Hi all- My next trip will be SFO-PHL-BWI-SFO on US. I am now kicking myself for not looking at other alternatives to the short flights I've selected...and I'm considering flying standby...

On 12/17, I will be going SFO-PHL, I want PHL-PIT-IAD rather than PHL-BWI. Both flights are "wide open" at the moment, my question is, do I have to standby at both PHL and PIT (with a chance of being stranded in PIT), or will I be confirmed on both flights?

The same predicament also applies on the return. I have a non-stop (what was I thinking?? )flight BWI-SFO on 12/24, but I'd prefer BWI-PIT-SFO. Will I be confirmed on both flights if space is available, at BWI? Or will I again have to wait at PIT and risk not getting home in time for Christmas?

If only First class space is available, will agents usally let people on, or make them wait out the night at the airport?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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[This message has been edited by Sheryl (edited 12-08-2000).]

First of all, do you know for sure that you can fly to IAD if you are ticketed to BWI? Some fares may not qualify for this change, especially those that were competing with a fare sale to BWI (i.e., Southwest) but not to IAD.

If they allow you to fly to IAD on your ticket and seats are available for purchase on all legs at the time you check in, they should definitely give you boarding passes for all flights at the time you check in for the first leg. Obviously if any leg is sold out at the time you check in, they will not be able to issue a boarding pass for that leg. If that is the case, you'll need to be assured they will guarantee that you get to your destination even if it means the next day. I'm not so sure they are required to do so.

What you are planning to do seems rather risky to me unless they will issue boarding passes on all segments at the time you check in. Remember, if a PHL-PIT or a PIT-IAD flight gets cancelled while you're en route from SFO to PHL and you don't already have all of your boarding passes, the backup of ticketed passengers could cause you to get stuck in PHL or PIT.

Another duplicate

[This message has been edited by Sheryl (edited 12-08-2000).]

I don't think it would work to add segments. E-tickets are made up of "coupons" for each segment you are ticketed on. It requires a reissue to change the PHL-BWI coupon to PHL-PIT-IAD, since you need two "coupons" to do PHL-PIT-IAD.

If you want to standby on a PHL-IAD nonstop, it should be no problem, just ask when you check-in at SFO, but it seems like you want more segments, which is basically impossible to do unless you are involuntarily rerouted.

Even though fare rules don't always allow it, IAD/DCA/BWI are co-terminal and therefore you can try to standby to one with a ticket to the other.

Unless sold out, US requires coupons for upgrades. Are you so committed to IAD? BWI is a great airport and a lot easier to navigate, but it depends on your geography. Love IAD going to Reston and catching the Hyatt shuttle. Online e-ticket changes are not that difficult, but get all of your boarding passes at initial check-in. Don't play segment roulette! You may get stuck somewhere long enough to qualify for residency.

I will be staying in Fairfax, so IAD would be much more convenient, regardless of flight segments. I will be departing from BWI to take a look at the ovservation area and the International Terminal though.