Southwest Adds Free Standby as A-List Benefit

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Southwest Airlines has the most domestic passengers in the US, but it's easy to forget. They have a good business traveler

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Delta, American, and United provide elite members free same-day standby, allowing them to switch flights if seats are available.

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This perk varies by elite tier. Delta Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallions get free standby on any trip,

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whereas Silver Medallions must pay to switch to an earlier flight. Airline differences exist too.

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American gives the bonus to companions on the same record, whereas Delta only gives it to VIP travelers.

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Southwest already offers "free standby" since they don't charge cancellation costs. If you are on a “Wanna Get Away” rate (their cheapest),

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you must upgrade to “Anytime” to change your flight the same day. This means you must pay the difference between your ticket and the

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Southwest elites have priority standby, but they must pay fare variations like everyone else. Southwest recently emailed that A-List and A-List

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A huge catch appears with this new perk. New flights must leave within two hours of original departure, between the same cities, and on the same day.

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Use of this benefit is extremely limited. Southwest probably doesn't want you to pay for a mid-day flight but receive a late-night one

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