Originally Posted by
Quarantine
I have a Basic Economy ticket on a very short flight (PWM-EWR), but it looks like I'll be at the airport much earlier than I expected. (Also United apparently had changed their rules that allows Basic Economy passengers to be added to a standby list.)
I'm wondering if it's possible to try to add myself to the standby list on an earlier flight, if I also have a checked bag? I read somewhere that it's possible to be on standby with a checked bag as the bag would go to the earlier flight—which I'm OK with—but I'm reading mixed things whether this would happen.
Do I ask to be added to the standby list at the check-in counter and get my bags checked there then? Would it actually be possible to fly standby if I'd like to check my bag?
A lot of airport agents will refuse to put you on standby if you’re Basic Economy, from my experience. United used to have a page that clearly stated you could fly standby on a BE ticket but they’ve since scrubbed nearly all mention of this allowance from their site. YMMV, of course - let us know how it goes!