An airfare check made on January 9, 2008 using Travelocity's search engine for a regular Boston-Pittsburgh ticket purchased on January 9 for travel that day turned up a $422 one-way fare. Wow.
Standby flights using Airtran's standby tickets are $69 one way to or from most cities the airline serves, and $99 to or from San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, or Denver. Better.
Airtran Standby Flights Downsides
- The $69 Airtran U fare is good for one segment; a segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. Thus, if you must make a connection, your standby flight will consist of two segments and your ticket price will be $138. See the Airtran route map to determine whether your travel will require a connection (routes colored red denote a direct flight).
- You'll be traveling standby, which means you may not make the flight you want.
How Airtran U Standby Flights Work
1. Go to the Airtran ticket counter and buy a standby ticket for the flight you want; you are not buying a confirmed seat.2. Head for the correct gate at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure and identify yourself to the check-in agents as a standby passenger.
3. After all regularly ticketed passengers have been boarded, you can get on the plane if there is a seat open (coach only).
Standby flight downsides in general
- If you want or need a connecting flight, you will have repeat the above process at that airport.
- When traveling standby, you may have to wait hours for a flight with an open seat and that risk doubles with a connecting flight. Tip: choose the earliest flight possible as your first choice so that you'll have several more flights with which to take your chances that day.
- You can't check luggage, a special drag with new TSA rules limiting liquids and gels you can carry on, but at least you won't lose your luggage. You may bring one carry on bag and one personal item such as a camera, coat or laptop on your Airtran standby flight. Learn how to pack for airport security.
Your money will be refunded if you never get a seat. Get more details at Airtran U.
As a bonus, you can also get frequent flyer credit from Airtran for standby tickets.
The Airtran U Fine Print
- Bring a valid government issued ID to prove that you are between 18 and 22 years of age
- Blackout dates in 2008:
- January 1 and 2
- February 15 and 18
- March 14-16, 20, 24, 29-30
- May 23 and 26
- June 15, 22 and 27-28
- July 5-6 and 13
- November 26, 29 and 30
- December 1
- Airfares quoted above do not include taxes and surcharges
- Airtran U student discount standby flights end for the year on December 15th, 2008 and return in January
See complete rules at the Airtran website.
The Airtran U Bottom Line
Airtran U's standby flights are a great opportunity to save money on last minute travel, but probably shouldn't be used as part of a student travel itinerary, in part because of the sheer hassle factor -- you may be able to match Airtran U standby flights prices with other airlines' sales and deals, which can be reserved in advance (see student airfare finders to the right). Good luck!
"If you actually look like your passport photo, you aren't well enough to travel." --Sir Vivian Fuchs
