Originally Posted by
emyh
I was just told by a UA rep that standby no longer exists, just same-day changes. I was thinking this can't be true, so thought I would come here to ask. This can't be right??
Basically, I have a return IAH-ORD-HKG flight tomorrow that I want to push back later because I want to spend more time with my grandmother who has been extremely sick, and it is quite likely I will not see her alive again. (I didn't buy a bereavement fare -- just took off with the cheapest ticket I could fine asap.) Basically there is no fare released into the bucket I booked (L, amazingly) without paying over $1k for a SDC. Went to call an agent, and all the options I looked at are still amazingly expensive.
Honestly, any extra hours I can spend with my family would mean so much to me at this point. (I'm Gold, if that matters.)
My questions are:
1) Is it possible to standby for a later flight?
2) Is it possible to do an international standby on all United metal now?
2) IF ITS POSSIBLE, does this mean I have to go to the airport to be put on the list?
1) Possible? Yes. Allowed? YMMV.
2) Possible? Yes. Allowed? Not really per the fare rules, but YMMV, I guess. But what would you standby for anyway since you can't change routing? There is only one ORDHKG flight per day on UA. A standby on the domestic portion of an international ticket has always been allowed-- or at least allowed in my personal experience.
3) Yes.
In your stiuation, I think an agent would have pity on you (if you want to call it that-- perhaps empathy would be more accurate) and put you on the list for a later flight. You'd want to show up at the airport to do that, however.