Have you ever heard people talk about traveling on "standby" and wondered how it works? Who has access to it and what are the main benefits?
Thankfully you subscribed to get valuable content - so today I am sharing my cheat sheet to standby travel!
For a great part of my life, I have been able to rely on standby flights because of my family connection to the airline industry. I most recently decided to share my tips on how to do standby successfully and even documented my last trip to Colorado while I chased 5 flights to get out of JFK. (doesn't sound too fancy but I saved a lot of money).
What is Standby travel exactly?
Standby is when a passenger travels on a flight without a prior reservation for that specific flight. Think about it as putting your name down on a waitlist for any available seat. This could happen for many reasons:
1. A missed flight may require a passenger to fly standby on the next flight to the same destination, as they now don't have a reservation.
2. A passenger may arrive at the airport early (whether accidentally or on purpose) and wish to take an earlier flight listed for that day. They will attempt to travel standby on the earlier flight, but if they don't get on, they proceed to take their booked flight.
3. Standby can also occur for upgrades. Many airlines give free space available domestic upgrades to First Class for their elite tier fliers. If first class sells out or upgrades full with higher-tiered passengers, elite fliers can standby for a first class seat, should one open up due to a cancellation, no-show, or last minute change.
4. Flying standby is also a benefit that airline employees get access to. They receive a fixed amount of passes to share with friends and family members. These act as tickets for the available empty seats in the plane and allow you to get past security as a regular passenger. (This is the one scenario I will be referring to for the rest of these notes)
Are there any other names for Standby?
Space Available - since you are on that "waitlist" for any seat that becomes available last minute.
Non-Rev - refers to "without a reservation", since by definition you do not have a reservation with a standby ticket.
What are the benefits of flying Standby?
The #1 reason people take a chance on a standby flight is because they are CHEAP. You typically will only pay for taxes - so if you have a flexible schedule, this could save you over 60% on a plane ticket.
Are there any levels of Standby?
Yes! Depending how you may be related to the person extending the benefit, you may be a certain level of dependent or buddy in the system. A hierarchy means that there is a possibility that someone can bump you down the list or vice versa.
American Airlines Example:
Employees and Crew - come first.
D1 - highest level of dependent.
D2 and D3 - are the lowest.
How does it actually work?
(Speaking to point #4 on the first question)
You will typically need to make a standby reservation through the person who is granting you the ticket. They have special access to an employee platform where they can register you as a passenger.
Pro-Tip: You will want to set an alarm in order to be the first one in your category to check-in 24hrs prior to your flight. This will secure your highest spot on the list.
All other parts of the boarding process are exactly what you would usually do, up until you arrive to the gate.
*Cue in the scary music*
The biggest difference in the process is finding out IF you get on the flight. Standby passengers only board by hierarchy and following the standby list. Gate agents (who will become your best friends) are in charge of clearing the list based on what spots are available as early as possible. So you will have to monitor your name on the list and be around the gate area as early as possible, just in case they call your name.
Pro-Tip: Make sure to mention your name and status to the gate agent when you arrive in order to establish a relationship with him/her and so they know that you are physically there. This will help you avoid them skipping you if they call your name later as they will already know you.
Standby can be a bit challenging but next time you are venturing into this kind of experience I hope that you can use my tips to make it more enjoyable. Feel free to share these notes with friends and family and stay tuned for more travel insights.
Thanks for reading along!