Missing Connection
 

I have a 75 minute layover in Chicago-Midway on an ATA flight next week. I really would like to have a much LONGER layover so I can visit friends in the area. The next flight out is about 6 hours later and this would be just right. If I plan to miss original flight would I just be put on the next flight with no problem? Luggage is not an issue since I will only be traveling with one small bag that I can carry on. Any problems with leaving the airport during the layover time?

You can not just miss a connection and expect to be accomodated on a later flight. If your first flight is on time, you will be expected to make the connecting flight.

I'm not sure how ATA deals with same day standbys, but it may be possible, but it's very risky, to ask for a standby for the later flight. What that means is that if there are seats available on the later flight and the airline allows same day standby, you will be accomodated, BUT you need to communicate this with the airline before your scheduled flight, you can't just walk away from your scheduled flight and expect this to work. The risk with this is that if there are no seats on the later flight and there are no more flights to your final destination, a non-refundable, cheap ticket usually becomes void by midnight of the same day.

Another idea is to call the airline NOW and ask for a schedule change. It will probably involve a change fee and possibly a fare adjustment, but at least you will be guaranteed exactly what you want to do.

What you propose to do? DON'T! It may end up costing you a lot of money.

Good points, thanks. One customer service rep that I spoke to just suggested that I buy another ticket from Midway to my final destination- selecting, of course, a departure time that was more convenient to me. This was actually much less expensive than making a change to my original itinerary.

If the Midway to "top secret location" flight is not the last of your itinerary - like if you have return flights to take - then you cannot just give up on your purchased leg. The rest of the itinerary will be automatically cancelled if you don't show up for the flight, or if you don't have an excuse.

I'll be flying one-way so I'll be OK. My final destination, by the way, is Washington DC.