| Traveling "stand-by presents continuous | | | | are friendly and willing to check into |
| opportunities for creativity and | | | | suggested options for you. |
| fortitude. This is an "extreme" waiting | | | | Upon missing three flights out of |
| game not for the faint of heart or the | | | | Atlanta, Georgia, and one out of |
| easily discouraged. It can be fun and | | | | Cincinnati, Ohio, in a row, and being |
| financially fulfilling if both | | | | required to stay overnight while |
| understood to start with and then | | | | awaiting new options, we came up with |
| endured well. | | | | our own plans. |
| Now, don't misunderstand, here. We have | | | | On this particular occasion, we wanted |
| traveled stand-by a number of times over | | | | to end up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt |
| the past couple of years. The airlines | | | | Lake seemed to be booked solid. |
| personnel on board the planes, at the | | | | We decided to take the morning flight to |
| gates, and on the phones have always | | | | Los Angeles, California, (from |
| been friendly and helpful. They have | | | | Cincinnati) and then a connecting flight |
| been as accommodating as they possibly | | | | into Salt Lake from there. |
| can. | | | | We inquired, in the morning, as to the |
| There is a hard reality, here. | | | | status of Cincinnati to Salt Lake. It |
| Traveling "stand-by" puts you at the | | | | was still booked solid. We asked if |
| bottom of the seating priority list. | | | | anything came open if they would please |
| That's just the way it is. There is no | | | | let us know. We told them we were |
| point in getting upset, or angry, or | | | | currently booked from Cincinnati to L.A. |
| swearing at the gate agents (as we have | | | | to Salt Lake. |
| seen, from time to time). If you fly | | | | To our surprise, we were informed that |
| "stand-by", you are taking the risk. No | | | | two seats had become available and we |
| one else. It's your choice, completely, | | | | were able to fly directly to Salt Lake. |
| so assume the responsibility. | | | | A couple of things to keep in mind. Be |
| Sometimes, you will make the flight. | | | | flexible. Be prepared. Be willing to |
| Sometimes, you will barely get on by the | | | | consider options. But most importantly, |
| skin of your teeth. | | | | KEEP YOUR HEAD and be considerate and |
| Sometimes, you won't make the flight. | | | | friendly. It is not the agent's fault |
| Or the next....or the next....or the | | | | that flights are cancelled or full. |
| next....or the next....which is what | | | | You will get more satisfactory results |
| happened to us on our most recent | | | | with honest kindness than you will get |
| experience. Large numbers on seating | | | | from thoughtless rudeness. |
| availability do not mean you will be | | | | When traveling "stand-by", remember |
| seated. We have watched 33 seats | | | | patience and kindness. You may have |
| evaporate in mere minutes! | | | | glitches along the way. You may have to |
| At some point, sometimes you need to | | | | re-think your itinerary. But going in |
| take matters into your own hands. You | | | | with your eyes wide open to reality will |
| need to devise your own alternative | | | | make the experience more tolerable. |
| itineraries and inquire about travel | | | | Maybe, even more satisfying. |
| options on your own. Reservation agents | | | | |