Ask George: Since when have the airlines charged to go standby on the same day, either for a later or earlier flight? I was charged $50 recently on Delta to do this. Do all airlines have the same policy?

Answer: No they do not. Delta has one of the most expensive same day change fees, but many airlines now charge $25. 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). These fees are just another way for airlines to make money, and have replaced the prior free standby policies, but on the plus side, at least you do get a confirmed seat vs. a standby.

Here are the policies of some of the carriers, with language from their official policies. Note that these policies apply to domestic flights and may be different for international travel.

Airtran

This is the only airline we found that doesn’t charge a same day change fee. “Customers may standby at no charge for flights other than the one for which they have a reservation on the same day of departure” plain and simple.

American

Fee: $25

“You can now get a confirmed seat for same-day flight changes for domestic travel† on all fares for a $25 fee. Passengers can call
Reservations or handle the transaction at the airport ticket counter or Self-Service Check-In machines. If eligible seats are available within 12 hours of departure of alternate flights for your same itinerary, your flight change can be confirmed. American continues to offer the same day option of standing by for an earlier or later domestic flight for eligible fares at no charge.”

Continental

Fee: $25

“You can now get a confirmed seat when changing your flight for travel on the same day for a fee of $25. This new convenience means you no longer have to wait as a stand-by customer if there is an available seat on an alternate flight.

You may take advantage of this same-day change option when traveling on Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express and/or Continental Micronesia. Changes may be confirmed within three hours of your new desired flight at any airport check-in kiosk or with an airport agent. You may also contact Continental Reservations by phone.”

Delta

Fee: $50

“The same-day confirmed option allows you to change your flight time on the same day of travel for a fee of $50. To use the same-day confirmed option, you must confirm your new flight within 3 hours of the scheduled departure time. If you have a flexible fare (usually a refundable ticket), you may be able to change your itinerary without a fee.

You can use the same-day confirmed option for travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection(r) flights.

No changes between origin, destination, or co-terminals (such as New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports).”

JetBlue

Fee: $25-$45

“For travel to the same destination, reservations can be changed to standby travel only on the flight immediately prior to the original departure without an additional charge. Standby travel is not available in markets that only have one flight a day or if there are no flights prior to the original departure. Confirmed seats are available for $25 on an earlier or later flight on their same day of departure. Confirmed $45 changes can be made via 1-800-JETBLUE or at the airport on the same day of the originally booked flight prior to the original departure.”

Northwest

Fee: $25

“Northwest Airlines today expanded its popular FlyNow option, which permits confirmed flight changes within three hours of scheduled travel for a $25 fee, to now include flights throughout the entire day of departure. Previously, customers wishing to confirm day of departure changes for flights departing outside of the three hour window were assessed a $100 change fee.”

Southwest

Fee: None, but you may end up paying more than on any other airline

This airline is a whole different animal. While most customers love the fact that if you change your travel dates on a non-refundable fare and decide to travel within a year from the original flight (even on a different route), you’ll be able to do so without a fee, it’s a whole other situation if you want to fly same day on a different flight. Although they don’t state this anywhere on their site (that we can see anyway), if you’re on, say, a $99 one-way fare leaving at 5 PM and you want to leave now on the 2 PM flight, while there’s no “fee” as such, you will have to pay the difference between your $99 fare and whatever the current “walk up” (no advance purchase) fare 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.

United

Fee: $50

“You can confirm a seat on an alternate flight on the same day of travel anywhere United flies within the United States and within four hours of the time of your request. If eligible seats are available on an alternate flight, your change will be confirmed and you will be charged a $50.00 fee.

To request a same-day travel change, please check-in at an EasyCheck-in kiosk at the airport or at EasyCheck-in Online. You may also contact a customer service representative at the airport check-in counter or call 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331).

* Discounted economy class ticket holders may confirm an available seat for a $50.00 fee instead of traveling standby

* Business and full-fare economy class customers can make changes without paying the $50.

* Same-day travel changes are available within the 50 United States.

* Alternate flights must be scheduled to depart within four hours of your request; flights outside of four hours do not qualify and the existing change fee policy applies.

* Flight changes can be made during check-in at EasyCheck-in Online, at the airport at an EasyCheck-in(r) kiosk, with a United
customer service representative at the airport or by phone at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331)

* The $50.00 fee is nonrefundable and will be collected at the time the change request is made.”

US Airways

Fee: $25

“We allow you to ‘move up’ to any earlier flight on the same day of your originally scheduled departure time at the airport (with the exception of flights to Hawaii and Europe). You can only make day-of-departure changes at the airport (and not by calling
Reservations).

If there is an open seat available on any earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $25 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $100 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.

If there is not an open seat on an earlier flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure, you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats on completely booked flights may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don’t show up for the flight. Please note: Unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not guarantee that you will get on the particular flight that you want and may involve waiting for two or more flights before a seat is available to you.”

George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.

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