Standby Airline Ticket

[pepperbegs]

Hi,

I have a sudden emergency with my family. My mother's house has burnt down. I'm still very short on details. She was talking on a cell phone with the fire engines idling in the background.

Any how, I need to fly out of Seattle and get to Cincinnati ASAP!

So I'll do whatever it takes to get on a flight but I still don't know how long it will take to get mom into an apartment and things squared away.

How does flying on standby work? Do I show up and wait to see if a flight has a seat?

This is probably a silly question.

 

[Leros]

You show up as if you were going to get on the flight. If there are any seats left after everybody else gets on, they'll let you on.

 

[Azraele]

You could always call the airline and ask them how it works. Sorry to hear about your mom's house.

 

[dud]

You show up as if you were going to get on the flight. If there are any seats left after everybody else gets on, they'll let you on.

Pretty much spot-on. You fly on a seat availability basis. If that flight is full they try to get you on the next.

Lather, rinse, repeat ...

 

[vshah]

why do you need standby? kayak shows lots of tickets available for tonight.

 

[pepperbegs]

I need to get a one-way ticket because I don't know how long the process of getting my people in a new place will take. It will be relatively easy.

I also need to help out a bit handling the insurance, and making sure she and my brother will be comfortable because she got out with only the clothes on her back. The house sounds like its a total loss and I don't know how the demolition process will play out and what charges and expenses will arise out of a house fire.

One of her dogs had to be put down because of burns.

I can't stay forever but I don't know if it will take two weeks of if I'll be needed longer.

I thought if I can save some money flying standby I would. (especially on the return flight). It's not a crucial thing.

 

[Sukhoi]

Just buy a one-way ticket...

Then buy another one when you head home.

 

[Leros]

A lot of airlines have policies for helping you get a ticket (often at a discount) when you have a death in the family or a family emergency. It might be worth talking to the airlines about the situation and seeing if they can help you.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Just buy a one-way ticket...

Then buy another one when you head home.

This

Standby seats suck and you have to wait for an opening which maybe forever.

 

[MonKENy]

A lot of airlines have policies for helping you get a ticket (often at a discount) when you have a death in the family or a family emergency. It might be worth talking to the airlines about the situation and seeing if they can help you.

not any more, When my mom dies the rates they gave me for "discounts" were still well over $400