Some airlines will let you phone in or register online to get on the standby list, but these options may only be available for confirmed same-day changes. Others may require you to show up at the airport and speak with an agent, or at least use the kiosks at the airport. Each airline has a designated window in which you're allowed to make that change, too, whether it's a few hours from your scheduled departure or after midnight the day of or 24 hours prior to your ticketed flight.
And there may be further restrictions. If you already have a ticket, JetBlue, for one, specifically states that there's no standby flying for routes that only fly once a day, and you can only standby for the flight right before yours. Many limit the options to your original departure and destination airports and to flights between certain regions most often the U. Read our full article on detailed standby policies by airline.
Whether you're a ticketed passenger or you have a buddy pass, you'll want to show up as early as possible if you can't get on the list by phone or online. In most cases, this means showing up a few hours before the first flight of the day. Because passengers are placed on the standby list on a first come, first served basis, this will maximize your chances of success.
If you're using a buddy pass, be prepared to stay for the last flight of the day, since airlines will place paying customers first. Same-day changes can be requested at the airport or through the Contact Center. If there are seats available on the flight immediately before the originally scheduled flight, passengers can fly standby free of charge , but this is not a confirmed changed and does not guarantee a seat.
If space is available on the next scheduled flight, passengers may elect to pay the same-day travel change fee and fly confirmed on the flight. If the scheduled flight is the last flight of the day and the ticket counter is closed, passengers must call the Contact Center, and the passenger can fly standby or pay the same-day travel change fee to confirm a seat on the first flight the following day.
WestJet allows complimentary, same-day flight changes for Plus and WestJet Rewards Gold members looking to change to an earlier flight or who want to be re-accommodated for a missed flight if requested within two hours of the missed flight.
Change requests must be for the same day, same origin, and same destination, and passengers must not have already checked their baggage. Passengers who have missed their flight may be accommodated for a fee on the next available flight, to the same destination, on the same calendar day if a seat is available In some cases, the next available flight may be the next day or later, depending on the destination involved.
Passengers traveling with Econo and Flex fares booked prior to Jan. Have you ever flown standby? Share your own tips and tricks in the comments and start your flight search on Cheapflights. We do our best to bring you the most timely information, but until superhuman speed is perfected, we can only move so fast. This information is subject to change, so please always double check current policies with your airline or agent before you book.
For more information on how we securely process personal information, please see our Privacy Policy. Do not sell my info ON. Cheapflights app Easy. Search the blog Categories. Search for flights Tips for flying standby Flying standby? Get ready to roll. Check out our tips for flying with one carry-on. Request standby as early as possible. Requests are generally handled in the order in which they are received.
Join airline loyalty reward programs and gain status. Not only will this bump you up the standby list, but you may also have a great lounge to enjoy while waiting to fly standby. Avoid highly restrictive tickets. They may not allow standby travel, so always read the fine print. Head to the departure gate for your chosen standby flight as early as possible.
We get these questions all the time: how does flying standby work? How can I fly standby? Why should I fly standby? Flying standby was synonymous with airline benefits. Or irregular operations.
Or people with loyalty status. Well, may not have brought much in the way of good news for the airline industry, but it did bring us the ability to finally say: flying standby is relevant to everyone. But how does flying standby work in ? There are many reasons for being placed on the standby list, but here are some of the most common:. Article Summary. Part 1. Learn about the standby policies of the airline you are flying. Airlines like United Airlines and Delta have different policies regarding standby passengers.
These policies reflect fees, treatment of checked luggage, and more. As a result, you should take a minute to read your airline's policies. Purchase an inexpensive ticket. If your initial goal is to fly standby, you should try to buy the cheapest ticket possible to your final destination. Having a ticket to the destination you want to go to is important, as many airlines will not allow you to fly standby unless you're already going to that destination.
Avoid buying a ticket you don't want to use. Remember that flying standby is not guaranteed. Thus, you need to be smart about the ticket you purchase. If you won't want to use it, you shouldn't buy it. This is because there is a very good chance you won't be able to get a standby ticket. Get a buddy pass to avoid buying a ticket. Depending on the airline, buddy passes may allow the user to check two bags. Call ahead to increase your chances of getting a standby ticket.
In some cases, airlines will be able to put you on a standby list. Part 2. Arrive at the airport early. In most cases, you should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before the flight you want to fly standby on. If the airport is particularly busy, or there have been many flight cancellations, you may want to arrive even earlier.
This way, you may be able to get on the standby list for more than one flight. Introduce yourself at the boarding gate. Remember, the airline representative is not responsible for flight cancellations or any other issues. Stay at the gate until the airplane taxis away. This is important, as the flight crew might determine new seat availability at the very last minute. Pay the fee if you're selected to fly standby. You may also have to pay a fee if you check a piece of luggage. Part 3.
Travel light. Depending on the airline and specific circumstances, your chances of getting a standby seat may be higher if you do not need to check baggage.
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