does anyone know if united will allow me to go standby if my reservation is not till the next week? flights are very expensive the week i want to go but i know there are seats available. if i buy a ticket for the following week it's affordable. my schedule is pretty flexible so i don't care if i have to spend all day in the airport. thanks,

billy

Welcome to FT.

It would probably depend on the fare rules in relation to changes on the fare you purchase. Some of them have wording to the effect that whilst changes are permitted, you must re-price the booking and any difference in fare will be collected. Some allow to you change with or without a fee providing your original class of travel and seasonality is the same.

You may want to check the UA forum further up the list to get information on any UA standby rules that are not same day.

You have absolutely no chance of standing by on any day other than your schedule departure day. There's a reason the fares are more expensive the week you want to go - either that's when everyone else wants to go, or you don't meet the advance purchase requirements for the cheaper fare.

thanks people, that was helpful

If the problem is the advance purchase reqs & you're trying to travel soon, you might want to check the budget travel forum for tips on how to find cheap flights. I think there have been some threads in this forum about how United hasn't been competing for dirt cheap fares recently, so you might consider flying on another airline. Don't forget to look for United e-fares too.

.............You have absolutely no chance of standing by on any day other than your schedule departure day. There's a reason the fares are more expensive the week you want to go - either that's when everyone else wants to go, or you don't meet the advance purchase requirements for the cheaper fare...........

That is not always true. I have done it many times, check the availability on the web, if there is enough go to the airport and tell the agent at checkin that you want to "go home" a few days early. In most cases they change it without any fees or questions asked, in some cases they will charge you the $100 change fee. The have NEVER charged me the fare difference. I have done this on tickets in many different classes, as I said without issues.

Realize that although you are traveling on a different flight if there is enough space available it doesn't really matter PLUS UAL can sell your seat for the week after again!!