What are the net costs to airlines for moving passengers to earlier flights?
Sometimes, if you are very early for a flight and have no checked bags, and there is another flight on the same airline going to the same destination with empty seats available, you can politely ask the gate agent and they can add you to a standby list for those empty seats.
In general, I tend to think of this as being helpful for the airline. If they wind up having other passengers coming in late, missing connections, etc. they then have more flexibility to use that vacated seat on the later flight, to meet their obligations and/or increase customer satisfaction. Also, it sometimes happens that the original itinerary flight winds up delayed causing missed meetings, connections etc. while having the customer on the earlier flight means that they are more likely to be successful in that journey. Maybe the passenger can't rely on arriving at the airport early enough to take that earlier flight and so did not book it, but if conditions change and they did arrive (past security) in plenty of time (this may be because the first flight was delayed), and room is available and there are no checked bags, it seems that putting the passenger on the earlier flight (with the passenger's permission/request) would be mutually beneficial.
Some airlines allow this without any extra fees; some charge significant fees for it unless the passenger has elite frequent-flyer status. Those that charge significant fees indicate that the change causes significant extra costs for the airline. What are those costs? How do they compare to the potential benefits to the airline?
(For this question, assume that the ticket was booked in Economy class and the earlier flight has seats available in Economy class).
air-travel tickets airlines fees-and-charges
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
|
show 1 more comment
Sometimes, if you are very early for a flight and have no checked bags, and there is another flight on the same airline going to the same destination with empty seats available, you can politely ask the gate agent and they can add you to a standby list for those empty seats.
In general, I tend to think of this as being helpful for the airline. If they wind up having other passengers coming in late, missing connections, etc. they then have more flexibility to use that vacated seat on the later flight, to meet their obligations and/or increase customer satisfaction. Also, it sometimes happens that the original itinerary flight winds up delayed causing missed meetings, connections etc. while having the customer on the earlier flight means that they are more likely to be successful in that journey. Maybe the passenger can't rely on arriving at the airport early enough to take that earlier flight and so did not book it, but if conditions change and they did arrive (past security) in plenty of time (this may be because the first flight was delayed), and room is available and there are no checked bags, it seems that putting the passenger on the earlier flight (with the passenger's permission/request) would be mutually beneficial.
Some airlines allow this without any extra fees; some charge significant fees for it unless the passenger has elite frequent-flyer status. Those that charge significant fees indicate that the change causes significant extra costs for the airline. What are those costs? How do they compare to the potential benefits to the airline?
(For this question, assume that the ticket was booked in Economy class and the earlier flight has seats available in Economy class).
air-travel tickets airlines fees-and-charges
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
4
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
2
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
1
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43
|
show 1 more comment
Sometimes, if you are very early for a flight and have no checked bags, and there is another flight on the same airline going to the same destination with empty seats available, you can politely ask the gate agent and they can add you to a standby list for those empty seats.
In general, I tend to think of this as being helpful for the airline. If they wind up having other passengers coming in late, missing connections, etc. they then have more flexibility to use that vacated seat on the later flight, to meet their obligations and/or increase customer satisfaction. Also, it sometimes happens that the original itinerary flight winds up delayed causing missed meetings, connections etc. while having the customer on the earlier flight means that they are more likely to be successful in that journey. Maybe the passenger can't rely on arriving at the airport early enough to take that earlier flight and so did not book it, but if conditions change and they did arrive (past security) in plenty of time (this may be because the first flight was delayed), and room is available and there are no checked bags, it seems that putting the passenger on the earlier flight (with the passenger's permission/request) would be mutually beneficial.
Some airlines allow this without any extra fees; some charge significant fees for it unless the passenger has elite frequent-flyer status. Those that charge significant fees indicate that the change causes significant extra costs for the airline. What are those costs? How do they compare to the potential benefits to the airline?
(For this question, assume that the ticket was booked in Economy class and the earlier flight has seats available in Economy class).
air-travel tickets airlines fees-and-charges
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
Sometimes, if you are very early for a flight and have no checked bags, and there is another flight on the same airline going to the same destination with empty seats available, you can politely ask the gate agent and they can add you to a standby list for those empty seats.
In general, I tend to think of this as being helpful for the airline. If they wind up having other passengers coming in late, missing connections, etc. they then have more flexibility to use that vacated seat on the later flight, to meet their obligations and/or increase customer satisfaction. Also, it sometimes happens that the original itinerary flight winds up delayed causing missed meetings, connections etc. while having the customer on the earlier flight means that they are more likely to be successful in that journey. Maybe the passenger can't rely on arriving at the airport early enough to take that earlier flight and so did not book it, but if conditions change and they did arrive (past security) in plenty of time (this may be because the first flight was delayed), and room is available and there are no checked bags, it seems that putting the passenger on the earlier flight (with the passenger's permission/request) would be mutually beneficial.
Some airlines allow this without any extra fees; some charge significant fees for it unless the passenger has elite frequent-flyer status. Those that charge significant fees indicate that the change causes significant extra costs for the airline. What are those costs? How do they compare to the potential benefits to the airline?
(For this question, assume that the ticket was booked in Economy class and the earlier flight has seats available in Economy class).
air-travel tickets airlines fees-and-charges
air-travel tickets airlines fees-and-charges
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
asked Jan 19 '17 at 20:12
WBTWBT
1,48311329
1,48311329
4
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
2
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
1
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43
|
show 1 more comment
4
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
2
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
1
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43
4
4
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
2
2
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
1
1
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The actual monetary cost to the airline of putting you on a different flight, later or earlier is, let's just say not really a factor.
This is more a case of revenue management or enhancement over anything else.
Because the value of the earlier flight is higher to the customer than the airline, the airline has determined, correctly, that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. If the customer is willing to pay, no reason to leave that money on the table.
It also serves as form of price protection. If the earlier, or later, flight is generally more desirable, the ticket price will be higher. They don't want passengers paying for the lower fare flight, then taking the higher fare flight without paying something for that privilege. Otherwise, it's lost revenue.
Waiving those fees for frequent travelers is a benefit designed to keep you flying with them. The 'lost' revenue for that benefit is more than recouped through additional ticket purchases.
A prominent outlier in the Standby model is Southwest. But, that has more to do with them having no change fee. They will happily change your flight to anything you want, you just pay the difference. Essentially, they don't have traditional Standby at all. For clarity, they do offer fare protection in a 2 hour windows for A-List members.
Finally, staff do have some flexibility to waive any fees if there's operational justification for doing so. If flight B is significantly delayed, pax can be moved to flight A. Yes, this is mutually beneficial since the passenger is underway sooner and downstream effects, missed connections etc, are mitigated.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
add a comment |
It's primarily lost revenue. A few people will actual pay the change fee and if the airlines would do it for free, they would lose these fees.
It's also a marketing tool to advertise premier member benefits that actually doesn't cost the airline anything.
On the other hand, giving away the benefit for free and make the customer happy could also be counted as a marketing benefit.
It's all part of the frightfully complicated revenue optimization systems that the airlines use.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
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The actual monetary cost to the airline of putting you on a different flight, later or earlier is, let's just say not really a factor.
This is more a case of revenue management or enhancement over anything else.
Because the value of the earlier flight is higher to the customer than the airline, the airline has determined, correctly, that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. If the customer is willing to pay, no reason to leave that money on the table.
It also serves as form of price protection. If the earlier, or later, flight is generally more desirable, the ticket price will be higher. They don't want passengers paying for the lower fare flight, then taking the higher fare flight without paying something for that privilege. Otherwise, it's lost revenue.
Waiving those fees for frequent travelers is a benefit designed to keep you flying with them. The 'lost' revenue for that benefit is more than recouped through additional ticket purchases.
A prominent outlier in the Standby model is Southwest. But, that has more to do with them having no change fee. They will happily change your flight to anything you want, you just pay the difference. Essentially, they don't have traditional Standby at all. For clarity, they do offer fare protection in a 2 hour windows for A-List members.
Finally, staff do have some flexibility to waive any fees if there's operational justification for doing so. If flight B is significantly delayed, pax can be moved to flight A. Yes, this is mutually beneficial since the passenger is underway sooner and downstream effects, missed connections etc, are mitigated.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
add a comment |
The actual monetary cost to the airline of putting you on a different flight, later or earlier is, let's just say not really a factor.
This is more a case of revenue management or enhancement over anything else.
Because the value of the earlier flight is higher to the customer than the airline, the airline has determined, correctly, that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. If the customer is willing to pay, no reason to leave that money on the table.
It also serves as form of price protection. If the earlier, or later, flight is generally more desirable, the ticket price will be higher. They don't want passengers paying for the lower fare flight, then taking the higher fare flight without paying something for that privilege. Otherwise, it's lost revenue.
Waiving those fees for frequent travelers is a benefit designed to keep you flying with them. The 'lost' revenue for that benefit is more than recouped through additional ticket purchases.
A prominent outlier in the Standby model is Southwest. But, that has more to do with them having no change fee. They will happily change your flight to anything you want, you just pay the difference. Essentially, they don't have traditional Standby at all. For clarity, they do offer fare protection in a 2 hour windows for A-List members.
Finally, staff do have some flexibility to waive any fees if there's operational justification for doing so. If flight B is significantly delayed, pax can be moved to flight A. Yes, this is mutually beneficial since the passenger is underway sooner and downstream effects, missed connections etc, are mitigated.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
add a comment |
The actual monetary cost to the airline of putting you on a different flight, later or earlier is, let's just say not really a factor.
This is more a case of revenue management or enhancement over anything else.
Because the value of the earlier flight is higher to the customer than the airline, the airline has determined, correctly, that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. If the customer is willing to pay, no reason to leave that money on the table.
It also serves as form of price protection. If the earlier, or later, flight is generally more desirable, the ticket price will be higher. They don't want passengers paying for the lower fare flight, then taking the higher fare flight without paying something for that privilege. Otherwise, it's lost revenue.
Waiving those fees for frequent travelers is a benefit designed to keep you flying with them. The 'lost' revenue for that benefit is more than recouped through additional ticket purchases.
A prominent outlier in the Standby model is Southwest. But, that has more to do with them having no change fee. They will happily change your flight to anything you want, you just pay the difference. Essentially, they don't have traditional Standby at all. For clarity, they do offer fare protection in a 2 hour windows for A-List members.
Finally, staff do have some flexibility to waive any fees if there's operational justification for doing so. If flight B is significantly delayed, pax can be moved to flight A. Yes, this is mutually beneficial since the passenger is underway sooner and downstream effects, missed connections etc, are mitigated.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
The actual monetary cost to the airline of putting you on a different flight, later or earlier is, let's just say not really a factor.
This is more a case of revenue management or enhancement over anything else.
Because the value of the earlier flight is higher to the customer than the airline, the airline has determined, correctly, that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege. If the customer is willing to pay, no reason to leave that money on the table.
It also serves as form of price protection. If the earlier, or later, flight is generally more desirable, the ticket price will be higher. They don't want passengers paying for the lower fare flight, then taking the higher fare flight without paying something for that privilege. Otherwise, it's lost revenue.
Waiving those fees for frequent travelers is a benefit designed to keep you flying with them. The 'lost' revenue for that benefit is more than recouped through additional ticket purchases.
A prominent outlier in the Standby model is Southwest. But, that has more to do with them having no change fee. They will happily change your flight to anything you want, you just pay the difference. Essentially, they don't have traditional Standby at all. For clarity, they do offer fare protection in a 2 hour windows for A-List members.
Finally, staff do have some flexibility to waive any fees if there's operational justification for doing so. If flight B is significantly delayed, pax can be moved to flight A. Yes, this is mutually beneficial since the passenger is underway sooner and downstream effects, missed connections etc, are mitigated.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
edited Jan 19 '17 at 21:02
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
Johns-305Johns-305
28.9k15797
28.9k15797
add a comment |
add a comment |
It's primarily lost revenue. A few people will actual pay the change fee and if the airlines would do it for free, they would lose these fees.
It's also a marketing tool to advertise premier member benefits that actually doesn't cost the airline anything.
On the other hand, giving away the benefit for free and make the customer happy could also be counted as a marketing benefit.
It's all part of the frightfully complicated revenue optimization systems that the airlines use.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
add a comment |
It's primarily lost revenue. A few people will actual pay the change fee and if the airlines would do it for free, they would lose these fees.
It's also a marketing tool to advertise premier member benefits that actually doesn't cost the airline anything.
On the other hand, giving away the benefit for free and make the customer happy could also be counted as a marketing benefit.
It's all part of the frightfully complicated revenue optimization systems that the airlines use.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
add a comment |
It's primarily lost revenue. A few people will actual pay the change fee and if the airlines would do it for free, they would lose these fees.
It's also a marketing tool to advertise premier member benefits that actually doesn't cost the airline anything.
On the other hand, giving away the benefit for free and make the customer happy could also be counted as a marketing benefit.
It's all part of the frightfully complicated revenue optimization systems that the airlines use.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
It's primarily lost revenue. A few people will actual pay the change fee and if the airlines would do it for free, they would lose these fees.
It's also a marketing tool to advertise premier member benefits that actually doesn't cost the airline anything.
On the other hand, giving away the benefit for free and make the customer happy could also be counted as a marketing benefit.
It's all part of the frightfully complicated revenue optimization systems that the airlines use.
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
answered Jan 19 '17 at 20:56
HilmarHilmar
20.2k13266
20.2k13266
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
Just to state the obvious: Earlier flights at more convenient times are sometimes (often?) more expensive. If they allowed you to hop on an earlier flight without extra charge, you could book the later flight and just show up for the earlier flight - if the earlier one is unlikely to be fully booked, this would allow you to fly the earlier one cheaper.
– DCTLib
Jan 19 '17 at 20:18
You need to consider reporting requirements. At least flights into the USA need to have their passengers reported to the authorities and the EU has just voted on a similar thing in 2016 although it's not yet in effect.
– chx
Jan 19 '17 at 20:27
@DCTLib If they are charging more for the more "convenient" time they would still have the opportunity to sell those tickets at the higher rate for people willing to pay that premium. (Note: Early morning, earlier may mean less convenient.) If the time comes for departure and clearing the standby list, and those seats still aren't sold, then there were not other customers willing to pay that higher price; revenue isn't lost there. Folks showing up early hoping for a standby spot run a strong risk that the flight will be full and they'll just have to keep waiting for the original schedule.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:32
2
I have been in airports quite a few times early enough for an earlier flight, (to be told that only a new bougth full price tickets at premium price indeed, would get me on. No thanks.) I was just that early as the other option would have been 'too late'.
– Willeke♦
Jan 19 '17 at 20:37
1
@nsn Moving passengers up helps the business have more flexibility to deal with the consequences of the delay-causing unpredictabilities it already faces, and as far as I know airlines already defer those adjustment steps/decisions until just before takeoff because they already don't know who's going to miss the flight etc. Further, some of these changes could be requested, offered, etc. via automated kiosks where such kiosks are present.
– WBT
Jan 19 '17 at 20:43