Comments on: Upselling at the Airport http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:51:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Independent George http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-97466 Independent George Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:31:29 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-97466 I fly standby all the time on American & United; since I try to build an extra 90 minutes of 'security' time into my travel plans, I can usually take an earlier flight when things go smoothly. Paying extra for the guarantee does have its place, though; it can be a lifesaver when flights are delayed, and you want to fly out on your original departure time. I thought about doing this last week when O'Hare got backed up due to weather. It was a business trip, though, and I didn't want to bill the company an extra $90 for the seat assignment just to save an extra hour; as it turned out, though, 1 hour quickly (or slowly, really) turned into 5, and I came very close to billing the company an extra $200 for an unexpected hotel stay. I fly standby all the time on American & United; since I try to build an extra 90 minutes of ’security’ time into my travel plans, I can usually take an earlier flight when things go smoothly. Paying extra for the guarantee does have its place, though; it can be a lifesaver when flights are delayed, and you want to fly out on your original departure time.

I thought about doing this last week when O’Hare got backed up due to weather. It was a business trip, though, and I didn’t want to bill the company an extra $90 for the seat assignment just to save an extra hour; as it turned out, though, 1 hour quickly (or slowly, really) turned into 5, and I came very close to billing the company an extra $200 for an unexpected hotel stay.

]]> By: John http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-96545 John Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:08:23 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-96545 I had similar experience as Mike. Delta does charge $50 but I paid anyway since we would save 5 hrs. I had similar experience as Mike. Delta does charge $50 but I paid anyway since we would save 5 hrs.

]]> By: nickel http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-96490 nickel Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:03:43 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-96490 Interesting. I was flying Delta, so I guess it wouldn't have helped to ask at the gate. Interesting. I was flying Delta, so I guess it wouldn’t have helped to ask at the gate.

]]> By: mike http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-96476 mike Sun, 21 Oct 2007 16:16:21 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-96476 There's no luck with Delta. They began a charge fee called "same day confimed" and done away with any thought of standby, reguardless of who you ask. The fee is $50. I even asked at the gate with no nudge. There’s no luck with Delta. They began a charge fee called “same day confimed” and done away with any thought of standby, reguardless of who you ask. The fee is $50. I even asked at the gate with no nudge.

]]> By: Shadox http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-95834 Shadox Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:22:44 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-95834 I fly United typically, and getting an earlier flight the same day is allowed without charge, provided you are willing to stand-by (which since you are already in the airport should be pretty simple). I fly United typically, and getting an earlier flight the same day is allowed without charge, provided you are willing to stand-by (which since you are already in the airport should be pretty simple).

]]> By: SteveK http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-95454 SteveK Fri, 19 Oct 2007 04:05:02 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-95454 United sort of does this with their Economy Plus upgrade, which will put you in seats that have a few extra inches of extra legroom. Their self-check in will try to sell you this upgrade if available, and is usually $30-$50. I hate to have to pay extra for these seats, but being 6'5" makes it worth it to me. :-/ I miss the days where I could get there early and get exit seat rows for no cost. United sort of does this with their Economy Plus upgrade, which will put you in seats that have a few extra inches of extra legroom. Their self-check in will try to sell you this upgrade if available, and is usually $30-$50.

I hate to have to pay extra for these seats, but being 6′5″ makes it worth it to me. :-/ I miss the days where I could get there early and get exit seat rows for no cost.

]]> By: nickel http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94665 nickel Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:53:12 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94665 Good point about trying to get on standby at the gate. You may be right that the fee is just for getting a guaranteed spot. Good point about trying to get on standby at the gate. You may be right that the fee is just for getting a guaranteed spot.

]]> By: MoneyNing http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94664 MoneyNing Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:48:08 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94664 I think you can only do it at the departure gate and not every airline will allow that. It is definitely more profitable to try to charge people to move because there aren't that many people that will buy a ticket only if they can be on a particular flight if they are running late. I think you can only do it at the departure gate and not every airline will allow that.

It is definitely more profitable to try to charge people to move because there aren’t that many people that will buy a ticket only if they can be on a particular flight if they are running late.

]]> By: Jason http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94641 Jason Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:13:23 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94641 I fly continental a lot and they do the same 25-50 dollar fee. If instead you go up to the departure gate and ask to be put on standby, it's completely free. I've gained 2-3 hours on a half dozen trips using this strategy. In fact, for one particular itinerary, I do it every time in case I get caught in traffic. Too much traffic and I catch the 8:30am flight. Clear sailing and I bump up to the 6:50am. I fly continental a lot and they do the same 25-50 dollar fee. If instead you go up to the departure gate and ask to be put on standby, it’s completely free. I’ve gained 2-3 hours on a half dozen trips using this strategy.

In fact, for one particular itinerary, I do it every time in case I get caught in traffic. Too much traffic and I catch the 8:30am flight. Clear sailing and I bump up to the 6:50am.

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94493 Mrs. Micah Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:22:24 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94493 Blaine has a point. I was thinking the same--perhaps if you actually ask them at the service checkout they might let you do it. However, they want you to have the option of doing it yourself....and to pay for that option. But since it's probably good for their business I expect they'd do it if you asked in person. It's just MORE profitable to do it the other way. ;-) Blaine has a point. I was thinking the same–perhaps if you actually ask them at the service checkout they might let you do it. However, they want you to have the option of doing it yourself….and to pay for that option. But since it’s probably good for their business I expect they’d do it if you asked in person. It’s just MORE profitable to do it the other way. ;-)

]]> By: Anne http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94492 Anne Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:21:52 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94492 I believe you can still get on the standby list for free. The $50 charge is for a guaranteed seat on the earlier flight. It might be worth it depending on your plans and how crowded the airport seems. I believe you can still get on the standby list for free. The $50 charge is for a guaranteed seat on the earlier flight. It might be worth it depending on your plans and how crowded the airport seems.

]]> By: Blaine Moore http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-94471 Blaine Moore Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:03:01 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2007/10/17/upselling-at-the-airport/#comment-94471 This past August, I was able to get bumped to an earlier flight with Jet Blue. I left an hour or two early, while everybody else on the flight that I got on was leaving two hours late. That was the same day that NYC had issues with tornadoes. So, not all airlines are charging yet. If you had gone to the desk and asked, it is possible you could have gotten on for free anyway? This past August, I was able to get bumped to an earlier flight with Jet Blue. I left an hour or two early, while everybody else on the flight that I got on was leaving two hours late. That was the same day that NYC had issues with tornadoes.

So, not all airlines are charging yet. If you had gone to the desk and asked, it is possible you could have gotten on for free anyway?

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