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