Posted on: Monday, December 30, 2002

ON THE ROAD
Delta announces new standby fee

Associated Press

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines is taking a new tack with standby travel, requiring a $25 fee for passengers who want to be put on a different flight within three hours of its departure.

Delta had been among the last of the major carriers to carry a $100 fee, but said Thursday it will now confirm passengers on a different flight, including connecting flights, provided that seats are open.

The company said it would waive the fee for platinum and gold members of Delta's SkyMiles program. Changes to a flight departing more than three hours from the traveler's original flight will still carry the $100 fee, plus any fare difference.

The change, which takes effect March 1, is designed to goad business travelers into buying more expensive tickets — which come with the option of changing.

The industry's move this year to a $100 standby fee drew the ire of many passengers — especially business travelers flying on less-expensive tickets, who typically need to change their flights more often than leisure travelers.

Last week, American and Continental airlines said they would follow United Airlines' move to drop a $100 fee for customers flying standby.

Delta spokeswoman Dee Baker Amos said that in certain emergencies, such as people who miss a flight because of security-checkpoint delays, customers will still be able to stand by for a later flight.

Atlanta-based Delta said the new policy will benefit customers making connections who change their plans because it assures them they will have a seat if one is available. Delta, the nation's third-largest carrier, said it has more passengers traveling via connections than any other airline.

The policy is effective for tickets purchased on or after Sept. 5 for travel beginning March 1, and applies for travel in all 50 states and Canada.