Standby (air travel)
Encyclopedia
On most modern airlines, flying standby occurs when a passenger travels on a flight without a prior reservation for that specific flight.
Airline employees and some of their family and friends may also travel standby, often at discounted fares or free of charge. They usually have lower priority than regular passengers and are only allocated a seat after all passengers paying a regular fare have been allocated seats. It can even happen that an employee traveling standby takes his or her seat on the aircraft, but is then asked to vacate it to make way for a regular passenger.
Travelers get themselves onto the standby list by speaking to a ticket agent or a gate agent. Almost always, this must occur in person at the airport, and not over the phone. When the flight is boarding, any unclaimed or available seats will be given to those passengers on the standby list, who must wait at the gate to be called. Any passengers on the list who are not given seats are rolled into the standby list for the next flight.
Passengers on the standby list are typically given priority based on how much they paid for their tickets and their relative status in the airline's frequent flyer program
. A person who paid full fare will have higher priority than someone who purchased a 21-day advance fare.
Some low-cost carrier
s, Southwest Airlines
in particular, have policies that only allow full fares to standby. This means that if one purchased a discounted airfare, like a web-only fare or 14-day advance ticket, one would be ineligible to fly standby unless he or she upgraded his or her ticket to a full-fare (unless the original Southwest Airlines flight is delayed, in which case no upgrade would be necessary).
While standby for earlier flights began as a free service on many airlines, as of April 2010, most US airlines charge for unconfirmed standby, with a USD 50-75 fee being standard. Currently, United Airlines
charges a USD 75 fee for standby travel to all passengers except passengers on full fare tickets, 1K passengers, Global Services passengers, and premium cabin passengers. American Airlines
restricts free standby to passengers who have elite status or fully refundable tickets, and charges a USD 50 fee for all other passengers who wish to secure a confirmed standby seat within 12 hours of their desired flight time. In all cases, distressed passengers (passengers whose flights have been cancelled, denied boarding, etc.) are given free standby and highest priority in all cases.
Why fly standby?
There are two circumstances in which passengers typically fly standby. First, a missed flight may require a passenger to fly standby on the next flight to the same destination, as he or she now lacks a reservation. Secondly, a passenger may arrive at the airport early (whether accidentally or on purpose) and wish to take an earlier flight listed for that day. He or she will then attempt to travel standby on the earlier flight, and failing that, proceed to take his or her booked flight. This is referred to in the industry as "go-show".Airline employees and some of their family and friends may also travel standby, often at discounted fares or free of charge. They usually have lower priority than regular passengers and are only allocated a seat after all passengers paying a regular fare have been allocated seats. It can even happen that an employee traveling standby takes his or her seat on the aircraft, but is then asked to vacate it to make way for a regular passenger.
Travelers get themselves onto the standby list by speaking to a ticket agent or a gate agent. Almost always, this must occur in person at the airport, and not over the phone. When the flight is boarding, any unclaimed or available seats will be given to those passengers on the standby list, who must wait at the gate to be called. Any passengers on the list who are not given seats are rolled into the standby list for the next flight.
Passengers on the standby list are typically given priority based on how much they paid for their tickets and their relative status in the airline's frequent flyer program
Frequent flyer program
A frequent flyer program is a loyalty program offered by many airlines. Typically, airline customers enrolled in the program accumulate frequent flyer miles corresponding to the distance flown on that airline or its partners. There are other ways to accumulate miles...
. A person who paid full fare will have higher priority than someone who purchased a 21-day advance fare.
Some low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
s, Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
in particular, have policies that only allow full fares to standby. This means that if one purchased a discounted airfare, like a web-only fare or 14-day advance ticket, one would be ineligible to fly standby unless he or she upgraded his or her ticket to a full-fare (unless the original Southwest Airlines flight is delayed, in which case no upgrade would be necessary).
While standby for earlier flights began as a free service on many airlines, as of April 2010, most US airlines charge for unconfirmed standby, with a USD 50-75 fee being standard. Currently, United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
charges a USD 75 fee for standby travel to all passengers except passengers on full fare tickets, 1K passengers, Global Services passengers, and premium cabin passengers. American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
restricts free standby to passengers who have elite status or fully refundable tickets, and charges a USD 50 fee for all other passengers who wish to secure a confirmed standby seat within 12 hours of their desired flight time. In all cases, distressed passengers (passengers whose flights have been cancelled, denied boarding, etc.) are given free standby and highest priority in all cases.