Can I get on an earlier flight without paying fee?

[Anonymous]

I have a 6:00pm flight out of Chicago. I just learned the meeting I was attending was cancelled, so I'd like to take an earlier flight back home. If I show up at the gate and there is space available, will they let me on without having to pay change fee?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes. Technically, most airlines will say they will charge you (there are exceptions, depending on the airline, the type of ticket you bought, and the availability of tickets now), but IME the gate people will sometimes overlook that and just put you on the earlier flight.

[Anonymous]

I don't think they charge a fee for taking an earlier flight. As long as they realize you don't HAVE to take that earlier flight....if you act like you HAVE to be on that flight....then they might.

[Anonymous]

I think your only chance is to check in for your original flight (with carry-on luggage only, obviously) and then go to the gate of the earlier flight and inquire (assuming both flights will be in the same terminal so that security access isn't a problem). If you get to the airport early and do self-check the airline computer will normally say, "there is an earlier flight to Washington at XXX, would you like to switch to this flight for a $25/$50 fee?"

[Anonymous]

I think they'll just let you on most of the time if there are a lot of seats available, and you are just at the airport earlier than normal.

[Anonymous]

Aren't you flying on business? Why do you care if they charge a change fee?

[Anonymous]

I have done this many times and no fee at all. I just go to the ticket counter (not the check-in counter) for the airline when I arrive at the airport and ask for an earlier flight and if they have a seat they will give it to me. Granted if they don't have a seat you are then at the airport way too early - in those cases sometimes I use the lounges (if they have them).

[Anonymous]

southwest lets you change flights without any fee... you just pay the difference in price if it's higher. if you happen to change to a cheaper flight, they give you the difference as credit.

[Anonymous]

it depends on your fare class and the airline. I'd call the airline to check. I normally am able to change at the last minute (and actually do that frequently in Chicago) but tried it on Delta recently and they would have charged me $150 to go an hour earlier.

[Anonymous]

Airline person here. It varies from airline to airline and is usually a matter of the gate agent's discretion, and the load factors on the flights. If there are many open seats on the earlier flight but the later flight is oversold, they'll probably switch you easily. If both flights are relatively wide open they'll probably switch you easily. If you want to fly on a fully booked flight, you'll have to pay a change fee. Calling the 800 number will mean you definitely pay a change fee plus a difference in fares, which is often very steep. You'll do better at the airport.