Didn't clear standby for earlier flight, still got charged
May 16, 2009, 1:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Austin, tx, USA
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz 5-star, Marriott Gold
Posts: 261
Didn't clear standby for earlier flight, still got charged
Title pretty much says it all. Stood by last week for an earlier DCA-IAH flight. Ended up #1 on the standby list when the closed the door (thanks to the plat that showed up at the last minute and took the last seat). Checked my credit card statement yesterday and saw that I got charged the stand by fee anyway. CO says that it will probably take 10 days to process the refund. Also, the agent on the refund line said "Why do they keep doing this at the airport?" and implied that this is a ongoing problem. Is this just incompetence in terms of the way the systems work, or is it just a way to get some extra cash if people don't notice it on their statement?
May 16, 2009, 2:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.
I've done SDC twice recently: once at SAN and once at MCO. At SAN, the flight had many empty seats, so they processed my SDC immediately. At MCO, the flight was sold-out, so the GA didn't take my CC information until the 15 minute cut-off when they release seats to stand-by passengers.
I've done SDC twice recently: once at SAN and once at MCO. At SAN, the flight had many empty seats, so they processed my SDC immediately. At MCO, the flight was sold-out, so the GA didn't take my CC information until the 15 minute cut-off when they release seats to stand-by passengers.
May 16, 2009, 2:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Sorry this happened to you. I am kind of confused with this SDC 25$ fee.
I had a similar situation, where I paid 25$ and took a Standby Boarding pass. However, when i went to the gate, I realized that I may not get on the flight (but, fortunately, I got in thanks to a no-show).
So, why is the 25$ collected as "same day confirmed" when you may actually not get on that flight?
Someone please elaborate. Thank you.
I had a similar situation, where I paid 25$ and took a Standby Boarding pass. However, when i went to the gate, I realized that I may not get on the flight (but, fortunately, I got in thanks to a no-show).
So, why is the 25$ collected as "same day confirmed" when you may actually not get on that flight?
Someone please elaborate. Thank you.
May 16, 2009, 2:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.
I've done SDC twice recently: once at SAN and once at MCO. At SAN, the flight had many empty seats, so they processed my SDC immediately. At MCO, the flight was sold-out, so the GA didn't take my CC information until the 15 minute cut-off when they release seats to stand-by passengers.
I've done SDC twice recently: once at SAN and once at MCO. At SAN, the flight had many empty seats, so they processed my SDC immediately. At MCO, the flight was sold-out, so the GA didn't take my CC information until the 15 minute cut-off when they release seats to stand-by passengers.
May 16, 2009, 2:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
They are not supposed to do that. Unfortunately, many things that are not supposed to happen actually do. If I have time, I ask the TA for a SBY pass to access the gate area. Otherwise, I merely show TSA my original boarding pass, and they've never denied me access even when the flight doesn't depart until the next day (within 12 hours, or course). Don't ask TSA for permission, but be prepared to explain your attempt to SBY onto an earlier flight (if you have BP for next day's flight).
May 16, 2009, 2:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: retired from SFO Terminal 3
Posts: 7,437
The system is designed so that you can do the same day standby at the ticket counter and you are NOT to be charged until you clear onto the flight you are waitlisted on.
GAs are not to be handling the transaction at all.
GAs are not to be handling the transaction at all.
May 16, 2009, 2:44 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
The first time I did SDC, I had a late inbound for my SAN-IAH flight and wanted to protect my connection.
The second time at MCO, the TA looked at me as if I were crazy requesting SDC for an itinerary scheduled for early the next morning. She insisted that SDC had to be on the same calendar day
That's when I gave up and hurriedly rushed to the gate to discuss with GA, whom are usually much better informed about rules than the TAs.