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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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rokricky
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Yongsan, Seoul
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: Flying Standby |
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Has anyone ever done this?
Can it still be done?
What is involved?
Is it worth it?
I want to go to London.
Thank you. |
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seoulteacher
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Flying Standby |
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| rokricky wrote: |
Has anyone ever done this?
Can it still be done?
What is involved?
Is it worth it?
I want to go to London.
Thank you. |
rokricky, I have flown standby on at least 2 occasions (2 that I can now remember  ): once from Cyprus, and the other from Incheon (with Asiana).
With the Cyprus one, it was a previous-night decision to fly and I just went out to the airport and bought a ticket. After watching as confirmed ticket holders boarded, I got the very last seat on the plane - I had been getting quite nervous, as getting to London that day was important to me.
With the Seoul one, I actually had a confirmed (& more expensive) departure for later that day to Thailand, so I knew that, one way or another, I was going to be flying. I checked in 2-3 hours early with Asiana at Incheon - at their standby counter, as advised by my travel agent. They told me to come back in an hour, which I did. And I then asked if they would - complimentarily - upgrade me to Business, which they did.
I've since thought that I should in future always try to arrange a situation like the Incheon one - perhaps having to deal with what seemed like a quieter (standby) counter would give one a greater chance to get a complimentary upgrade? My Gold Card helped, as did my jacket & tie, I believe; tho' I suspect that airlines generally are now getting increasingly stingy about giving out complimentary upgrades.
Enjoy your trip! |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| With the Seoul one, I actually had a confirmed (& more expensive) departure for later that day to Thailand, so I knew that, one way or another, I was going to be flying. I checked in 2-3 hours early with Asiana at Incheon |
So, did you cancel the ticket to Thailand, or was the upgrade to recompence against the loss? |
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rokricky
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Yongsan, Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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| My main concern is getting somewhere cheap, not so much availability. My dates are pretty flexible. |
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seoulteacher
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Cheonmunka"]
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So, did you cancel the ticket to Thailand, or was the upgrade to recompence against the loss? |
In the end, I was able to fly on the cheaper standby ticket, and so didn't need the more-expensive confirmed ticket (which was then cancelled). And a nice bonus was that I got a free upgrade to Business Class...an all-round good day!
OP, what about this: book standby tickets to more than one destination, and be willing to take the first available seat. I suppose it'd mean that you may have to bus it back & forth from the city, or to bunk out near to the airport, until a seat came up.
But, I've heard rumours about airline charges for no shows (ie. as in the case of my cancelled ticket above). So unused standby (and confirmed) tickets may now carry a price? Maybe best to check on this. |
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