Originally Posted by RobOnLI
It was either channa or slippahs who made a comment earlier this week about threads being posted about once a day regarding certain topics. Standby definitely qualifies for it!
Matt, you can do a search on the board and find more info than you ever thought possible regarding standby rules, etc.
To answer your question - you can ask in MCI to be placed on the standby list for the earlier MSP-SEA flight. However, they may tell you to wait until you get to MSP as the gate-agent has to do it up there.
Also, your standby is only valid for the originally booked class of service. You will lose your EUA (if you get one for your originally scheduled flight). After you clear the standby list on the flight, you will have to try to clear the EUA again for the earlier MSP-SEA flight.
-RM
Although this explanation is probably the "official" version, it is not the version I have experienced.
Of course as a Plat I would have a higher chance of an F seat than a Gold. I have also never done it at a hub. Whenever I have done "standby" from my home airport I have been directly booked into F on the requested flights and they have booked me all the way through. So, I have been confirmed on the departure flight and the connection.
F being open on a flight a week from now, however, is no indication there will be any seats available on the day of the flight. EUA generally does not start running till 5 days out, so that would be this Saturday for Platinums on next Thursdays flight, Golds would start on Monday and Silvers on Wed. Then you also have the 24 hour check-in which will issue more upgrades if available. Fligths to SEA and LAX tend to be full in F from the hubs so you would need to decide the worse of the two evils. Sitting in coach on an earlier flight (if not Upgraded) or waiting for 4 hours and flying first. Personally, I think I would choose the layover and First for a long flight like that unless they could confirm me in first on the earlier one. Weather delays will have an impact at that time of year for connecting passengers, so even though it is checked in full does not mean they will all make it before departure if they originate in another city.