American Airlines to charge $50 for coach standby

[Hatu]

DALLAS (AP) -- Next time you think about flying standby on American Airlines, be prepared to give the gate agent your name and $50.

In announcing the change, American played down the $50 and said it was improving the boarding process by eliminating the gaggle of would-be standby fliers who flock to the desk before flights. (Editorial comment: LOLOLOLOLOLOL! Nice downplay!)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Air...ml?x=0&.v=2

 

[MERV]

DALLAS (AP) -- Next time you think about flying standby on American Airlines, be prepared to give the gate agent your name and $50.

In announcing the change, American played down the $50 and said it was improving the boarding process by eliminating the gaggle of would-be standby fliers who flock to the desk before flights. (Editorial comment: LOLOLOLOLOLOL! Nice downplay!)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Air...ml?x=0&.v=2

If they cant increase air fares might as well start adding new fees to increase revenue. Lets see if other are willing to do the same if not they'll be retracting the fee tomorrow.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Not really new to the industry - US has been charging $50 for a confirmed seat on an earlier flight than ticketed for at least a year.

Jim

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

At last
maybe the non revs will see a few less DRX's

Most other carriers charge a fee to change your flight its about time AA did the same

 

[Jager]

Great Idea.. DRXs kill non rev flying availabilty... A flight can be wide open, then the convention gets out early, and we go from 2 and 3 to 22 and 23 on the list...

Bravo... I sure the agents will agree..

 

[eolesen]

It's about time. It won't get pulled back -- in addition to US, that's been the policy at DL, CO, HA and F9 as well. Few international carriers permit standby.

WN technically allows it, but requires those on their cheapest fares to buy up to the unrestricted Anytime fare (which can be a lot more than the $50 fee charged by other carriers...), and Jetblue only allows you to standby for the flight prior to your scheduled flight. AC allows standby *only* on its unrestricted non-discounted fares.

Of the remaining majors, only UA, FL and AS offer free standby on any flight, and it wouldn't surprise me to see UA follow like lemmings. AS and FL can afford to be a little different.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Someone educate me on AA's policy. The press release said something to the effect of "standing by for a confirmed seat" - does that mean you only pay the $50 if the agent can confirm a seat? Or is it charged for that segment if you get on the flight?

I ask because US has what they call "Move Up" - if a person can be confirmed on an earlier flight (or flights if connections are involved) they charge the $50 (exception for elites). If a seat can't be confirmed, the person can "stand by" for the earlier flight but only to the same connecting point(s), if any, on the original ticket. person can NOT "Move Up" to an earlier flight if one or more connections are involved that are at different airports than the original ticket called for unless the agent can confirm a seat assignment on all segments required to get to the ultimate destination.

Example - customer ticketed GSO-CLT-PHX-TUL can "Move Up" to earlier flight for $50 if a seat can be confirmed on all three segments. They can even "Move Up" and change routing to GSO-PHL-PHX-TUL if a seat can be confirmed for all three segments. But they can NOT "Move Up" tif one or more segments is sold out. Nor can they "stand by" for the GSO-PHL flight with a ticket calling for GSO-CLT.

Jim

 

[FWAAA]

Jim, for the last 3-4 years, AA has confirmed changes (CFC) on same-day for $50 if magical E inventory was available.

Same-day standby was still free for all pax.

Now, standby will be available only to elites and premium fare and Y, B, and H coach pax (and some other misc exceptions).

All other pax will only have CFC (no more standby) for $50. All pax can confirm changes for $50, but only elites/premium can standby (still for free).

Up to now, CFC for $50 was only offered where the flight was wide-open. Dunno whether CFC will expand E inventory to extend to last-seat availability or not.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Thanks. I was going by this line in the press release:

"Any customers who want to secure a Confirmed Flight Change, regardless of their elite status, will have an option to pay $50 to guarantee a seat on an earlier or later same-day flight when available. "

Which sounds like US' "Move Up" program (except on US it's only to earlier same day flights).

That said, the PR doesn't give many other details, such as whether the CFC is available only if all segments have availability, limits on standing by for a different flight to a connecting point not in the original itinerary, etc. For changing from one non-stop to a different non-stop, these questions don't matter but they do limit what can be done with US' program when connections are involved.

Jim