How to Successfully Enter Standby Mode

Think back to the last time you were at the airport waiting to board a plane. (Remember the airports? Remember the flights?) You may have noticed the TV screen above the boarding gate, filled with a list of passengers’ names, and heard the flight attendant call those same names over the intercom. That was the name of the reserve passengers who hoped to get on your flight.

A reserve flight means you’re waiting for the next available seat on a flight you didn’t actually buy a ticket for, and it’s a great way for budget travelers to catch an earlier flight home for less money, but anyone can take a reserve flight. Here’s how to do it.

Who Can Fly Standby

In the past, waiting for a flight meant you would come to the airport without a ticket and wait, hoping to take a seat on the departing flight, but security changes after 9/11 mean passengers must have a pre-purchased ticket to even attempt a standby flight, and you you will be able to reach your destination only on the original ticket. These days, a reserve flight usually means you’ve purchased a plane ticket but want to see if you can get a seat on an earlier flight to the same destination. However, there are certainly more cases where people will want to fly in standby mode:

• You have a buddy pass. Buddy passes are a privilege that airline employees can give friends or family members, allowing them to fly without paying the full ticket price. You are not guaranteed a seat when using a Buddy Pass and you must add your name to the waiting list at the exit after going through security. (More on buddies below.)
• You have missed your flight and are trying to board the next available one. This is the most common reason people fly on standby, because if you miss your original flight, you may have to wait to see what, if any, subsequent flights will have a seat available for you.
• You want an upgrade. When you request an upgrade to a better seat, your name is placed on a standby waiting list along with other people who have also requested an upgrade. Elite and Premium Members will always have the first opportunity to upgrade.
• More seats have been booked on the flight and you are not assigned a seat. If a flight is crowded and more tickets have been sold than seats available, anyone with no seat will be put on a waiting list for the next available seat.

Be a buddy

In recent years, the policies of various airlines regarding “friend tickets” have been tightened so that people cannot abuse them, but are still very popular in the travel industry. A baddy pass is a flight ticket that is issued to an airline employee for use by family and friends. This allows a passenger traveling on a pass to pay only taxes and fees on the ticket.

The rules for using friend tickets differ from carrier to carrier, so you will need to study the special rules if you plan to fly one of them. Also be aware that using a buddy ticket does not guarantee you a seat on the flight – it only guarantees you a seat on the loudspeaker list, and that if a seat opens up, depending on where your name is on the list, you will have access to fly.

When flying on a buddy ticket, you should arrive at the airport as early as possible so that your name is as close to the top of the list as possible, which will increase your chances of getting a seat.

How to improve your chances of getting a reserve spot

There are certain steps you can take to fly on standby efficiently and get on your next flight faster. For example, you will always be more fortunate if you are flying alone, rather than, say, in a group of three. Limiting your luggage to carry-on baggage rather than your checked-in bag will also help, as you may get knocked off (struck off the list) if it takes time for them to find your checked-in bag in order to send it on the next available flight. Other ways to improve your chances:

• Always have “elite status”. Most airlines do not allow same-day changes to basic Economy Class tickets free of charge, which means a reserve ticket is your only option and Elite passengers always have priority on the reserve list. Without elite status, you can be removed from the list of the one who does it. Different airlines have different elite status requirements and should be reviewed before traveling.
• Download your airport app. This is the easiest way to find out the next available flight time. They can also let you “change your flight on the same day” and add your name to the reserve list without speaking to an agent.
• The sooner you arrive, the better. The reason why airports recommend that you arrive at the airport 2-3 hours ahead of departure time is actually to help us avoid missing flights in the event of long security lines or other unexpected accidents at the airport – but the sooner you arrive at going out, the sooner you can put your name on the waiting list, so don’t leave at the last minute and mess around at Hudson Books.

Airline policy

Each airline offers reserve passenger options to customers and their policies may vary. Below are the rules of the three main carriers:

american airlines

Same day flight changes are subject to a $ 75 fee, regardless of whether you change your ticket at the counter or while on standby. However, you can avoid collection if you have an unrestricted economy class ticket, a business class or first class ticket, or are an AirPass customer. Active military and AAdvantage members (Gold, Platinum, Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro) are also tax exempt. Signing up for AAdvantage is free . Your reserve flight:

• Must depart on the same day as your original flight
• Must depart from the same airports as your original flight.
• Must be operated by American Airlines.
• Elite status gives you access to later flights as well as earlier ones.

Delta

Waiting is allowed on flights earlier than your original ticket if the Same Day Confirmation option is not available.

• The same day reservation fee is $ 75, but it is free for Diamond Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Gold Medallion members.
• Basic Economy and flights outside the US, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands are not eligible for a reserve flight.
• The fee is only collected after you have been cleared to board your flight.

Combined

If you need to fly on a different flight on the same day, there will be a $ 75 surcharge. However, no charges apply for Basic Economy (N) or Economy Class fares (no first baggage / changes allowed).

• You can fly in standby mode if seats in the fare class you purchased are not available. In this case, the same day change fee will apply, but you will not be charged if you are not assigned a seat on the alternate flight.
• In standby mode, re-routing is prohibited.
• You can ask for a reservation on the day of departure at the airport kiosk or United’s representative at the airport.
• Once added to the flight waiting list, you can check your waiting status in real time at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info .

Standby is a game of waiting that requires patience and gratitude. Always remember that the agents at the entrance will do their best to provide any assistance they can given your circumstances, but they also have rules to follow and other passengers who also need care. Be kind, polite, and you will hit the road right away.

More…