Think back to the last time you were in an airport, waiting for your plane to board. (Remember airports? Remember flying?) You may have noticed a TV screen above the gate counter filled with a list of passenger names and heard a flight attendant calling those same names over the intercom. Those were the names of standby passengers hoping to hitch a ride on your flight.
Flying standby means you are waiting for the next available seat on a flight you didn’t actually buy a ticket for, and it’s a great way for travelers on a budget to catch an earlier flight home for less money—but anyone can fly standby. Here’s how to do it.
Who can fly standby
Flying standby used to mean you’d show up at the airport without a ticket and wait around hoping to catch an empty seat on a departing flight, but security changes after 9/11 mean passengers must have a pre-purchased ticket to even attempt to fly standby, and you can only fly to the destination on your original ticket.
To fly standby these days usually means that you have purchased a plane ticket but want to see if you can secure an empty seat on an earlier flight to the same destination. However, there are certainly more instances where people will want to fly standby:
You’re on a buddy pass. Buddy passes are a perk airline employees can give to friends or family allowing them to fly without paying the full price of their ticket. When using a buddy pass, you’re not guaranteed a seat and must add your name to the standby list at the gate after passing through security. (More on buddy passes below.)
You missed a flight and are trying to get on the next available one. This is the most common reason people fly standby, because once you miss your original flight you may have to wait around to see which subsequent flights, if any, will have an empty seat for you.
You want an upgrade. When you ask for an upgrade to a better seat, your name is put on a standby waitlist with others who have also requested an upgrade. Elite status and premium members will always get the first opportunity to upgrade.
A flight is overbooked and you don’t have a seat assignment. When a flight is too full and more tickets have been sold than there are seats, anyone without an actual seat will go on a standby list for the next available seat.
Be a buddy
In recent years, various airlines’ policies surrounding “buddy passes” have tightened so that people cannot misuse them, but are still very much a thing in the travel industry. A buddy pass is a flight pass given to an airline employee for use by their family and friends. It allows the person flying on the pass to only have to cover the cost of a ticket’s taxes and fees.
The rules for the use of buddy passes differ from carrier to carrier, so you’ll need to look into specific policies if you are planning to fly on one of them. Also know that use of a buddy pass does not guarantee you a seat on the flight—it only guarantees you a spot on the loudspeaker list, and that if a seat opens up, depending where your name is on the list, you will get to fly.
When flying on a buddy pass, you want to show up to the airport as early as possible so your name is as close to the top of the list as it can be, increasing your chances of getting a seat.
How to improve your chances of getting a standby seat
There are certain steps you can take to fly standby effectively and get yourself on the next flight faster. For example, you’ll always have better luck if you’re flying solo rather than in, say, a party of three. Limiting your luggage to a carry-on instead of a checked bag will also help, as you may get bumped (taken off the list) if they have to take time to locate your checked bag to put it on the next available flight.
Other ways to boost your chances:
Always have “elite status.” Most airlines do not allow same-day changes for basic economy class tickets without charging you a fee, which means standby is your only option—and passengers with elite status always have priority on the standby list. Without elite status, you could be bumped off the list for someone who does. Different airlines will have different requirements for qualifying for elite status, and it’s worth investigating before your trip.
Download your airport’s app. This is the easiest way to see the next available flight times. They may also allow you to do a “same-day flight change” and add your name to a standby list without talking to an agent.
The earlier you arrive, the better. The reason airports recommend you arrive at the airport 2-3 hours ahead of your departure time is actually to help us avoid missing flights in case of long security lines or other unexpected airport occurrences—but the earlier you arrive at the gate, the earlier you can get your name on the standby list, so don’t leave at the last minute or dawdle at Hudson Books.
Policies by airline
Each airline offers customers options for standby passengers, and their specific policies may vary. Below are three major carriers’ policies:
American Airlines
There’s a $75 fee for same-day flight changes, whether you change your ticket at the counter or fly standby. However, you can avoid the fee if you have an Unrestricted Economy fare, a Business or First Class ticket or are an AirPass customer. Active military members and those enrolled in the AAdvantage (Gold, Platinum, Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro) program are also exempt. It’s free to sign up for AAdvantage.
Your standby flight:
Must depart on the same day as your original flight
Must depart from and fly to the same airports as your original flight
Must be operated by American Airlines
Elite Status grants you access to later flights as well as earlier ones
Delta
Standby is allowed on flights earlier than your original ticket if the “Same-Day Confirmed” option is unavailable.
Same-day standby fee is $75, but is complimentary for Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members.
Basic economy and flights outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands are not eligible for standby.
The fee is only charged once you’re cleared to get on the flight.
United
If you need to fly out on a different flight on the same day there’s a $75 fee. However, the charges is waived for Basic Economy (N) or Economy (first bag charge/no changes allowed) fares.
You can fly standby if seats aren’t available in the fare class you’ve purchased. In that case, the same-day change fee will apply, but you won’t be charged unless you’re assigned a seat on your alternate flight.
Route changes aren’t allowed when standing by.
You can ask for standby on the day of your departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport.
Once you’re added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
Standby is a waiting game requiring patience and gratitude. Always remember that the gate agents will do their best to provide whatever help they can given your circumstances, but they also have rules they must follow and other passengers who also need tending to. Be kind, be courteous and you’ll be on your way in no time.