It's the last day of your vacation, and you had planned to make the most of it. So, you booked a flight home at 9 p.m. But as the day goes on, you find yourself eager to get home sooner. You decide to head to the airport, hoping to catch an earlier flight. When you get there, you'll likely be added to the "standby list." This ultimate travel guide will explain how the standby process works and how you can make the most of it on your next trip. Let's get to the point!
So what does it mean to fly standby?
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Understanding standby flying
Flying standby means you don't have a guaranteed seat assignment on a flight. A passenger on the standby list could have a confirmed ticket for a later flight that day but they want to catch an earlier one. Or they may have missed their original flight or had a flight canceled or delayed, and they're hoping to get on the next available flight. Many airline employees and their relatives also have standby privileges as part of their benefits. They can get on any flight with an open seat at a discounted price. However, this type of standby isn't available to the general public.
The meaning of "flying standby" has changed over time. In the past, passengers could simply show up at the airport without a ticket and try to get a standby ticket at a discounted price if there were open seats. Nowadays, passengers need a confirmed ticket to fly standby – it means they're looking to switch to a different flight on the same day.
Overall, flying standby is an option for passengers who are flexible with their travel plans and want to try to get on an earlier or different flight than their original booking. But it's not a guarantee, and the process has evolved over the years.
The ins and outs of standby travel
Most US airlines allow passengers to make same-day changes to their flights. This is different from regular ticket changes because it can only be done on the day of travel. The rules vary by airline, but travelers are usually able to make these changes 24 hours before their original scheduled departure time. This gives people more flexibility on the day of travel. Instead of having to pay a higher last-minute fare, they can switch to another flight for a small fee or sometimes for free.
There are 2 types of same-day changes: same-day confirmed and same-day standby. With a confirmed change, a passenger can exchange their ticket for a flight on the same day and get a confirmed seat assignment right away. They can do this by talking to a reservations agent on the phone or at the airport or by using the airline's website or app. If a confirmed seat isn't available, the passenger will usually have the option of same-day standby.
This might happen if the flight the passenger wants is full. But if there are any last-minute no-shows or passengers who miss their connections, the airline will assign any open seats to those on the standby list. In some cases, airlines might hold back a certain number of seats for high-priced last-minute fares but if they don't sell, the airline will give them to passengers on the standby list.
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The cost of traveling standby
Many US airlines allow passengers to change their flights on the same day for a fee, usually between $50 and $75. This service provides the peace of mind of having a confirmed seat on your new flight. Those with elite status in the airline's frequent flier program may have this fee waived.
If the same-day confirmed change option isn't available, passengers can choose to be placed on the standby list instead. For example, United lets passengers join the standby list for free but only up to 24 hours before the original flight and only for travel to and from the same airport. If any seats become available, they'll be assigned to those on the standby list at no additional cost. On the standby list, elite members are given priority over those without elite status.
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American Airlines and Delta also offer free same-day standby but only for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Passengers must be a member of the airline's frequent flier program to use this service. On the other hand, Southwest offers free same-day standby on all of its flights.
Some airlines, like Alaska Airlines, only allow same-day standby on certain routes or ticket types. Otherwise, the only option is to make confirmed changes for a fee, typically $50 ($25 within California). On JetBlue, both same-day confirmed and same-day standby changes cost $75, though the fee is waived for elite members.
It's crucial to keep in mind that some airline tickets may have limitations when it comes to same-day changes. Typically, basic economy fares don't allow for this option. However, if your ticket is eligible, opting to fly standby could potentially save you a significant amount of money when your travel plans change unexpectedly on the day of your trip.
