Apologies if this has been asked / covered. The FT search function doesn't seem to be working right now, at least not with key words "earlier flight."

If am due to fly in F, and checking in at the kiosk offers me an earlier flight, is there a place to specify "only in the same cabin," or something like that?

Would like to arrive earlier, but not by riding in 33B!

This is where it gets tricky.

I would recommend that you go to the gate where the earlier departure is and speak with the agents face to face.

Let them know that if you cannot clear in First Class, you will stay on your original flight and to please skip you.
Make sure they understand NOT to clear you onto the earlier flight without speaking with you first.

The instant a customer is cleared for an earlier flight, the origional seat is gone.

All the Best.....

Thanks, but I am talking about getting a boarding pass for an earlier flight ** at check in**, before I check my bag, go through security, etc.

I think that is the only way to get a guaranteed seat anyway, in F or Y.

I know I can always check in for my original flight, in F, go to the gate of the earlier flight, and stand by for a seat in F.

But I'd like to accept CO's offer of an earlier flight, but in the F cabin.

I can always go to an agent and have them do it, but just wondered if I could get guaranteed seating at the kiosk.

Thanks!

I'm not sure.. but I'd say the same.. if you want to gurantee an F seat.. just
choose ur regular flight.. then walk to the gate to see if they
have an open F seat. Change it to hte earlier flight if you can then.

You can also go to the checkin-agent... they can do the same too.

Hi spainflyer, If you're on a paid First/BusinessFirst class ticket, and attempt to confirm a change to another flight at the kiosk, it will specifically indicate whether the earlier flight option is available in First/BusinessFirst class, or if a downgrade will be involved.

going on an earlier flight is tricky when in F. as mr. o'leary has said, the kiosk should alert to a class of service change, but i do not always trust the system.

and as said before, once you are off the original flight, you're on the bottom of the list if you want to get back on.

in the past, you can only confim your F (or even Y) seat on a earlier flight if the actual class of service is available for the earlier flight (ie, if you're on a Z fare, there must be a Z fare available... very unlikey 3 hours prior to dept or if on a R upgrade, R seats must immediately beavailable, also unlikely).

if this does not exist, you will be be confimed in coach provided there are coach seats equal to or below your purchased class of service. Z fares are sometimes cheaper than the lone coach fares that are available at departure.

it is all very ticky, but in my experience it usually works out.

beware though... i was booked in F msy-oak and asked the agent if it would be possible to fly into SFO instead. she instantly changed my res, threw me in coach and sent me on my way. once i realized what had happen, my F seat to oak was gone.

If you have paid F class ticket and go on a earlier flight but in coach should I be refunded the difference.

no. if you bought a Z fare for $1000 and then took an earlier flight, you will be confirmed in a specific class of service. basically it was like taking your orignal ticket and reissuing it for a same day ticket.

in most instances, even the cheapest coach fare available two hours before your flight will be higher than your original fare. this almost always happens when trying this on a coach fare.

in a nutshell, if you want to get on a earlier flight, you're going to get whatever seat is available regardless of class of service. if you've got a paid F fair, they will try to get you up front, but with all the "i cant do it, its the system that upgardes, blah, blah, blah..." you never know.

you will not get a refund, but you will get the OP miles that you paid for. be sure to print your original itin and keep your BP's.

Why even bother with the kiosk I simply go right up to the check-in counter and deal with the person behind it. At times they even put me right on the earlier flight in a confirmed capacity, when I was on a Coach tkt to boot.

A couple of weeks ago I needed to get onto the 1st flight out of LAS some 4 hrs before mine, I knew it was wide open but the guy ended up putting me onto the 2nd flight out by mistake (that was Confirmed). He said he wasnt able to confirm me on the 1st flight as I was the 2nd now, I was suppose to be on the 3rd.

No problem in the end Not only was I able to get onto the 1st flight but got the UP to 1st as well, when I inquried at the Gate as to whether 22 C or D was available (exit row) the GA was gonna give it to me but then said sorry its 99.99% that you will be in 1st so you wont be needing it.

Or get bold, like a Plat tried to do on my last flight. He wanted to change flights and was trying to go in First Class on the earlier flight, and asked if any Gold or Silvers had been upgraded that he "might replace in the First Class cabin"

LOL. The nerve of some people!