Last minute / standby air travel options in Asia?

I've seen a few questions about 'staff standby' tickets - where you get a cheap ticket with 'low priority' - eg, if there's an empty seat, you can fly. I call it "staff standby" because the questions I've seen so far seem to suggest that this is becoming less available to the public, but is still sometimes available to select groups (airline staff, etc). It also seems like the answer might vary dependent on region.

So, currently (mid-2013) in the SEA region, can one still buy low price 'standby-priority'/'space-available' tickets?

(If it doesn't broaden the scope unacceptably, then as a follow-up: What similar possibilities exist, currently in this region? (Last-minute non-stanby bookings, dramatically cheaper off-peak/red-eye rates, etc.))

Best Answer

I'm not sure whether buying such tickets would be possible, but chances are that only 'full-cost' airlines will have such an option. For cheap flights, the best option by far within the South-East Asia region would be to fly with a budget airline. Wikivoyage has a list of discount airlines that operate in Asia.

If you have even a slight amount of planning though, and can book tickets online, you will find much better deals booking with low-cost airlines online as opposed to buying them at the airport, based on my personal experience with SEA low-cost airlines.

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Can you fly standby right now?

Can I still fly standby? Can you simply show up at the airport without a ticket and expect to get somewhere for cheap? The short answer is no. Airlines no longer allow you to wait around at the counter in hopes of snagging a "standby flight" and filling the last seat of a departing flight.

Can you get standby flights for free?

Standby is reserved for folks who are involuntarily bumped from their original flights, passengers who, for one reason or another, want to get on an earlier or later flight on the same-day of their original scheduled flight and airline employees and their families and eligible companions who fly for free or near free.

Can you board a flight last minute?

While flights have a scheduled departure time, there is an unwritten final-boarding rule. The gate agent will often close the door to the plane ten minutes before departure, which, depending on what side of the door you're on, can either mean a huge sigh of relief or a delayed or even ruined trip.

What is the cheapest way to get to Asia?

How to Find Cheap Flights to Asia

Get Yourself to Los Angeles or New York.

Don't Be Hesitant About Using Asia-Based Airlines.

Learn to Love the Budget Airlines.

Always Fly Into Big Cities.

Consider Ground Transportation.

Do Not Assume That All Booking Sites Show the Best Deal.

Use Frequent Flier Programs.

HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Michelle O'neill-Attwater, Francesco Ungaro, Andrew Neel, Taryn Elliott