Standby possible if I have a checked bag?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 55
Standby possible if I have a checked bag?
I am trying to board an earlier flight to CA today and was told by the gate agent that I can't do this if I have a checked bag. Is this true? I've done this several times before but not sure if rules have changed or he just didn't want to do it.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 616
from what I remember if it’s a tight connection and/or there’s not enough time to reroute the bag this is true. I believe it’s just policy no law domestically.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 55
Ill go check with another agent.
Thanks!
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 38,329
rsteinmetz70112's right! Once your checked bags had go through inline baggage screening system and if your bags is cleared. The bags will go into baggage handling system and they will put on your flight. Your bags cannot have standby flight. If you arrived in your final destinations city. You go to baggage claim. See if your bags is here. if not, your bags will put on next flight. You must go to baggage service office right away. They will find your bags. You have wait at airport. When your bags is arrived. They will called you the name.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
Every time I have flown standby they threw my bags on the standby flight and if I made it great, if not i just picked them up from the baggage office once I arrived since they beat me there. Hopefully that hasn't changed.
...what you can't do is have your bags actually follow you.
...what you can't do is have your bags actually follow you.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It is entirely dependent on the location and staffing at the time. The primary issue is locating the bag and physically moving it to the new preload for the new flight. There may or may not be time and that takes into account staffing at that point.
Bottom line is you cannot depend on this and the variables such as how many minutes to departure for the standby flight may make all the difference. Remember that if WN does agree to this and then fails, it is obligated to deliver your bag when it does arrive, a very expensive process.
Bottom line is you cannot depend on this and the variables such as how many minutes to departure for the standby flight may make all the difference. Remember that if WN does agree to this and then fails, it is obligated to deliver your bag when it does arrive, a very expensive process.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
I've signed "Voluntary Separation" statements many times in the past on WN (forget the exact circumstances) presumably relieving them of this obligation and they write V/S on your baggage tags. Why not do this every time? Why not have a set, consistent and published policy for this benefit as it must come up many times every day? And I've had my bags follow me many times MDW to MCI.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Because that waiver is meaningless under DOT rules if the bag goes missing and the passenger has interim expenses or, as rarely but sometimes happens, the bag gets lost somewhere. All comes down to resources at the moment. Thus, there is no policy to require it and offer it as part of the ticket contract.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DEN
Posts: 260
Again, I don't disagree on your point but what you are asking for may actually lead to unintended worse outcomes.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,043
Because that waiver is meaningless under DOT rules if the bag goes missing and the passenger has interim expenses or, as rarely but sometimes happens, the bag gets lost somewhere. All comes down to resources at the moment. Thus, there is no policy to require it and offer it as part of the ticket contract.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
I think this is actually the crux of many customer service issues across large organizations, especially airlines. I definitely appreciate consistency in policies and there is a lot to be said for a consistent customer experience. On the other hand, going the extra mile, above and beyond, or whatever you want to call it usually means deviating from a policy to help a customer in an specific circumstance. Not everything can be accounted for in a published policy - thus, the published policy is likely going to be more restrictive and customer unfriendly if it excludes events that cannot happen 100% of the time. I see both sides of the coin from both the customer and the employee side.
Again, I don't disagree on your point but what you are asking for may actually lead to unintended worse outcomes.
Again, I don't disagree on your point but what you are asking for may actually lead to unintended worse outcomes.
If you dangle a worthwhile carrot, people are going to qualify and bite. If you want to actually deliver the benefit, you have to expect all permutations of its use, i.e., a percentage of people are going to have bags already checked in. Make them sign a voluntary separation agreement and be done with it. Shouldn't give WN a total out if they lose or beat up the bag.
"Problem" solved. If you wait for Lawyers and Risk Management (insurance) people to approve or say yes to every possible thing that can go wrong, little would ever get accomplished in this world.