Flying standby (also known as “same day flight changes”) is when a passenger without a seat assignment waits at the gate to see if there’s an extra seat for them after all scheduled passengers have boarded. This usually happens when:
- A potential passenger isn’t booked on the flight, but waits to see if there’s an extra seat after all scheduled passengers have boarded.
- A passenger missed their flight and is now trying to fly standby on the next flight to the same destination (since they now don’t have a reservation).
- A passenger who has a reservation for a flight arrives at the airport early (either by accident or on purpose) and asks to be on standby for an earlier flight to the same destination. If a standby seat doesn’t open up for them, they just take the flight they had originally booked.
- Many airlines, especially in the US, give free space-available domestic upgrades to first class to their elite tier fliers. If first class sells out or upgrades go to higher-tiered passengers, elite fliers can stand by in the event a first-class seat becomes available (it can happen due to cancellation, no-show, misconnect, irregular operation, equipment change, etc.).
- If a flight is overbooked, an airline may designate all passengers without a seat assignment as “standby” prior to boarding.
- Airline employees and some of their family/friends are allowed by their employer to travel standby, often for free or at a nice discount. They usually have lower priority than regular passengers, and are given a seat after all regular fare passengers have seats.
Flying standby has its risks. Granted, it can be convenient (if you’re trying to get on an earlier flight and are able to do so)…or not. It can be time consuming (you’re trying to get onto a flight because you missed yours, or you’re an airline employee)…or not. And it could get you an upgrade (if you’re eligible)…or not.
Some tips and tricks may (or may not) help you with getting standby. These have come from multiple sources, including airline employees/friends/family and people who fly standby on a frequent basis. Some make more sense than others, depending on the circumstances, as covered above, if you’re trying to fly standby:
One is better than many
Especially nowadays, when airlines are so concerned about putting a butt into every seat that they oversell (this is how airlines decide who gets bumped. And here’s American Airlines’ latest trick for oversold flights), being a party of one will give you a distinct advantage for getting ONE standby seat, instead of your family of 4 hoping for 4 of them.
Get there early
This one came up many times from many sources, especially for employees trying to fly free/cheap. If you’re at a location with multiple flights, the old adage “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” holds true. You might not get that 7:05am flight, but there may be room for you on the 8:05am or 9:05am flight. There also tend to be more “no shows” during that first flight of the day.
Don’t check a bag
If you can plan your trip so you won’t check a bag, that will make things easier for you. If you’ve checked a bag and then try to get onto an earlier flight, guess what? Your bag is still going to go on your original flight; they won’t fish it out for you.
When Joe and I were flying MCO-CLT a few weeks ago, we arrived early enough where the same flight, but one about 2 hours earlier, hadn’t even boarded yet. Our flight was oversold, but the earlier flight still had empty seats. They offered the seats to those of us on the later flight, but the one caveat was that you couldn’t have checked a bag.
Forget about popular travel times
If you’re flying standby, try your best not to fly during the times of day/year when airports are crazy and everyone is trying to get somewhere. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays? Thanksgiving week? Seriously, don’t even bother.
Status & cost matters
Someone who has status (and the higher the status, the better) will be prioritized for a standby seat over someone without status. Even someone who’s simply a member of the airline’s mileage program will be considered a rewards member instead of just an average passenger. Along the same lines, someone who has paid a full fare (as opposed to basic economy or booking cheap through Expedia, Booking.com or all the other discount outlets) will be higher in the pecking order.
Be flexible and have a Plan B (and C, D and maybe even E)
Flying standby is a craps shoot and sometimes might not work. Have a plan in case you don’t get onto a flight today. Or maybe even tomorrow. That plan might be flying on Southwest and swallowing a last-minute cancellation as a future flight credit. Perhaps it’s flying on an ultra low cost carrier and swallowing a $29 flight. Heck, maybe it means renting a car and driving there (or, if you can, switching your flight to a relatively nearby but less popular airport and then renting a car and driving the rest of the way). But if you *have* to get somewhere and the standby gods aren’t working in your favor, know what your options are and use them to your advantage. Even if it means sleeping at the airport (here are some tips for that).
Bribery can’t hurt
It’s never guaranteed. But just like how giving flight attendants chocolate or a $5 Starbucks gift card can do wonders in terms of potentially getting you benefits (free drinks, unexpected upgrade to a Premium Economy seat, etc.), giving the gate attendant (you know…the one in charge of who gets on the next flight and who doesn’t) a little something, certainly can’t hurt (wink wink). A gate agent with a greased palm may not be able to get you onto the flight of your #1 choice, but they might be able to get you on a different route to your destination that might actually have room for you.
And even if you don’t necessarily bribe the gate agent, always, at the very least, be courteous and respectful to them. They’re the ones who will decide your fate. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Know the rules
Each airline that allows standby has its own set of rules for flying standby. It’s best to know the rules of whatever airline you’re flying on so you and the gate agent can be on the same page. Here are the rules for the major US airlines:
- Alaska
- Allegiant doesn’t offer standby travel
- American
- Delta
- Frontier (see “Same-Day Flight Changes” tab)
- Hawaiian doesn’t offer standby travel
- jetBlue
- Southwest
- Spirit
- United
Stay near the boarding gate
If you’re actively choosing to fly standby, they could choose your name any any given moment. Be there for that, or they may bypass you for the next person on the list.
Good luck!
Feature Image: M. Morgan / Reddit
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