Background - travelers are my parents. Dad = FB Platinum, Mom=FB Silver. Both clueless elites in that they simply book tickets without really thinking about FB; they've been traveling KLM since the early 80's so very loyal... And I've no status on FB as I am an OW captive...

Anyway, here's the situation.

Both returning home to ABZ: SFO-AMS-ABZ on April 1. Dad is on an award ticket, mom is on paid - both in J. I've no idea how they managed this, but my dad is on the last flight into ABZ, and my mom is on an earlier flight.

As I understand it, both get 3 checked bags. They will have 3 between the two of them.

So here's the question. Any chance my dad can request a standby onto the earlier AMS-ABZ sector? If so, when? His emails to FB have basically gone unanswered; no luck via phone either. So what are the odds that they can get on the same flight AMS-ABZ? What strategy would you advise?

Some thoughts/questions I've considered:
1. Book all checked bags under one name or the other - so the other (with no bags) can request standby on the earlier/later flight?
2. Where are the chances better for a same-day standby switch - Platinum on an award J or Silver on a paid J?
3. Any chance the switch can be confirmed when checking in for the TATL at SFO rather than waiting for the lottery at AMS?

Would appreciate any thoughts on the matter - thanks in advance.