Same Day Stand-By Question
 

Hi All,

I am flying YYZ-YEG on Feb 14 (AC169) departing at ~1400h. I just received an email this morning confirming my eupgrade request. I am traveling on a Comfort Fare (i forget which fare bucket). Anyways. My morning in YYZ has opened up and I will likely be able to take the 1245 fight (which is a 767 widebody) and is currently J9/R9.

On a comfort fare I can airport standby at for no charge. Will they move me to AC167 at the airport and if they do will they be able to move my upgrade? (obviously pending space)

According to the SDC thread from yesterday, you are not guaranteed your upgraded J if you SDC.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...anada-sdc.html

This would be a same day standby as opposed to a confirmed change. Which is really confusing because I dont know the material difference other than one is free one is $75

The swap to J on the earlier flight won't be guaranteed, but it's well worth asking.

Yesterday's SDC thread talks only about SDC.
SDC can only be done at the airport.

The change fee is applied when not at the airport in person to do the SDC, and can be done anytime before the departure date as well.

SDC is confirmed. As soon as you make the change, you are fully booked on the new flight. This could be done nearly 24 hours in advance - same operational day.

With standby, you're waiting until usually quite close to boarding time to find out whether or not you can get on the earlier flight.

Is there a way to stipulate you only want to move if there is J space available? Or are you stuck in Y if that's all they have?

I don't leave the lounge unless the app says I've cleared into J.

That has caused me issues though, so I wouldn't recommend that strategy.

For flights longer than an hour or two, I find GAs are generally sensible and assume an SE in full J doesn't want to fly Y for 5.5 hours just to get there 2 hours early.

You know what happens when you assume...

Also note this discussion is about upgraded seats, not full (or even discount) J fares.

I should have mentioned that I'm on an upgraded ticket. I'm weighing the options between being in the MLL for 5 hours or standby for a flight that is currently J1 that would get me in 4 hours earlier.