This is my second time flying with VA, but I'm making switch away from Star Alliance, for a variety of reasons, after 11 years with Continental.

Tomorrow I am booked on the 11am from SFO to FLL, cross country. There are 11 seats available on the earlier flight, which leaves at 7:50am.

I'm told I need to be there 2 hours before to fly standby. Is this in fact true?

Also, on the phone today the agent was very vague about availability. While it shows 11 seats online, she said, "that doesn't mean there are 11 seats available."

I then asked, "If there are 4 first class seats, would they upgrade people from main cabin select, to give me a seat on the plane?"

she refused to answer this, and then I asked, "let me put it to you this way, is there a chance, based on my fare level, that even if there's a seat available on the plane, if it's not in my class of service, the airline wouldn't put me on the plane?"

her reply, "it's really up to the desk at the airport. i can't answer that."

any thoughts here? my wife and i bought two seats on later flight, and have to be at a wedding tomorrow night. the "difference" in fare costs more than double the tickets themselves at this point.

i was told i could "pay $50 to be at the front of the standby line, at the airport..."

I said, "what if everyone did this?"

"I cannot answer that, sir..."

thoughts?

It's best to refer to the contract of carriage. Some of what you were told differs from what I am reading. Regardless, if you really want the earlier flight, be there two hours before the flight as advised.

Just because you're seeing open seats doesn't mean those seats are available. People often don't have seats assigned when booking, so they could be spoken for simply based on number of seats sold.

No reservation agent should be letting out the number of seats available on any flight, for security purposes and in case other airlines are checking routes.

Virgin America's standby policy for early departure does have a 2-hour window prior to departure. They also have confirmed standby, at the airport, for a fee, which bypasses the list and assures you a seat, if one's available. It's silly to ask a reservation agent for a guarantee on getting on a flight standby. It's never a guarantee, which may account for the hedging on the answer. The agents at the airport are in a much better position to give you assurances like that.

If you get to the airport on the day of the flight and seats are still available for purchase on the flight that you want to travel on(go on the website and put in the max number of people possible, don't bother with the seat map), you can be confirmed as long as your original flight was on the same day for $50.

You can also go standby, in which case there is no cost but don't bother trying to find out if you're going to get on until 45 minutes prior to departure at the gate at the earliest.

No they will not upgrade people if your cabin is full in order to put you on.
Hope that helps.

1. Can I do this $50 same day confirmed standby at home during online check-in, so I don't have to go to the airport? (airport is far away)
2. If not, can I do this $50 confirmed standby 1 hour before my desired flight time? I am in a meeting until 1 hour before the flight departure so can't get to the airport before that. (i will finish my call in the car.) Or, they don't offer confirmed standby within 2 hours?
3. Will my main cabin express upgrade carry over including the security privileged? (I paid for it for a nominal amount)
thanks

VA = Virgin Australia
VS = Virgin Atlantic
VX = Virgin America

Pet peeve.

This. You don't have to select a seat assignment, and someone may be waiting to see what opens up or might have not selected one yet for various other reasons. In reality, the flight could be F0 and Y0.

Undersky, you have to be at the airport, mainly because they don't want to issue standby to people who might not even make it. You're best bet is to just try for standby at the 1 hr mark when you get there. MCS doesn't carry over--but that being said, I had MCS and asked to go standby willing to forgo the free food and movies, and ended up being put in first class. I think this was more a fact that there was one seat left, and it happened to be F when I asked if they were clearing the standby list, not because of my previous Y+ or Elevate status.

This is correct. Dont base your decision off the seat map.

No it is not. You can show up and go standby up to 30 min prior to departure with no bags. 45min prior with bags. The 2 hour mark only applies when you MISS your flight. You need to be at the airport within 2 hours of your flights scheduled departure time in order to be placed courtesy standby on the next available flight.

No, unfortunately this can only be done at the airport.

The teammembers should be doing everything they can to get you what you paid for even if you are on standby on the earlier flight. Obviously it is subject to availability and if its not available then it is your decision to lose it by taking whatever seat is available however going standby when you paid for Main Cabin Express will make you lose that priority benefit and this is why. As long as you are seated within rows 4,5,6,7 and row 9 on the A320 you will have group A boarding regardless if you paid for Main Cabin Express or not. Since you will be issued a STBY boarding card at the counter you will not have group A boarding as you most likely wont get a seat until 30 min prior to departure if available which is about group C or D by that time. You may still be able to get priority screening through security though. Just let the teammate know at the counter you paid for that so he/she can verify that and give you a sticker that says priority on your STBY boarding pass they just issued you. If you are in Main Cabin Select and on standby you will get your seat 30 min prior and will get Main Cabin Select if there is a seat available or just put in Main Cabin if its full. You will not get First Class but once you have a seat assignment you are more than welcome to upgrade.

Actually Yes they will and should. This is a inside company wide policy. VX will upgrade GLD then SLV then highest paid fare guest to First Class in order to get VX teammates on the flight if Main and Main Cabin Select is full so surely they will upgrade GLD and SLV to get a Paying Guest on as well. This will explain to you GLD and SLV guest why you get First Class in rare cases for free. Alot of times a GLD guest is flying with someone and doesnt even want the upgrade so it gets passed down to any SLV guest on board. and this is all because an employee is trying to hitch a ride!

This can all be put to rest if you just do this upon arrival at the airport. You will get a seat at the ticket counter and you can also upgrade to First Class or Main Cabin Select if available immediately afterwards