Airline ticket with open ended departure date?

I"m pregant and my husband is stationed in another state. We have an induction date, but if I go into labor early we want to try to get him as quickly and cost effective as possible. Is there an airline that offers stand-by tickets? I don't know what they would be called, but basically a ticket that he can buy now and use at any given date? He is in San Diego and needs to come to Houston, so which (if any) airlines offer this and about how much are they? Thanks!|||You can't buy a cheap ticket that can be used anytime. Even if it was possible to buy a ticket without departure date (which I doubt), this doesn't guarantee an available seat.





What you are describing is the most expensive method of travel (short notice). The only method to travel cheap is to purchase the ticket in advance for a fixed date in the future. Obviously your husband can't do that.





Even if you buy a ticket which allows for date change, you will have to pay the fare difference as well as a change fee. The conclusion is that it's useless to purchase a ticket in advance if you don't know when you will travel.





Your husband must buy a ticket as soon as he knows the departure date, probably just one day notice or less. Sorry to say, this ticket will not be cheap. A quick search on Expedia for a round trip San Diego - Houston departing today gives around USD700-800.





Congratulations to your soon to arrive baby :)|||Hi Brittle,



Standby is not used much any more by airlines and I believe it is used primarily when a flight has been cancelled in order to get the passenger on another flight that appears filled at the time. Probably your best option is getting an open ended ticket that will allow changes at low fees. Normally these are more expensive then the restricted coach fares but they offer more flexibility along possibly offering a few very minor perks such as priority rebooking if flight is cancelled. Each airline calls them by different names like flexible economy, economy saver or full coach to name a few. Even if you opt for the cheap economy fare buying on such short-term notice will most likely mean very high ticket prices. Best airlines to check are Southwest, United, American, and Continental. Finally without knowing specific dates and length he will be there it is difficult to quote a fare. My feeling low end for economy would be $800 up to $2,000+ for a flexible economy fare.|||You can't purchase a airline ticket with out a date for travel. If you go in labor before the induction date is contact directly the airlines %26amp; see if he would qualify for a discounted ticket. He need to tell them that you were due to be induced on xxx date. They may concern this a family emergency %26amp; he'd be able to get a ticket.





I'd not just check with one airline but, several. Delta had a pretty good deal when I had a family emergency in 2008.|||Hi! You can use online ticketing sites and or, you can go to nearest ticketing office near. Thanks!|||Airlines no longer offer stand-by tickets, unless you already hold a ticket for the date of travel you are wishing to stand-by for. Open ended tickets are full fare tickets and the most expensive coach ticket available.



For your situation, I would look at Southwest Airlines ONLY, they fly into Houston-Hobby Airport. They do not charge change fee's, only the difference in the fare, if there is one. And given your situation you *may* be able to avoid the additional cost, if there is one, if you have documentation from your obstetrician that he needs to be in Houston sooner than he is booked. Book the ticket a day or so before your induction date, just in case, and then if you need to change it, he can call the airline directly, explain the situation and then they may be able to change it at no charge or be able to waive the fee altogether if he brings something from the attending physician (it can be a fax or an e-mail on letterhead with a signature). He can rebook himself online if the same fare is available, however if he can't find the same fare or if the cost is exponentially more, then he can call and ask the reservations agent if they would make an exception.



DO NOT whatever you do book on a travel website since you need flexibility. Stick with Southwest as your chosen airline since they have the easiest rules as far as changing your flights.



You may even be able to call Southwest Airlines directly and see if you can negotiate an open ended ticket for a decent price, since he is military, Airlines usually offer military families special fares for travel that you cannot get through the airlines website. He may also want to check with the military travel agents that service his base, they usually can arrange for quick travel with out penalty as well.



Continental is the other airline I would call, they service IAH non-stop, however you more than likely will get a call center in India, but you can call and ask if they have special military fares, or if they would be willing to negotiate a fare for you at a reasonable rate given your situation. I don't normally recommend calling the airlines customer service line, but given your situation, you may need to in order to see if they would be willing to work with you. Of the 2, you may find that Southwest is going to be more accommodating.