Flying Standby from Delhi?

ToddSoc

Hi. I am scheduled to fly in a few days from Kathmandu to Delhi. My flight from Delhi to my home city was supposed to be at the end of April on Jet Airways, but I've been feeling under-the-weather since a motorcycle accident in late February, and I'd prefer to return home much sooner.

When I called Jet Airways, they told me that the soonest date for which they could change my flight out of Delhi would be April 7, unless I was willing to pay a large fee. So I accepted the booking for April 7. This means that I need to spend about 5 days in Delhi before I can fly home and after arriving from Kathmandu.

I have spent some time in Delhi in the past, and, prior to the prevailing opinion on this board, I find it to be a fairly pleasant place. I don't get hassled by touts but once in a blue moon there, Delhi has several restaurants I fancy, and I know my way around the metro system pretty well. But at the present, I'm not particularly thrilled about the prospect of spending time there in the hot season when I'm not feeling so healthy.

I have minimal experience with international flights and with Jet Airways in particular. I was wondering if it might be possible, even though Jet could not book me a new reserved ticket (without a huge fee) on the date of my flight from Kathmandu, for them to fit me in on a "standby" basis on that date. Do airlines ever allow passengers booked for a different date to fly standby, on an as-available basis? I know there are still seats available, in economy class, on the date of my flight from Kathmandu, so maybe they'll let me take one of those seats? Where would I inquire about this?

I would call the Jet office in Kathmandu, or visit in person, but I would expect that I might get a very different answer than I would receive at the IGI Airport in Delhi.

Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated.

Todd

Haylo

No idea whether or not you'd get a standby flight, but there is a problem with asking at the IGI Airport - you won't get access to the airport without a ticket for a flight leaving within the next five hours at the most.

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)