any spreadsheet that impresses your boss/shareholders.
Sadly.
ThemBeTheRulez
I didn't used to be that way, but they changed it a few years back. I can remember in college, (I went to school outside of CLT, flew home to PHL) I'd just book the cheapest flight and show up to the airport whenever I felt like leaving via standby since flights ran roughly hourly.
So, become preferred, don't pay. Until then, pay up. Doesn't make a ton of sense, but it's money that the powers can be can but on a balance sheet to indicate revenue. You can't indicate lost revenue from a potential ticket not sold on a later flight on any spreadsheet that impresses your boss/shareholders.
Sadly.
Feb 16, 2011, 7:51 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: OKC (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma
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Posts: 514
No, this is standard. The $50 fee is the default for the Move Up program:
(http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/...s/default.html)
People with status get the fee waived, but not general members.
(http://shopping.usairways.com/en-US/...s/default.html)
People with status get the fee waived, but not general members.
Feb 16, 2011, 10:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DCA
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I never understood this rule. From an operations standpoint I would think that they would want to get as many people out earlier as they can. Never know what might foul up the rest of the day and you have seats full that might have been empty due to Move ups.
Feb 16, 2011, 10:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
It's primarily a revenue source except under the current ticket rules changing flights would cost more than the $50 Move-Up fee.
I think the normal charges for changing flights is what - $100 or something like that plus any fare difference. That is partially a revenue source and partially a means of keeping people from buying a lower fare off-peak ticket and changing to a higher fare peak flight. The Move-Up fee is a compromise between getting no extra revenue from people changing flights or making it too expensive for people to change flights.
I think the normal charges for changing flights is what - $100 or something like that plus any fare difference. That is partially a revenue source and partially a means of keeping people from buying a lower fare off-peak ticket and changing to a higher fare peak flight. The Move-Up fee is a compromise between getting no extra revenue from people changing flights or making it too expensive for people to change flights.
Feb 17, 2011, 1:08 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 84
It also protects the fare pricing for later flights. The 11pm flight is usually cheaper and if everyone booked that flight then showed up to the airport early… It would go out empty. It's a great perk for people with status and I love that US Airways still does that!
Feb 17, 2011, 5:55 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
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Posts: 2,868
what are the rules for *G on other star carriers such as CO and UA when you fly with them on codeshare?
Last edited by mrredskin; Feb 17, 2011 at 6:24 am
Feb 17, 2011, 6:23 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 755
It is a great perk to have. Have used in twice in recent memory, once at thanksgiving to get home earlier after an early slot opened up for my son's college interview, and a month or so back when there was a big yellow/red radar blob out in the gulf off of TPA which was going to hit right around departure time - with a 50 minute connection in CLT.
Of course, the second one backfired when my connecting flight's crew got stuck in the conga line at ATL - but at least I was in CLT waiting for them, not sweating out a ground stop for lightning connecting to the last flight of the day.
Agreed on revenue protection, because otherwise lots of people would be gaming the system. It makes sense from an ops standpoint, but could cost them a lot of money if there weren't restrictions
Of course, the second one backfired when my connecting flight's crew got stuck in the conga line at ATL - but at least I was in CLT waiting for them, not sweating out a ground stop for lightning connecting to the last flight of the day.
Agreed on revenue protection, because otherwise lots of people would be gaming the system. It makes sense from an ops standpoint, but could cost them a lot of money if there weren't restrictions
Feb 17, 2011, 6:41 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: AVL
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BTW, in case anybody is wondering, the no-status companion of a Preferred member also gets the Move Up fee waived - I've had this happen to me where an attempt was made to charge, but I remembered Customer Service Manual section 8.25 (thanks much to Mykle's very helpful post).
Feb 17, 2011, 8:38 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
The fee is waived for any preferred members, but yes, those are the rules.
ThemBeTheRulez
I didn't used to be that way, but they changed it a few years back. I can remember in college, (I went to school outside of CLT, flew home to PHL) I'd just book the cheapest flight and show up to the airport whenever I felt like leaving via standby since flights ran roughly hourly.
Sadly.
ThemBeTheRulez
I didn't used to be that way, but they changed it a few years back. I can remember in college, (I went to school outside of CLT, flew home to PHL) I'd just book the cheapest flight and show up to the airport whenever I felt like leaving via standby since flights ran roughly hourly.
Sadly.
Feb 17, 2011, 8:44 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Trenton, NJ (PHL, EWR)
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 1,633
This is EXACTLY why there is now a fee because many people booked the cheapest fare and abused the "free" change policy. It's one thing if you get to the airport early every once in a while, but people were intentionally booking the cheapest fare and ALWAYS getting to the airport early.
I still do it now, when I can. I just don't have to pay. Saved ~$75 and 3 hours by booking the last CLT-GSP flight last Friday knowing I could standby on an earlier flight that pretty open.
Feb 17, 2011, 1:25 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2011
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The 'MoveUp' program on US (merged) [master thread]
Question:
First off I am a preferred DM member. I am on a 615pm flight tomorrow BUF-PHL-PHX. Can I get an earlier flight over the phone of do I have to be at the airport. I BUF is a 2 hour drive from London. I think all flights are fairly full tomorrow. I am willing to connect in BOS, LGA, DCA, CLT as well is PHL
Any incite is greatly appreciated
Brandon
First off I am a preferred DM member. I am on a 615pm flight tomorrow BUF-PHL-PHX. Can I get an earlier flight over the phone of do I have to be at the airport. I BUF is a 2 hour drive from London. I think all flights are fairly full tomorrow. I am willing to connect in BOS, LGA, DCA, CLT as well is PHL
Any incite is greatly appreciated
Brandon
Last edited by aztimm; Feb 17, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Feb 17, 2011, 1:38 pm
#13
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As a US Preferred member you can move to an earlier flight with no fee but you have to be at the airport to do so.
Feb 17, 2011, 1:57 pm
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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The 'MoveUp' program on US (merged) [master thread]
According to The US Website
Move up program
We allow you to 'move up' to any earlier flight on the same day of your originally scheduled departure time at the airport (with the exception of flights to Hawaii and Europe). You can only make day-of-departure changes at the airport (and not by calling Reservations).
If there is an open seat available on any earlier US Airways operated flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $50 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $150 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.
If there is not an open seat on an earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats on completely booked flights may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don't show up for the flight. Unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not guarantee that you will get on the particular flight that you want and may involve waiting for two or more flights before a seat is available to you.
We allow you to 'move up' to any earlier flight on the same day of your originally scheduled departure time at the airport (with the exception of flights to Hawaii and Europe). You can only make day-of-departure changes at the airport (and not by calling Reservations).
If there is an open seat available on any earlier US Airways operated flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $50 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $150 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.
If there is not an open seat on an earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats on completely booked flights may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don't show up for the flight. Unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not guarantee that you will get on the particular flight that you want and may involve waiting for two or more flights before a seat is available to you.
Feb 17, 2011, 2:06 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Washington DC
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Posts: 1,304
I think a master thread for this is a great idea since it comes up every few weeks. You might consider adding the word "Standby" to the title of the thread since that's what most people come here looking for; also "Same-Day Confirmed," which is terminology recognizable to elites from DL / CO / AA / UA. US's "Move Up" isn't quite as straight-forwardly recognizable.