Flying Standby: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How to Get Onboard

Written By Joanna Teljeur

5 minutes read
Last Updated: 15 April 2025

Before 9-11, flying standby was very different from what it is today. You could just go to the airport, buy a cheap ticket. Then, you’d choose your flight, go to the gate, and hope that the next departure had an available seat. 

Now, standby flying is limited to confirmed ticketholders who want to move their flight earlier or later on the day of departure, or to passengers who missed a connection or had their flights cancelled. What are the fees and rules for flying standby? Let’s find out

What does it mean to fly standby?

The concept is pretty simple. You make a request with your airline to get on a different flight from the one you originally purchased. The standby flight usually has to happen on the same calendar day as your original booking, but it can vary among airlines.

When you fly standby, you don’t have a guaranteed seat the way you would when you change your flight, and you might be charged a fee depending on the circumstances. 

When Do Airlines Charge a Fee for Standby Flights

There’s a lot of confusion about flying standby, especially with regard to fees. Also, standby policies can differ quite a bit, but here’s generally how it works.

There are 2 different scenarios for flying standby: When you make the change and when you have to look for another flight because of earlier flight disruptions like delays, cancellations, denied boarding, and so on.

Voluntary Standby (Same-day confirmed)

As long as you have a confirmed ticket, you can look for an earlier or later flight, as long as it is on the same day as your original one. In cases where you choose to make the flight change, you will most likely be charged a fee, but this really depends on the airline and if you have loyalty status. If you do have loyalty status, you can typically fly standby for free, otherwise the fee is usually around $75 USD. 

Involuntary Standby 

If you get bumped, have extensive flight delays, or if the airline suddenly cancels your flight, you can usually fly standby for free. In this case, you can talk to the gate agent or ask to be put on the standby list via your airline’s app.

If you missed your flight because you got up too late, or for some other reason, then you can also fly standby, but you’ll very likely be charged a fee. On the other hand, if you missed a connection because your first flight was cancelled or delayed, then you would not be charged a fee to fly standby.

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.Check Your Flight

U.S Airlines Standby Policies for Same-Day Confirmed 

The following table will give you a general idea of airline policies for flying standby. Always check your airline’s website for more details, especially because fees can change.

How to Get on the Standby List

To get on the standby list, you should first take a look at the specific policies for your airline, and then request the change on the carrier’s app, at the gate, or at the check-in counter. These days airlines are super efficient at filling up flights, so empty seats and no shows may be hard to come by, so it’s important to act quickly. 

What is the Check-in Process for Standby?

The check-in process for flying standby is essentially the same as it is for all other flights. You check in online or at the airport, get your boarding pass, and go through security. However, you will not be able to check your bags since you don’t know which flight you might be taking. 

You will have to let the airline know that you intend to get an earlier flight and be placed on the standby list. The next step: Head to the gate, pay attention to the standby board, and listen for your name to be called. If you’re lucky, they’ll call for you to issue a boarding pass. 

How Can You Improve Your Chances of Getting a Seat?

If you want to improve your chances of getting a seat on standby, sign up for your airline’s loyalty program, and avoid flying in basic economy. 

If you’re already at the airport jockeying for a seat, you should start looking early, especially if you’ve had a prior delay or cancellation, because you’ll be competing with countless other passengers. 

Go to the gate agent right away, stay close, and pay attention to announcements. If they call your name for any reason and you’re not there, your seat could go to someone else. If there’s a long line, try getting on the standby list through your airline’s app, but the name of the game is to act very quickly. 

You stand a better chance of getting a seat if you’re patient and respectful to the gate agents. Also, it helps to be attentive. Don’t make the gate agents call your name more than once because you’re scrolling through social media. Remember that they are trying their best to accommodate you, so it helps if you’re responsive.  

When You Can’t Fly Standby

In the US, voluntary standby is not an option if you’re a basic economy ticket holder, but this changes if you need to go on standby because of a flight disruption. Even basic economy passengers are entitled to a seat on the next available flight if they have had a cancellation.

Also, you can’t typically choose to do standby if you have an international flight, but you can if you’ve had a prior flight cancellation. This rule can change for elite passengers and for non-revenue passengers who can fly standby on international flights.

No feedback