Same-Day Standby Differences AC vs AS
 

On my way back from SFO last night, I stopped in SEA to see my partner off on the QX flight to YYC. As we were leaving the AS Board Room for the gate, I heard an announcement from a QX agent that went like this "if there are any Portland pax on later flights this evening whom would like to get home earlier and have not checked luggage, please see me here at Gate C2X". Wow! An airline that understands that it doesn't take that much of an effort to go a long way. Only 4 people approached the agent, however, I bet they were appreciative. AC, are you listening?

AS's standby policy, at least in March, was free on day of travel (for earlier [b]or[/i] later flights), $50 charge if you want it confirmed. It's even confirmed free in advance if you're lucky.

The only exception to this are time restricted fares - ie. travel after noon, you cannot as of right standby in the am. I suspect this is waved regularly at the airport, especially to tier members.

AS truly has very fine customer service and service recovery initiative.

AS vs AC on this one,

AS – Rules stat that tickets are free to stand by except if your fare is a time restricted fare. (from my experiences agents will usually wave this one too) They will even let you standby for different co-terminal airports. For example you could do YVR-SFO and standby for YVR-OAK

I once had a lot of work to finish up in Victoria, and had a ticket YVR-PHX, I went to the YYJ airport and was able to standby for a YYJ-PHX flight instead. The gate agent just said that she would have to charge me a change fee only $50, which seamed pretty fair because not only was this ticket on a cheap restrictive fare, but the ferry, bus and AIF to YVR would have been this much. (I was a not even elite with AS at this time) This is definitely against the rules, but goes to show how accommodating AS agents can be. I can tell you AC certainly would not have done this unless maybe I had a super high Y fare or something.

Funny that you mention the co-terminal standby issue. I was going on an earlier SEA-SFO flight on Friday and since I mentioned that I was going to dinner with friends in Palo Alto, the agent in the Board Room said "there's a flight into SJC leaving in 15 mins, would like an F seat on that one instead"? Unreal. This type of above and beyond thinking rarely happens when travelling with AC, heck, most agents are unaware that YVR and YXX are considered co-terminals - even the AC website thinks they're one and the same. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

In spite of AC's strict standby rules, I have twice been asked upon check-in with a Q fare on JAZZ ex-YYJ if I'd like to go out on an earlier flight, once last fall and again a couple of weeks ago. Also happened out of Kamloops when the agent noticed I was continuing through to YYC from YVR, my connecting city. There was a non-stop flight to YYC departing in 20-minutes she could still get me on. I told her I wanted to go via YVR, because of the extra miles, and I had the time to spare. I know this is not policy, but it does happen at certain smaller centres.

Good thing it wasn't mainline. The computer locks the agent out at 30 minutes for domestic and 60minutes at YYZ-T1 for International.

I specifically booked WestJet recently to be able to standby earlier. When I asked at checkin to get on a flight earlier the agent suggested I go right away as there was a flight leaving in 15 minutes.

Not true. I was able to go standby on an earlier YYZ-YYC flight by asking just 10 minutes before departure (they were just about to close the doors).

At checkin or the gate??? I was at checkin and unless the checkin agent is signed in with a gate mode I don't think it is possible.

This was at the gate. I don't usually ask for standby at check-in.

This weekend I had the first flight out of YVR to YLW and was scheduled back on the 18:20 flight YLW - YVR. When I checked in I asked about the 16:10 flight home as my meeting may end early and they said it was wide open. The meeting did end early and I checked in at 15:40. I asked if it would be possible to get on the earlier flight and the agent said no problem and have a great day. No mention of a change fee or any bending of the rules. Made for a happy client and a happy family by being home 2 hours earlier and a chance to see my little guy before he went to bed.

Are you sure this wasn't Westjet? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Seriously though, unless agents have been instructed to be 'kinder, gentler, more customer-friendly' this are exceptions to the rule. Even when I played by the rules, YVR AC agents would deny my request to standby for any earlier flight. I am not about to try again.

Sister checked in at YYZT1 for flight to LHR 25 minutes before departure - a minor miracle but they did it and their luggage made it as well!! (we had sent a message via AC res of their delay and then their imminent arrival at T1)

I dropped off the glowing "you guys rock" letter at T1 yesterday - the agent I gave it to was very appreciative for a passenger taking the time to acknowledge excellent service, it does mean something to the agents anyways!


[This message has been edited by Altaflyer (edited 05-21-2003).]