Originally Posted by GoingAway
OP - Can you clarify what you're thinking of here?
If your itin is OAK-IAD, you cannot stand by for a different routing to get to WAS, e.g. via ORD. If your routing is OAD-ORD-IAD and in ORD, want to stand by for the DCA flight, that should be fine.
I want to find out if I can fly standby to or from DCA if my original flight ticketed went to or from IAD (and vice versa). Last year, I did some standy at one while ticketed for the other.
In terms of routing changes on standby...I was under the impression from reading many threads on FT that it is allowed, but you do so under your own risk. If you get stuck at a different connecting airport and are not able to make a flight on your scheduled day, UA can charge you to transport you on.
I called UA last night and the agent said yes I could do that. I'll probably try calling again to confirm.
Originally Posted by tods27
If you actually have an airport specific fare, the computer now makes it very hard for an agent to get you on another flight. I tried this with LAX and SNA last year and the RCC agent could not get the computer to accept me onto the SNA flight.
The reason is LAX and SNA are not considered coterminals for flight standby. It is not allowed under United T&C. I'm sure a supe could authorize the change though.
I read in previous T&C, UA only allows airport standby switching at these three pairs: IAD/DCA, LGA/JFK, and MDW/ORD. They used to allow standby for BWI and EWR but they dropped both those airports off their respective groupings. With resumption of service from MDW, UA passengers should be able to fly standby out of either.