Next week I am returning from Nashville(BNA) to DTW on CO with a change at EWR. I originally did not mind the extra time because I was in no hurry and I could use the mileage. But Now I need to be back sooner. There is a NW codeshare leaving about the same time that goes directly to DTW. How hard would it be to switch the day of the flight with an e-ticket. I could try to catch an earlier CO flight but it is an RJ which I prefer to avoid. Has anyone done this? Any hints?

It's Continental's policy to permit standby travel on earlier/later flights on the day of departure, if space is available on the flights you want it shouldn't be a problem.

Old Gold, I have done that before but never to a flight operated by another airline even if it is a code share. My original itinerary leaves only 33 minutes to catch my flight in EWR which is cutting it to close to be sure. That is why I want to take the direct NW codeshare. I could try changing in advance but I want to avoid the fee.

Pursuant to the terms of the NW-CO alliance, there are no CO codeshares available on nonstops into or out of NW hubs. Codeshares are only available if you are connecting through a hub. In other words, CO could not have sold you a seat on a BNA-DTW NW flight in the first place, even if it had wanted to do so.

Given this fact, I find it highly unlikely that you can legally go standby on the non-stop. Plus, at present you can't e-ticket on a codeshare anyway.

In other words, get your ticket converted to a paper ticket, and politely ask CO to endorse it over to NW.

Thanks UpgradeMe. However the little CO schedule that they send out does have BNA to DTW operated by NW listed with a CO flight #.

Very true.

But try booking it by itself. You can't.

Two weeks ago, I changed my flights from a
CO E-ticket to a NW operated (codeshare) flight. I changed my reservations via the
Continental elite line, and the day of my flight, had to to have CO convert the e-ticket to a paper ticket. I then checked in with NW.

As far as changing to a direct flight to/from a hub, I believe UpgradeMe is correct. When I contaced the elite line, flights I have seen listed in the timetable, as well as on the COOL travel site as codeshares are not listed as codeshares to them (so they say).

I do not know if they will allow you to go standby. If you change your reservations, I am sure the fare will be much higher. If you purchased your ticket through COOL travel, maybe they can make the change for you because they seem to offer the codeshares CO reservations desk can't.

Too bad your flight is not later in the year. There is a CO press release that deals with E-Tickets between NW & CO. Please see the following link to CO press releases:
http://www.continental.com/corporate/