To wait for standby or fork over $600?

[jmjpro]

I missed my Air Canada (booked through United) this morning from Tel Aviv to Denver via Toronto because they wouldn't let me check in 50 minutes before the flight. My best option to get to Denver before Shabbat is to take a United flight tonight at 11:10 pm. There are four seats available (all in the middle) and United is asking me to pay a $300 change fee AND $300 for a more expensive ticket. They also said that another ticket could open up at the same price as my ticket, which would mean I would only have to pay the $300 change fee.

I guess the main question is: how often are there cancellations on summer flights from Tel Aviv to the U.S.?

[shauly]

There's no way to predict with any degree of certainty that the flight will open for you. You are going to have to make the decision based on how important it is to make it to Denver.

[jmjpro]

Thanks Shauly. Will the prices go down right before the flight?

[lubaby]

Thanks Shauly. Will the prices go down right before the flight?

Generally they go up then, as more seats get sold and there are only higher fare bucket seats available.

[jmjpro]

There's a happy ending: I showed up almost three hours before the flight (after risking not being first in line in order to daven Maariv) and United only charged me $75.

[MosheD]

There's a happy ending: I showed up almost three hours before the flight (after risking not being first in line in order to daven Maariv) and United only charged me $75.

Nice!
Glad to hear