Standby on UA Flight on trip which includes ANA segment?
 

I am flying TPE-NRT-ORD-EWR in C (using a RPU) with a 5 hour connection in NRT. TPE-NRT is on ANA. I’d like to change to the direct NRT-EWR if possible (which leaves 25m before NRT-ORD) on the day of my flight. Would I be able to do confirmed standby online if R is available? If not, would I be able to standby at the airport in C only since the flight leaves before mine? I won’t be checking any baggage.

Thanks as always for the help!

In PMUA, standbys were not allowed for international flights. Even if they are allowed now, the ANA segment would cause a problem. The agent wouldn't have access to the ticket in ANA's system, and coordination with ANA would be required. It's unlikely that an agent would rebook you on the nonstop unless there is something that prevents the original itinerary from being flown, such as a canceled flight or a delay that would cause a missed connection.

You could rebook the ticket, although that would incur a change fee and possibly the difference in fare (which could be rather high at the last minute).

You could ask a ticketing agent when you get to the airport. Sometimes the Japanese agents are surprisingly accommodating.

Thanks, appreciate the insight. I will just see what I can do at the airport when I get there. Changing flights is too costly at this point.

Also, standby with different routing is not allowed. One needs to do a change. So intl standby via a different routing, you already have (2) strikes against you before you even step into the box. Most likely the 2nd carrier would be a 3rd strike.

you first need to be confirmed on the flight to request an upgrade (and agents tend to clear all upgrades before working on standbys)

and as others mentioned
While occasionally some agents will go the extra mile and allow a routing change, the non-UA flight is going to be a deal breaker even for those agents.

Yikes, thanks for all of the information. I wasn't aware of that. So if I was flying home LAS-IAH-EWR, I couldn't change to the LAS-EWR non-stop?

I don't want to eliminate the TPE-NRT leg, just wanted to see if I can take the nonstop back to EWR from NRT instead.

It is absolutely possible to do what the OP is asking. The change would have to be made in NRT (or at least once the OP is in NRT; last time I did it over the phone back to the US res center), after the ANA segment is flown, but it is absolutely possible.

The "no routing change on standby" doesn't matter because the OP will be confirming SDC, not flying standby.

If booked LAS-IAH-EWR you would absolutely be able to confirm on LAS-EWR, assuming the inventory is available.

Thanks for the clarification. I should have been more clear in my OP I suppose. I will roll the dice at NRT since I have plenty of time there!

There are two different forms of same day change in play here...

1. SDC - Same Day Confirmed - Allows routing changes and requires current ticketed fare class to be available
2. Standby - Does not allow routing changes, and does not require your current fare class to be available

Both have different rules, when standing by, you cannot change your routing, but if you can confirm on a different flight [provided your current fare class is available] you can change your connection points.

Changing NRT-ORD-EWR to NRT-EWR is possible only at NRT after your ANA segment with an UA agent in NRT if your fare class is available. You won't be able to do it before your NH flight.

ETA: sbm12 beat me to it.

in my limited experience (domestically) i have been able to do a SDC including a different routing for the $ difference in fare class and w/o a change fee, which in some cases is actually a very limited cost differential (tens of dollars). this has been within Y only but if you are applying GPU and R is open on the flight you are changing to, I have to imagine that doing the SDC then applying GPU shouldn't change the outcome. now, the probability of R being open on day of departure is nil, but that is neither here nor there.

Thanks again. Will report back in a couple of weeks to let everyone know how it goes in NRT.