act1980

Hi everyone.

I would just like to know if airlines still allow you to just turn up at the airport and get on the plane on the same day without booking?

If so, does anyone know if they discount the flights or do they cost the same as what you would pay if you booked online?

Thanks

scotty1974

yes, you can certainly just turn up at the airport and buy a ticket for a flight, be prepared to pay through the nose for it though. If there is availability it will generally only be the most expensive seats left on the aircraft, airlines won't negociate the price either(thats how they make money!)

Aviator

All carriers try and overbook a flight by up to 10%, so the some routes are quite often booked, especially weekends (Fri-Sun). What price you pay depends on what is available, last minute seats usually cost more (often a lot more). API requirements make last minute much harder for carriers and last minute pax cause delays, which is more expensive than an empty seat.

Alan2005

Yet, I've been on standby many times. Mostly successfully.

Once I turned up at the airport a day late and the airline still let me on without extra charge. Flight was at 12:06am so I got the date wrong - I was flying a lot then and was blase about that kind of minor detail.

el_richo

In this day and age with online immediate booking etc, i don't see why people would need to do this.

Alan2005

True. I missed a flight to Hanoi once because I got home drunk at 5am and the flight was at 7:30 and rather than going straight to the airport I decided to have 30 minutes kip. I got on the next flight by phoning them up and buying a new ticket.

lmartin999

Many routes these days do not have tickets that require advance purchase. If seats are available in the booking class, then you will pay the same - whether you booked weeks in advance or on the same day. Obviously on popular routes and at peak times flights will fill up and then you will only find more expensive seats available. Airlines can also remove seats in particular fare buckets as they manage the load on each flight to maximise revenue. As always, generally, a return ticket will be cheaper.

el_richo

I guess the point is, instead of chancing your luck and potentially wasting time travelling and waiting at the airport, and if you have access to internet, simply log in and have a quick look. Takes 2 minutes.

Oink

I had a similar experience at Heathrow. Missed the flight because I spent too long in the airport loo, as I fell asleep. After a few puzzled looks at the check out counter, as I'd checked in on time for my original flight, they put me on one two hours later, no extra charge.

el_richo

You must have flushed with embarrassment when they lavved at you. Hopefully they kept a lid on it............etc etc

Aviator

On the loo? Bet you felt flushed

el_richo

Post #10

act1980

Thanks for the responses.

I only ask because I may wake up one day and decide I want to go to Canada. I'm not into planning anything at the moment as I don't know how I will feel one day to the next.

Prices online are nearly £500 a ticket!

el_richo

Bargain!!

Alan2005

If you do decide, then it's worth a phone call to the airline rather than just turning up at the airport (unless you live really close by).

If that's for YVR/LHR then yes - that's actually pretty good. No idea what's reasonable for elsewhere.