Ready2Go

As zski1 wrote, ramp closures during electrical storms have nothing to do with unions.

ExpatExp

Surely the unions would want to keep their workers indoors and protected during electrical storms.

trekker954

i'm writing from Rome. My fears came true, sort of. I was almost in disbelief as I checked in around 10:30, long after that plane took off for JFK in the morning that I wanted to be on, but I didn't go to the airport early, everyone hear just left me thinking the wouldn't help me onto an earlier flight.
I stopped in the admirals club for an hour and headed to my gate, still showing on time. I couldn't believe it was all going to go smooth. As I'm settling in at the gate, they make an announcement that weather is bad in JFK (I knew that) and they'd let us know if/when we might leave and will get back to us at 1:30. ugh. That an hour, leaving my connection to 1/2 hour. But they told everyone not to worry, even connections out of JFK would be delayed. I didn't go into a tizzy, what can you do. Nothing. At 1:30 we boarded, but we sat there a while. Bottom line, we were giong to get to JFK at 4:40, my flight leaves at 5:10 and initially I was going to arrive at the gate next to my departing. Well fast forward, our arrive gate now is 6, I'm leaving out of 45. As we touch down, I see my departure is now leaving at 5:30. So I am off the plane at 5, the gate agent walks me to the gate to make sure my flight is leaving out of 45, and as we are there, she gets a call to ask me to hurry. So lugging a heavy carry on, I'm 60 and not in great shape, I sprint through terminal 8, down thru the tunnel, flying down and up those stairs, my heart was pounding but as I approach the gate, I see the regular line still boarding a long <redacted> line. At least I was relieved but geez. I hope on the priority line, and the agent walks over and was so nice and even said no to worry about my bags making it. So I settled in to my business seat, flight attendant brings me a glass of water, although champagne is flowing nicely. This had to be some of the nicest attendants I've ever met. But we sit there at the gate for 2 1/2 hours. Thanks for the guy who breached TSA security at terminal 8 at 4:30, everything was pretty much shut down. That is why they had stopped boarding my FCO flight for a while. I've never been so happy. I didn't care that the flight was very late. and my suitcases made it. So I'm loving life.

imapilotaz

That's like saying Unions are responsible for having sexual harrasment rules in the workplace. You have them for employees safety and common sense, not because you pay 5% of your wages to the union reps.

ExpatExp

I shouldn't have commented about that here. Happy to discuss in an appropriate thread.

Orion

When I arrived at DFW from HKG I inquired at the rebooking station if I could standby for an earlier flight. I broke two kiosks in the process of trying. My layover would be eight hours. A friendly agent told me that that is not allowed on international itineraries. The agent suggested I banish all traces of coming from overseas with a freshly minted boarding pass and apply at the gate for a flight leaving in about two hours. I did that and was accepted on the standby list. The agent and I both acknowledged that I had no chance but it felt good to be on the list.
I did my time in the terminal and flew home on my original flight.
Has this happened to anyone else? I cannot imagine not being allowed to standby for another same day flight.
Air travel seems to be riddled with land mines these days.

fanger

This is an official policy of AA , or that's what I've been told in the past. GA or TA occasionally willing to overlook.

JDiver

We've moved your query to the longstanding thread. /Moderator

International itineraries preclude standby. Nonetheless, I've had the occasional change granted by a friendly employee, even on international segments.

Orion

Is the "no change to international itineraries" policy generally across all U.S. carriers? Is it policy directed by the U.S. government? I have never been denied the opportunity to move to an earlier flight when returning from overseas on DL or UA. This happens just once or twice a year with them and I assumed it was legit.
When I book journeys on AA I will now accept a tight connection when returning to the U.S., now that I know about their rule.

nbevan

Unpacking this: lots of reports of GAs allowing standby on domestic segments connecting to/from international segments (and no refusals that I can recall?).

But being allowed to standby on an international segment is rare (tell us more?).

JDiver

I've been allowed standby / changes on connecting domestic segments many times, and on international segments (e.g. ex-LHR, MEX and others to USA) occasionally, for reasons that were not IROPS, over the years. I've definitely had refusals for both, even when a seat has been available and I've had no checked baggage.

I'm not entirely sure how rigid the rules are, but there are people who will apply them rigidly, whether it's their inclination toward the rules, laziness or ? whereas there are others who, given a reason and a friendly approach, are inclined to help.

Same with IROPS - some have been more than willing to go the extra mile, others a bit more disinterested. But I generally follow the conventional wisdom here and approach with a plan that's easy to fulfill and the information (e.g. ExpertFlyer showing plenty of availability on my preferred flight, not so much on my originally scheduled flight.

I'm always grateful when I hear "let me see what I can do".

nbevan

I assume that most GAs are either unaware of the rule for domestic segments with an international connection, or that the international connection does not automatically show up on their screen when waitlisting the domestic segment, as I have had no difficulty on the few occasions I have asked (once getting the last seat on the flight).

jdanton

I tried searching for this without much luck. I'm on a J ticket (not fully changeable) and realized my connection in ORD was tight. American won't let me use SDC to change the flight, because it's BA ticket stock.

There's a lot of availability and I'm OW Emerald (US CP)--can I just show up at the airport and standby for an earlier flight?

Frindle

Domestic itinerary?

jdanton

Routing is ORD-PHL-LHR-CPH (don't ask I wanted to fly on a 747). Leg in question in ORD-PHL