Flying standby and checked baggage?

[Mark in CA]

My step daughter is flying LH to Budapest from Washington DC through FRA soon, and as currently booked has a 9-hour layover at FRA between flights. There is, however, an earlier connecting flight on the same airline, which she would like to try to get on this flight as standby.

The question is, is this possible to do this if she has checked baggage? My knee-jerk answer is no, because of security requiring passengers and baggage to accompany each other. Is there another solution?

[PAXboy]

If she bought a cheaper ticket with a longer layover? The ticket conditions hold the answer.

[Mark in CA]

Yes, it's a very cheap fare, hence the long layover. My concern was really about the checked baggage, but does that cheap fare in and of itself preclude any chance of doing standby on the earlier flight, even though it's the same airline? Not sure she even has access to the ticket conditions. It's an eTicket, of course, and the trip was booked through some agency here in Budapest.

[ExXB]

Mark, she can always ask. Some airlines will find the bag and put it on the new flight. Not all will.

When she checks in, in BUD, have her ask there (ticket counter rather than check-in desk). They might be able to put her on the earlier flight then and there.

You never know ...

[safelife]

Lufthansa does happily check in luggage on onward connections, even on a standby ticket, even when loads do not clearly indicate sufficient vacancy.

Be aware however that if that original booking does include a return flight not travelling on any sector will automatically void all subsequent sectors.

[edi_local]

She should ask LH about the earlier flight. If she is there so early and her flight happens to be delayed, cancelled or oversold then they may jump at the chance to take her earlier. With such a long layover it shouldn't be too difficult to get the bag checked on to an earlier flight. She could even just ask for the bag to be checked to FRA so she can collect it and then try to get on an earlier flight and simply re-check it. Less chance of the bag going missing in the transit area too.

If she holds a normal ticket (i.e. she's not a staff traveller, which seems to not be the case if she booked through an agency) then the chances of them offering standby are slim to none. It will more than likely be a Yes or No answer as to whether she can go earlier or not.

[peekay4]

As a general rule, LH does not allow standby on discounted (non-flexible) fare tickets. Sorry.

If your daughter wants to take the earlier flight, she would have to pay a change fee plus any fare difference, as applicable.

If you have her booking code (fare basis) you can lookup the exact rules applicable to her ticket.

[Mark in CA]

She is currently booked economy (K), if that means anything to anyone.

BTW, this is the return portion of the trip. The connection in FRA involves a 9-hour layover. This is another LH flight to BUD about 4 1/2 hours earlier.

I guess it never hurts to ask. Where is the proper place to ask? At the departure gate of the earlier connecting flight at FRA? Someplace else?

Last time I asked to fly standby was before deregulation! :)

[PAXboy]

The statement by peekay4 A reminded me of a time a few years ago when we got to FCO very early and my partner was setting off on a two leg trip with Lufthansa in Y, I was returning to the UK.

A very polite enquiry to the agent about her taking the earlier connection for the first leg was dismissed in a second.

[Mark in CA]

So these Germans do live up to their stereotype? You must follow the rules!

[Gibon2]

Mark, in my experience it's possible but it depends entirely on whether it is convenient for LH. If it suits them to put your stepdaughter on the earlier flight (e.g. because the later one is overbooked) then they will do it - and will transfer the baggage (that is the easiest part of the operation). If it doesn't suit them, then they won't do it - even if you are prepared to pay the fare difference and change fee. If it makes no difference to them (e.g. both flights have similar loads and availability), then they will probably do it only if you pay, but it never hurts to ask.

The place to ask is at the (airside) LH transfer desk as soon she arrives in FRA - i.e. the same process as if she'd arrived late and missed her connecting flight. She should just say she's booked on flight XYZ but noticed there's an earlier flight ABC and wondered if there was any chance of getting on it. No stories, no long explanations, don't waste their time, just ask briefly and nicely. If the answer is "no", it may be worth asking again closer to the departure time of the earlier flight - but don't ask the same person, and don't be a nuisance.

I'd estimate I have a success rate of about 25% making these kinds of requests - it's a lottery, but if you don't ask, you don't get.

[Mark in CA]

Thank you, Gibon2.

[alserire]

Tried it four times (although never with Lufthansa) and was successful twice. As pointed out; you don't ask, you don't get!! Worth giving it a go as per Gibon 2's instructions.

[ExXB]

I would suggest asking at IAD when checking in. If that doesn't work ask at FRA.

[Mark in CA]

Well, my step-daughter returned yesterday and said that while the Lufthansa people she dealt with at FRA were extremely nice, they were unable to book her on the earlier flight. They claimed to be thwarted by the reservation system, which apparently would allow them to switch her baggage to go on the earlier flight, but not her because of the cheap fare she had. In any case, she said they tried really hard to make it happen, but were unable to, and were very nice to her about it.