Travel on earlier flight without cost?

If I've got a booking on the 1800 VS25 to JFK, but suddenly find myself with the afternoon free and am therefore able to get to the airport nice and early - what do you think my chances are of getting them to let me travel on one of the 1600 flights - either to JFK or EWR? Both flights are showing as wide open in all classes at the moment. I don't think there will be really any different to Virgin - aside from perhaps the catering arrangements?

Anyone know?

Depends what type of fare you're holding. If you have a restricted, non-changeable ticket then, no, you wouldn't be able to.

[preiffer]

Your CHANCES? I'd say 0% TBH, unless you pay a change fee. (Assuming you don't have a fully-flex ticket)

They're strict on this. It's how they make their money out of Y tickets.

Hmm, ok. Guess I wont rush to the airport then!

I remember a few years ago, a few airlines were very liberal about this - even on restricted fares. Iberia even let me change the route once, without grumbling at all.

Thanks guys!

Not strictly true that you have 0%. It is definately more than 0% as I have done it on a restricted seat. The key seems to be loading. If VS know that the flight you are on is heavily over sold and the earlier flight is empty then it is in their interest to let you move to the earlier flight.

That being said I have asked on more than a Dozen occasions and been granted this once. So in my case the chances are less than 8%.

There are certain things you can try to see if an early trip is worth while. Check the loading on the systems you have access to such as Expert Flyer. If you see wide open availability on your existing flight don't bother. If there is no avilability on you existing flight and a lot on the earlier one it may just be worth a try.

Paul

VS 1 & 9 do seem wide open at the moment, so fingers crossed. (I'm on 25)


Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- ---- --------------------------------------
VS 9 LHR 16:00 JFK 18:55 744 0 J7 D7 Z7 S7 Y7 B7 L7 M7 Q7 X7 N7 0 0
VS 1 LHR 16:00 EWR 18:50 346 0 J7 D7 Z7 S7 Y6 B6 L6 M6 Q6 X6 N6 0 0
VS 25 LHR 18:00 JFK 21:00 346 0 J7 D7 Z7 S7 Y7 B7 L7 M7 Q7 X7 N7 0 0

[Decker]

Erm yes but 25 is even wider open! [:(]

I know