Content

• Steps

Due to declining profits and rising fuel prices, fewer last-minute tickets are available for Standby passengers. Standby is ideal for travelers who want to arrive a few hours earlier or later at their final destination. Most airlines charge $ 25-100 for same day flight time changes; A standby is a technically “unconfirmed” flight time change on the same day, meaning you are not guaranteed a seat. Here are some tips to optimize your experience.

Steps

1. 1 Review the airline's policy. Different airlines have different provisions and fees for waiting list passengers, and it is very important to familiarize yourself with these nuances in advance. Standby not provided by all airlines
   • American Airlines: Standby Exemptions List
   • United Airlines: Same-Day Changes
   • Delta: Same-Day Travel Changes
   • jetBlue: Standby Guidelines
   • US Airways: Ticketing Policy
   • Southwest: Fare Information
   • Virgin America: Standby Policy
   • AirTran: Standby Guidelines
   • Frontier Airlines: Same-Day Flight Changes
2. 2 Buy the cheapest flight to the destination you want if you haven't already. Almost all airlines stipulate that you must have already purchased a ticket to be eligible to be included in the waiting list. If you don't have a ticket yet and don't have an airline preference, purchase a [http://jetblue.com JetBlue] ticket because they offer standby at no additional cost.
   • Some airlines have ticket restrictions or standby eligibility, so make sure you read their policies carefully.
   • Some airlines, such as Delta, only offer standby as an option if it is not possible to confirm the flight change on the same day.
   • Most airlines only offer standby flights to destinations that match the purpose of your purchased ticket. There are some exceptions for nearby airports (such as SFO, SJC and OAK in the San Francisco Bay Area or DCA and IAD in Washington D.C.), but this cannot be guaranteed.
3. 3 If possible, put your belongings in your carry-on baggage. Your chances of getting a ticket from the waiting list will greatly increase if you do not have checked baggage. Moreover, due to the likelihood that you will not get a seat from the waiting list, you need to have your luggage with you at all times.
4. 4 The day before your departure or on the day of departure, check your airline's website or telephone for seat availability or flight information. Find the earliest flight you want to wait in standby mode and check if there are seats available for it. If not, find another flight.
   • If you want to be sure you will get a seat, you can call the airline to make same day flight changes for a fee.
   • Do not check the website of a third party such as Expedia or Priceline as they may not have the most up-to-date flight information.
5. 5 Please be at the airport no later than two hours before your desired standby flight time. Once you have checked in, tell the ticketing agent that you have a ticket for a later flight, but would like to be on the waiting list for that flight. If your request is in accordance with airline policy, you must be placed on a waiting list.
6. 6 Walk through the security area and wait at the boarding gate for your desired standby flight. Notify agents at the gate that you are waiting for an available seat on the waiting list.
7. 7 If you managed to get a seat, congratulations! We wish you a pleasant flight. If not, proceed to the boarding gate of your original purchased ticket. You can still board this flight and fly to your destination.