$300 [or maybe £300] charge to standby LHR-ORD
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: AA, United, Iberia, US Airways
Posts: 47
$300 [or maybe £300] charge to standby LHR-ORD
Does anyone know why AA charges $300 for the privilege of standing by for an earlier flight from Heathrow? Today is spring daylight savings in the UK, so I figured some folks would miss the earliest LHR-ORD flight and I could stand by to get home earlier. This would give AA the bonus of opening up my seat on my midday confirmed flight, which is overbooked.
fyi, this is the email I sent AA customer service from my seat in the Admirals Lounge (I'm Plat, flying discount economy today).
Dear Sir or Madam,
In hopes of getting home sooner from a business trip today, I called the Platinum Aadvantage desk to ask about standby on the 7:45 am flight from Heathrow to Chicago (AA99). I have a confirmed seat on AA87. I was told that the flight was full, but I could try anyway. I had provided my Aadvantage number and gave my origin and destination information. At no point was I told that I would have to *pay* for the privilege of attempting to standby. Here are my next encounters with AA agents:
1. Priority check-in: "there is a 300 *pound* charge to change your ticket, go to the ticket agent in section F"
2. Ticket agent in section F (name deleted), whose uniform was visibly dirty and was very curt): 'there is a 300 *dollar* charge to change your ticket.'
I decided not to spend the money, so I went to the Admirals Club lounge, but gave it a last shot
3. Admirals Club personnel: 'we believe there is a $300 charge, but let's see what we can do'
4. Final result, delivered by Admirals Club personnel: 'sorry, there is a $300 charge, but that is not for changing your ticket, it is for *standing by*, in other words, you will pay $300 and have no guarantee of a seat.
To say that I was very annoyed that the Aadvantage desk did not inform me of these charges so that I could choose to get a full night's sleep and take my planned flight is an understatement.
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
fyi, this is the email I sent AA customer service from my seat in the Admirals Lounge (I'm Plat, flying discount economy today).
Dear Sir or Madam,
In hopes of getting home sooner from a business trip today, I called the Platinum Aadvantage desk to ask about standby on the 7:45 am flight from Heathrow to Chicago (AA99). I have a confirmed seat on AA87. I was told that the flight was full, but I could try anyway. I had provided my Aadvantage number and gave my origin and destination information. At no point was I told that I would have to *pay* for the privilege of attempting to standby. Here are my next encounters with AA agents:
1. Priority check-in: "there is a 300 *pound* charge to change your ticket, go to the ticket agent in section F"
2. Ticket agent in section F (name deleted), whose uniform was visibly dirty and was very curt): 'there is a 300 *dollar* charge to change your ticket.'
I decided not to spend the money, so I went to the Admirals Club lounge, but gave it a last shot
3. Admirals Club personnel: 'we believe there is a $300 charge, but let's see what we can do'
4. Final result, delivered by Admirals Club personnel: 'sorry, there is a $300 charge, but that is not for changing your ticket, it is for *standing by*, in other words, you will pay $300 and have no guarantee of a seat.
To say that I was very annoyed that the Aadvantage desk did not inform me of these charges so that I could choose to get a full night's sleep and take my planned flight is an understatement.
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 273
Sameday standby is typically for domestic flights only
#3
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
Does anyone know why AA charges $300 for the privilege of standing by for an earlier flight from Heathrow? Today is spring daylight savings in the UK, so I figured some folks would miss the earliest LHR-ORD flight and I could stand by to get home earlier. This would give AA the bonus of opening up my seat on my midday confirmed flight, which is overbooked.
fyi, this is the email I sent AA customer service from my seat in the Admirals Lounge (I'm Plat, flying discount economy today).
Dear Sir or Madam,
In hopes of getting home sooner from a business trip today, I called the Platinum Aadvantage desk to ask about standby on the 7:45 am flight from Heathrow to Chicago (AA99). I have a confirmed seat on AA87. I was told that the flight was full, but I could try anyway. I had provided my Aadvantage number and gave my origin and destination information. At no point was I told that I would have to *pay* for the privilege of attempting to standby. Here are my next encounters with AA agents:
1. Priority check-in: "there is a 300 *pound* charge to change your ticket, go to the ticket agent in section F"
2. Ticket agent in section F (name deleted), whose uniform was visibly dirty and was very curt): 'there is a 300 *dollar* charge to change your ticket.'
I decided not to spend the money, so I went to the Admirals Club lounge, but gave it a last shot
3. Admirals Club personnel: 'we believe there is a $300 charge, but let's see what we can do'
4. Final result, delivered by Admirals Club personnel: 'sorry, there is a $300 charge, but that is not for changing your ticket, it is for *standing by*, in other words, you will pay $300 and have no guarantee of a seat.
To say that I was very annoyed that the Aadvantage desk did not inform me of these charges so that I could choose to get a full night's sleep and take my planned flight is an understatement.
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
fyi, this is the email I sent AA customer service from my seat in the Admirals Lounge (I'm Plat, flying discount economy today).
Dear Sir or Madam,
In hopes of getting home sooner from a business trip today, I called the Platinum Aadvantage desk to ask about standby on the 7:45 am flight from Heathrow to Chicago (AA99). I have a confirmed seat on AA87. I was told that the flight was full, but I could try anyway. I had provided my Aadvantage number and gave my origin and destination information. At no point was I told that I would have to *pay* for the privilege of attempting to standby. Here are my next encounters with AA agents:
1. Priority check-in: "there is a 300 *pound* charge to change your ticket, go to the ticket agent in section F"
2. Ticket agent in section F (name deleted), whose uniform was visibly dirty and was very curt): 'there is a 300 *dollar* charge to change your ticket.'
I decided not to spend the money, so I went to the Admirals Club lounge, but gave it a last shot
3. Admirals Club personnel: 'we believe there is a $300 charge, but let's see what we can do'
4. Final result, delivered by Admirals Club personnel: 'sorry, there is a $300 charge, but that is not for changing your ticket, it is for *standing by*, in other words, you will pay $300 and have no guarantee of a seat.
To say that I was very annoyed that the Aadvantage desk did not inform me of these charges so that I could choose to get a full night's sleep and take my planned flight is an understatement.
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
Essentially - they are trying to overbook you. Like you pay for a domestic fare, but you are not guaranteed a seat because
(a) You are the last person to check in.
(b) You are the last person to purchase the tix.
(c) You are right out of the list where AA is willing to overbook and bank on no-shows.
#4
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Posts: 21,422
There is no fee for standby.
So, on that basis, it is odd if the agent really did say it was a standby fee.
It seems the ticket agent was correct, the AC agent was incorrect.
As someone else noted, it sounds like an upcharge to a fare that would have been changeable.
So, on that basis, it is odd if the agent really did say it was a standby fee.
It seems the ticket agent was correct, the AC agent was incorrect.
As someone else noted, it sounds like an upcharge to a fare that would have been changeable.
Last edited by mvoight; Mar 29, 2015 at 1:10 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Technically I dont think you can 'standby' for intl.
A reservations agent can only rebook the ticket - change fees, new fare, etc
An airport agent can put you on the earlier flight for something between $0 and [the change fee for your old ticket + the new walk up fare].
The price they charge can vary wildly- and they have the power to override the nirmal ticking requirements just to get butts on planes...
They wasted your time by not explanining it, and having multiple stories. Had they said "you cannot technically standby, but if you ask the agent sometimes they can accomodate you although the cost may vary" that would have been more accurate.
A reservations agent can only rebook the ticket - change fees, new fare, etc
An airport agent can put you on the earlier flight for something between $0 and [the change fee for your old ticket + the new walk up fare].
The price they charge can vary wildly- and they have the power to override the nirmal ticking requirements just to get butts on planes...
They wasted your time by not explanining it, and having multiple stories. Had they said "you cannot technically standby, but if you ask the agent sometimes they can accomodate you although the cost may vary" that would have been more accurate.
#6
300 pounds (~$446) seems like an upfare. There generally is no standby on international flights, as already stated by others.
#7
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
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Posts: 21,422
Technically I dont think you can 'standby' for intl.
A reservations agent can only rebook the ticket - change fees, new fare, etc
An airport agent can put you on the earlier flight for something between $0 and [the change fee for your old ticket + the new walk up fare].
<snipped>
A reservations agent can only rebook the ticket - change fees, new fare, etc
An airport agent can put you on the earlier flight for something between $0 and [the change fee for your old ticket + the new walk up fare].
<snipped>
Standby policy is published on AA.com. Was the agent asked if there was a fee and said "no", or were they not asked?
Last edited by mvoight; Mar 29, 2015 at 3:30 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
As mentioned, there would be no charge to standby if standby was permitted
The checkin agent was correct that there was a change fee ( albeit got the currency incorrect ) and correctly sent you to the ticketing desk
The ticketing desk correctly stated the change fee plus there could be a change in fare too
The AC was correct in that there was a change fee , but seems to have incorrect in stating that it would be standby
You had the option to pay the fee and you seem to have got fairly good service with reasonably accurate information provided by the agents
getting on an earlier flight just by choice for no fee was really not likely to happen . Perhaps phoning the airport ticket desk at Heathrow might have been a better bet than a general reservations agent in the USA
It is published that standby is only for "domestic" itineraries
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
The checkin agent was correct that there was a change fee ( albeit got the currency incorrect ) and correctly sent you to the ticketing desk
The ticketing desk correctly stated the change fee plus there could be a change in fare too
The AC was correct in that there was a change fee , but seems to have incorrect in stating that it would be standby
You had the option to pay the fee and you seem to have got fairly good service with reasonably accurate information provided by the agents
getting on an earlier flight just by choice for no fee was really not likely to happen . Perhaps phoning the airport ticket desk at Heathrow might have been a better bet than a general reservations agent in the USA
It is published that standby is only for "domestic" itineraries
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
#9
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Join Date: May 2004
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<cropped>
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
Mystery solved. Of course, the phone agent could have simply stated standby was not permitted, and told OP he would have to pay the change fee. On the other hand, I would not lose sleep over trying to get on a flight that was fully booked.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
As mentioned, there would be no charge to standby if standby was permitted
The checkin agent was correct that there was a change fee ( albeit got the currency incorrect ) and correctly sent you to the ticketing desk
The ticketing desk correctly stated the change fee plus there could be a change in fare too
The AC was correct in that there was a change fee , but seems to have incorrect in stating that it would be standby
You had the option to pay the fee and you seem to have got fairly good service with reasonably accurate information provided by the agents
getting on an earlier flight just by choice for no fee was really not likely to happen . Perhaps phoning the airport ticket desk at Heathrow might have been a better bet than a general reservations agent in the USA
It is published that standby is only for "domestic" itineraries
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
The checkin agent was correct that there was a change fee ( albeit got the currency incorrect ) and correctly sent you to the ticketing desk
The ticketing desk correctly stated the change fee plus there could be a change in fare too
The AC was correct in that there was a change fee , but seems to have incorrect in stating that it would be standby
You had the option to pay the fee and you seem to have got fairly good service with reasonably accurate information provided by the agents
getting on an earlier flight just by choice for no fee was really not likely to happen . Perhaps phoning the airport ticket desk at Heathrow might have been a better bet than a general reservations agent in the USA
It is published that standby is only for "domestic" itineraries
I suspect that the check in agent just got the currency incorrect. check in agents don't do ticketing and the agent did send the customer to a ticket desk that corrected it to $300. $300 sounds like the normal change fee for a dsicount economy ticket r/t from USA to UK
It's very unlikely that OP can get upfare to Y(when I checked his flight with 40min left before departure) by paying exactly 300 pounds/dollars from discount economy to full fare Y. I could tell it's change fee.
UK agents will do whatever they can to charge you.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Why such a slur on the agents for simply doing their job diligently? They do not try to charge the passenger - the charge is simply that based on what the customer had purchased
#12
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,828
I get a sense of the "spoilt milk" theory at work here- my flight is later and oversold and it would be to their advantage to let me go on the earlier flight- so why should I have to pay? If this is true and you are in AC they will come and find you and ask you if you would be interested in travelling on the earlier flight. It is their option, not yours. Your option is to pay the change fee.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
LHR is a pretty surly station, IME. Unlikely to get any favors there, and from your profile it doesn't appear you are an elite, which doesn't help.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
The UK agents will simply charge that which is due. The agent said that there would be a $300 change fee - since the passenger went no further in the request, probably the fare difference had not been calculated
Why such a slur on the agents for simply doing their job diligently? They do not try to charge the passenger - the charge is simply that based on what the customer had purchased
Why such a slur on the agents for simply doing their job diligently? They do not try to charge the passenger - the charge is simply that based on what the customer had purchased
With all that said, I think it's possible that the agents can get him to the earlier flight by paying to go for the earlier flight. Heck, OP could be in H or B then the up-fare might be minimal. It should be the change fee plus the fare difference if OP opts to go ahead with it.
Have OP gone ahead and reasoned with the agent by first asking about the chances of his flight getting oversold, he might have a much better case to just VDB for the earlier flight. The agents could skip the VDB voucher process for OP.
What a great and diplomatic way to say about LHR. I am feeling exactly the same thing. I have never had such a feeling/bad taste in NRT, HKG, ICN, or SIN.
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Mar 29, 2015 at 5:33 am
#15
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4. Final result, delivered by Admirals Club personnel: 'sorry, there is a $300 charge, but that is not for changing your ticket, it is for *standing by*, in other words, you will pay $300 and have no guarantee of a seat.
...
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
...
The policy to charge for standby is stupid beyond belief.
In cases where standby is allowed (i.e. domestic), if SDC is not available, passengers who don't qualify for free standby (no status,etc) may now pay the same $75 fee to try standby. But as the T&C note:
"Passengers who purchase Same-Day Standby and are unable to use it due to lack of available inventory, cancellation of standby flight, or involuntary routing change are eligible for a refund."
So if standby, you're refunded if you don't clear. For a re-ticketing, if you get IDB, then you get comp that should exceed the change fee.