Unraveling airline change fees for same-day travel
A lot of airlines are now charging a $25 fee to go standby on the same day, either for a later or earlier flight.
These fees are just another way for airlines to make money and have replaced the prior free standby policies. Keep in mind, though, that if it's in the airline's best interest to let you go on a different flight (for example, if your original flight is oversold), they will probably waive the fee, and sometimes gate agents are just nice and will let you change for free (especially if you show up a few minutes before the gate is closed and they don't want to bother doing the paperwork). On the plus side, at least you do get a confirmed seat versus a standby.
Among the major carriers in the U.S., only AirTran Airways (www.airtran.com or (800) 247-8726) and Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com or (800) 435-9792) don't charge a same-day change fee. While the language from AirTran's official policies is pretty straightforward ("Customers may standby at no charge for flights other than the one for which they have a reservation on the same day of departure"), Southwest is a whole different animal, and you might end up paying more than on any other airline. On Southwest, you can change your travel dates on a non-refundable fare and travel within a year of the original flight (even on a different route) without a fee. While we couldn't find any information pertaining to flying on the same day on a different flight, you might have to pay the difference between your original fare and whatever the current walk-up fare (no advance purchase) is on that route, which could be hundreds more. As with other airlines, Southwest sometimes looks the other way, but if the gate agent isn't in a generous mood that day, prepare to pay.
American Airlines (www.aa.com or (800) 433-7300), Continental Airlines (www.continental.com or (800) 523-3273), Northwest Airlines (www.nwa.com or (800) 225-2525) and US Airways (www.usairways.com or (800) 428-4322) all charge $25 to change your ticket to a confirmed earlier flight, with slight variances between them.
American still allows same-day standby for an earlier or later domestic flight at no charge. Continental allows for changes within three hours of your new preferred flight at any airport check-in kiosk, with an airport agent or by calling Continental's reservations line. Northwest's FlyNow option has expanded confirmed flight changes from within three hours of scheduled travel to include flights throughout the entire day of departure. US Airways will only let you move up to a confirmed earlier flight at the airport (and not by calling reservations), and it's $25 for flights within the 48 contiguous U.S. and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. You still have the option to go standby at no charge with US Airways, as long as the flight of your choice doesn't have an open seat available.
Jetblue Airways (www.jetblue.com or (800) 538-2583) doesn't charge a fee if you go standby on the flight immediately prior to your original departure, unless of course your route only has one flight a day or if there are no flights prior to the original departure. You can make confirmed changes for same-day travel online for $25. If you do it in person or by calling reservations, the fee's $45.
Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com or (800) 221-1212) and United Airlines (www.united.com or (800) 864-8331) both charge $50, again with slight differences. On Delta, you must confirm your new flight within three hours of the scheduled departure time, unless you're on a flexible fare (usually a refundable ticket), you may be able to change your itinerary without a fee, and this applies to travel within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On United, "you can confirm a seat on an alternate flight on the same day of travel anywhere United flies within the (50) United States and within four hours of the time of your request," as long as eligible seats are available on the alternate flight. You can do this at an EasyCheck-in kiosk at the airport, online or by calling the airline. The fee is waived for business and full-fare economy-class ticket holders.
Note that these policies apply to domestic flights and may be different for international travel. Always check with the airlines before you make any alterations to your flights, as airlines may change their policy anytime with no notice.
Reach George Hobica athobica@gmail.com, Kim LiangTan at KimLiangTan@aol.comor log on to www.ttp://airfarewatchdog.com" target="new">airfarewatchdog.com.