Originally Posted by
boosh
To my knowledge this is a North American thing, and quite often a FFP benefit (?). I have not come across a European Airline doing or offering something similar. Apart from TK on domestic routes. This is just my person experience and impression from reading these forums though.
It used to be a possibility IF you put your request to the staff at the gate. Agents handling the departure have quite different priorities from the ticketing folk, happy to free space on later flights .... just in case they need it.
Many airlines clipped the autonomy of their handling agents years' ago, but even quite recently I was helped out on BA in Madrid.
Clearly it's an informal arrangement where it does happen. But it's certainly worth trying: just don't push it, and don't be upset if it doesn't work.