An airfare check made on January 9, 2011 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 $49-$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
- An 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 for two $69 segments 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 two hours before the flight you want to take and buy a standby ticket; 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 to 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 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 24 years of age
- Blackout dates in 2011:
- January 1, 2 and 3
- February 18 and 21
- March 25, 26, 27 and 28
- April 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25
- May 27 and 30
- June 26
- July 1, 2, 10, 17, 24 and 31
- November 23, 26, 27 and 28
- December: Airtran U student standby flights will end for the year on December 15th, 2011 (the last flights will be December 14) and return in January, 2012
- Airfares quoted above do not include taxes and surcharges
See complete rules at the Airtran U 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 (routine) 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
