Stand-by Advice
 

Next Thursday I'm flying MCI-SEA through MSP. I noticed that I have a 4 hr layover in MSP and that there's an earlier MSP-SEA possibility. I've looked at the F seat map on this flight and it looks pretty wide open--much more open than coach. At what point can I be put on the stand-by list? Is it 6 hrs before the first flight of the itinerary or 6 hrs before my booked MSP-SEA flight? I'm hoping for an upgrade to F. Will the stand-by process look at both availabilities or only the coach, as that is the cabin booked?

It was either channa or slippahs who made a comment earlier this week about threads being posted about once a day regarding certain topics. Standby definitely qualifies for it!

Matt, you can do a search on the board and find more info than you ever thought possible regarding standby rules, etc.

To answer your question - you can ask in MCI to be placed on the standby list for the earlier MSP-SEA flight. However, they may tell you to wait until you get to MSP as the gate-agent has to do it up there.

Also, your standby is only valid for the originally booked class of service. You will lose your EUA (if you get one for your originally scheduled flight). After you clear the standby list on the flight, you will have to try to clear the EUA again for the earlier MSP-SEA flight.

-RM

You can request to be put on the standby list online 6 hours before your first flight leaves.

For example: For MCI-MSP-SEA, if requesting standby for MSP-SEA you can do it online 6 hours before your MCI-MSP departure. You will need to get to the gate of your standby flight to see if you got it or not.

BTW, First Class will fill up quickly with elites and coach might be oversold. Do not rely on seat maps!

Check fare availability to see how busy the flight is.

Although this explanation is probably the "official" version, it is not the version I have experienced.

Of course as a Plat I would have a higher chance of an F seat than a Gold. I have also never done it at a hub. Whenever I have done "standby" from my home airport I have been directly booked into F on the requested flights and they have booked me all the way through. So, I have been confirmed on the departure flight and the connection.

F being open on a flight a week from now, however, is no indication there will be any seats available on the day of the flight. EUA generally does not start running till 5 days out, so that would be this Saturday for Platinums on next Thursdays flight, Golds would start on Monday and Silvers on Wed. Then you also have the 24 hour check-in which will issue more upgrades if available. Fligths to SEA and LAX tend to be full in F from the hubs so you would need to decide the worse of the two evils. Sitting in coach on an earlier flight (if not Upgraded) or waiting for 4 hours and flying first. Personally, I think I would choose the layover and First for a long flight like that unless they could confirm me in first on the earlier one. Weather delays will have an impact at that time of year for connecting passengers, so even though it is checked in full does not mean they will all make it before departure if they originate in another city.

Using your WP status...
 

Might I suggest that upon arrival into MSP, you saunter into the World Club nearest you(if you own a membership) or if not - put your carry-ons in a locker and go to the First Class/World Business Check-In line at the main counter, and work your ample charm and have the very accommodating (my personal experience) counter agent put you onto the earlier flight to SEA? As a Gold WP, they are obliged to be a little more energetic in their quest for your satisfaction with the airline. @:-)

Please Comment on this Strategy....
 

First, thanks to all for your knowledgeable input.

I think the way I'll pursue this is as follows:

1. Check in on-line 24 hours prior to the first flight. Request upgrades if they haven't already been confirmed.

2. 6 hours before the first flight, go to on-line check in and request a stand-by for the 2nd flight. If I have a confirmed upgrade on the original flight of this leg I'll need to weigh the value of getting there early vs the chance of no upgrade on the stand-by. If no confirmed upgrade, then there's no delimma.

3. If there's no confirmed stand-by when I get to the airport, I'll ask at the gate (should I first try at the ticket counter?) and then at the gate in MSP (should I really try at the ticket counter as well?).

One point I do want to clarify. If I am confirmed in F on the original (later) flight, I assume that the stand-by request doesn't pull the upgrade. I would keep the upgrade and give it up only if I'm accomodated (in either cabin) on the stand-by flight.

Is this a good way to proceed?

Nope...the official rules for standby say that you need to go standby in your original class of service (if you booked coach, they are going to put you in standby for coach). There are some agents that will clear you directly to First.

There are also some agents that will clear you from standby immediately and then put you back into the run for EUA. Sometimes the computer will figure this out and automatically upgrade you (without the agent doing it) and sometimes you'll need to ask the agent what the status of the first class standby list is.

So if you're dying for the seat in F from MSP-SEA, I would ask the gate agent in MSP (or MCI first if you want) if they can put you directly into F. Chances aren't good for this though.

Good luck.

-RM

My understanding is that you are asking about your upgraded status in your original (later) flight. You will keep it. Being on the stand-by list does not pull you out of your original seat.

This is what I always do!
 

What I always do is to go to the gate of the earlier flight and politely told the agent that I wanted to standby for this flight only if first class is available (I am confirmed in F for a later flight). It looks that almost all the times I made this request, I got a first class BP immediately from the agent. The only time I missed a F was to standby a CO flight EWR-FLL when I was a silver; also I was too close to the departure time that day.

If you are WP gold your upgrade should work on Monday the 20th if space is available.