Can you standby 2 days prior to scheduled date and pay only change fee?
Mar 4, 2013, 4:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: CO Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 82
Can you standby 2 days prior to scheduled date and pay only change fee?
I need to change the return leg of a round trip to leave two days before the schduled departure date. The online quote is a significant amount plus change fee. Can you go standby on the return leg for just the change fee?
Mar 4, 2013, 5:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,187
No. SDC is only 24 hours. You can either wait for 24 hours before schedule - or pay the change fee.
If your trip hasn't started at all, you will need to not only pay the change fee but also have the trip re-priced. If you about to depart from your origin yet need to change your return date to two days earlier, the best thing is likely to change it after you have used the first coupon of your ticket. Such a change would only require the change fee, assuming that space is available in the required class on your desired travel day. (A good travel agent will make the changes for you while you are airborn on your first segment.)
If your trip hasn't started at all, you will need to not only pay the change fee but also have the trip re-priced. If you about to depart from your origin yet need to change your return date to two days earlier, the best thing is likely to change it after you have used the first coupon of your ticket. Such a change would only require the change fee, assuming that space is available in the required class on your desired travel day. (A good travel agent will make the changes for you while you are airborn on your first segment.)
Mar 4, 2013, 5:57 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Plat, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,933
Mar 4, 2013, 8:10 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: CO Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 82
Mar 4, 2013, 9:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Pltm, Hyatt Diamond, spg Pltm
Posts: 356
Usually, "standby" is a condition used in the day of departure, and specially at the airport. Otherwise it's called "waitlist", in oppose to "confirm". So you cannot "standby" for a flight two days ahead. They may put you in "waitlist", meaning once the class of service is available, they will either let you know, or automatically confirm you. Of course you can try to go to the airport two days ahead, to "standby". But I have been told many times by UA agents that they would still treat it as a change of the reservation, that is, they have to confirm you, not standby you.
Last edited by V9; Mar 4, 2013 at 9:56 pm