Same Day Standby- how does it work?
 

I had a previous post here concerning a "same day" standby that would have me leave on the 10:35pm SEA-DTW, as opposed to the scheduled 1am SEA-MSP.

I want to thank all who responded, but I have further questions about this option that I have never used, so I thought a new thread might be appropiate. I can't find anything on nwa.com, and very little using the search function here.

First, how does this work and what are the rules?

The last few times when checking in for my flight on nwa.com, I have opted to try the standby option, just to see what it said. Most times, it gave no option, as I was on the 1am redeye, or I was outside the 6 hr window for standing by.

Thus I know very little about this very useable option. To be quite honest, in the past 2 years, all changes to my itn have been electronic, or over the phone with res. "Same Day Standby" seems like you are dealing with the gate agent for the flight you want to get on.

The GA's are great, but with the exception of checking my status on the upgrade list, I have had no dealings with then except to have them scan my boarding pass.

In my case, I have booked SEA-MSP-DTW-MCI, with the flight out of SEA being the 1am redeye. Does this mean I can just walk up to the gate in MSP and say, "I'm supposed to go MSP-DTW-MCI.....can I just go on your flight ns to MCI?"

Perhaps I'm too used to res...."you must have the same fare basis, etc." to think it could be so easy to change flights. I have always had the feeling I was locked into what I booked, or pay a change fee.

I'd like to know more about how this program works.

I am going by memory of your first post and the rules so take this with a grain of salt.

If you are before the 6 hour time frame, see and agent at the ticket counter. Once you check a bag, no one is likely to change your flights, either in SEA or MSP.

If you have no checked baggage, try in SEA to get the standby, by using the ticket counter agent. If not, try at the gate for the MCI flight in MSP.

There is a slight to good chance the agent in SEA will confirm you all the way through. Same day standbys have no charge at NWA, unlike many other airlines.

Good luck.

Thanks for your reply, but I am still a bit confused.

As I mentioned in my OP, almost all transactions I have concerning scheduling are dealt with on nwa.com or with res on the phone. All I have is carry-on, so checked bags are not a problem.

So what you seem to be saying is just go to the gate.

This seems entirely too easy. I have tried in the past to change flights, but this was not the same day as my scheduled flight. In dealing with res, it was always a need to deal with fare availability for a change ( i.e. if you are on a K fare, there must be a K fare available for the flight you want to change to), in addition to the change fee.

So I have always just gone with what I have booked, even if the booking left a lot to be desired. My travel is at my expense, so I tend to go with the least expensive routing, even if less than desireable.

The trip I have goes SEA-MSP-DTW-MCI on the first day. The flight to MSP is the 0100 redeye, and I have already asked about the option of standby for the 2235 DTW flight. That is not really an option any longer.

But what you are saying is that when I get to MSP, go to the gate with my MSP-DTW and DTW-MCI BP's, and ask if I can get on the MSP-MCI non-stop. Without regared to booked fare class? Without regard that I was supposed to go to DTW, then MCI?

If this is true I have been missing a better way of doing things for a long time.

I leave MCI the next day mid-morning for MCO, and I would like to leave earlier, but it would seem that the system on nwa.com can handle that. However, I've been upgraded on my booked flts, and would hate to loose that. But I can check on availability. My question here is: if you go with a nwa.com standby change, have you given up all option of upgrade; or will you still be able to upgrade if space available.

My leg home from MCO is a few days later, and I got creative with the booking, without looking at time enroute. I am booked MCO-MEM-DTW-MKE-MSP-DTW, and I did this to myself. I leave MCO 0630 EDT and get home to SEA about 2300 PDT. I would like to use "same day standby" to try to get home sooner.

I think sometimes I go a bit crazy with building something I think is a MR, but costs me more time enroute than the miles are worth. I'm already over 75K this year, so I will be Plat next year...but it just a thing...get the miles.

Just to pass on, I have been upgraded on 4 of the 5 legs of my MCO-MEM-DTW-MKE-MSP-SEA....for what ever reason the MEM-DTW leg was not upgraded. Perhaps because it is a hub-hub leg?

I just want to say thanks to everyone here. There is great information to be gained here, and perhaps it is tiring to see some of the same questions over and over again. For those of you who take the time to respond to such question, I say "Thanks". Your help is most definitely appreciated.

No, in SEA, ask about going MSP-MCI, and if it's wide open, they may even confirm you on the spot.

If it's full (or close to full), they won't do it, so check in MSP. Again, they may confirm you on the spot.

If it's full (or close to full), they'll put you on standby, and you can clear at the gate if there's space.

It is really just as easy as asking. It is not in NW' interest to fly you from hub-to-hub to destination. The good thing is that you'll only have carry on. Just get to the airport a few minutes early and ask the agents at the ticket counter. If they can't confirm you there just make sure you have all the info you need, gate info, departure times flight numbers etc... You shouldn't have much of a problem if there is a seat open on the flight.

Your MCO-SEA trip: Once you get to MEM just try and get on the 8:40am flight to SEA (Flt 877) You'll be home before noon... but might have to sit in coach. Of course upgrades with regards to standby is a different beast, it just goes on space available.