Missing a flight on purpose-protocol
 

I want to take a later flight out. Plenty of room on it. Don't want to pay the$100 change fee.

What do I need to know?

At the airport, the kiosk's will give you the option to change to a different same day flight, if available, otherwise if you don't cancel before your scheduled flight departs, your ticket turns into a pumpkin. :(

Is that really true? I mean, if you have a "flat tire" ;) and make it to the airport a little late, will CO really not accommodate you on a later, same day flight on a standby basis, subject of course to space availability?

There used to be a "flat tire rule" which allowed you to stand-by for a later flight if you arrived at the airport within 2 hours of your scheduled departure. This was replaced by the "pumpkin" rule if you fail to cancel before flight departure.

Times have changed, so now you'd better have a cell phone if you're trusting your tires to get to the airport on time.

Are you sure? I think you can still show up late and do this, so long as it's only by 2 hours max...

After the CO do where I missed my earlier flight, they rebooked me no problem. I was at the airport within 2 hours of my original depart time though. However, per normal, my ENTIRE itinerary was cancelled and had to be rebooked, including the loss of one EUA for the flight home. I had to wait until midnight and fortunately, it did clear the second time again.

I'd re-think the $100, just to be safe. It's actually a pretty cheap insurance policy and gets you a better chance of UG on the later flight rather than just showing up.

Don't just take my word for it
 

From the current rules,

The "pumpkin" rule:Standby rule:Obviously the airport agents have some discretion, but the rules are pretty clear. A grumpy dude behind the ticket counter could ruin your day. :(

Thanks for digging up the rules, snake.

I'm still confused. Not by your post, but by CO's policy. How would a passenger standby on a then-cancelled reservation for a later, same day flight? :confused: I mean, if the reservation has been cancelled, what is the foundation for standby travel?

It's easier to pull this at EWR...

(I've never done this BTW, but have heard) -You can claim you took Amtrak in and the train was late.. (i.e. arrive at checkin counter at like departure time or a few minutes after) and I've heard they rebook you no problem.

-Vincent

I was told my ticket was worth nothing last time I missed my flight. The agent told me I have to be there 2 hours prior to the depature time in order to stand by the later flight. I told her it didnt' make sense because I wouldn't miss my flight if I was there 2 hours earlier.

I went to PC, and the agent there rebooked me on later flights with assigned seats.

Have I mentioned today how I love the consistent delivery of the Continental product?

-Vincent

I believe the protocol is that you call before departure time, tell them you won't be able to make it. They cancel it. Then when you arrive at the airport, if they are nice they'll let you stand by with your cancelled ticket for the later flight. Not sure how the return would work, though.

I do know that my friend's grandmother arrived late for a flight at EWR and was forced to pay a change fee AND the difference in fare to take a later flight. He was just telling me about it last night, saying they were real jerks to grandma. So do be careful!

Who among us has not been late for a flight, either because of traffic or a meeting that lasted forever, or some other reason. Then you get to the airport, and even though there is space available on a later flight, your airline is just waiting for the opportunity to stick it to their customer. It is uncivilized. If we ran our businesses this way, we would be broke . . . oh wait, the airlines are broke . . . it figures.

Last fall I overslept and missed an 8am TPA-EWR. I arrived at the airport around 10:30am and smiled to the agent at the counter as I told her that I think I missed my 8am flight. She laughed, spent 5 minutes typing, then handed me boarding passes (upgraded no less) TPA-IAH-DTW (rather than TPA-EWR-DTW) and my flight was leaving in 30 minutes.

I'm surprised you didn't tell her that was the first time you missed a flight since Jimmy Carter was president.

Had the same experience and time on the way down to the CO event PHL-IAH. 8am flight, overslept. Actually, was blacked out from that night/morning and didn't arrive until 10:30. Was expecting the worst on an el cheapo fare and egregious lateness.

Without a word, the agent got me on the next flight, full, and apologized that he could only get an aisle seat in the rear. Did ask to see the Plat card.

Heading EWR-IAH-SJU next Sunday morning. Haven't had an early Sun wake-up since, well, insert a line.

Not expecting any miracles and I count these as gifts I return to CO in the form of tickets.