Is standby a guarantee?

No standby seat is guaranteed—hence, the name “standby”—but there are certain ways you can increase your chances. You first need to request standby as soon as possible, since airlines typically prioritize standby fliers on a first-come-first-served basis.

What happens when airlines put you on standby?

They typically have lower priority than regular passengers, and are given a seat after all regular fare passengers have seats. Standby passengers may also have to vacate their seat for a full fare-paying customer. Non-employees can get on the standby list by speaking to a ticket agent or gate agent.

Can you get a refund on standby tickets?

Passengers must travel stan-by between the same origin and destination cities as the original confirmed seat; however, passengers can travel standby on a connecting or nonstop flight. Passengers traveling on an Even More space seat who choose to travel standby forfeit the seat fee and are not eligible for a refund.

Can I fly standby without buying a ticket?

Flying standby was once just that: a method of saving big bucks on airfare when your schedule was immensely flexible. Sadly, those days are gone. Across the board, U.S. legacy airlines (as well as most international airlines) have stopped letting travelers fly without a pre-purchased ticket.

Does standby usually work?

Waiting on standby can mean a much better flight schedule than you had originally booked and can even save you a nice chunk of money, but unfortunately, that doesn't always work out. If you want to make the attempt, you must know how to increase your chances to succeed.

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What is the success rate of standby?

The exact percentage of airline standby customers who get off the list and into seats on average varies depending on the airline, flight, and other factors. Generally speaking, however, it is estimated that around 50-60% of those listed as standbys are able to board their flights.

How risky is standby?

Standby travel is risky, but savings can be substantial. If you change your flight through normal channels prior to boarding, you'll likely face a high penalty. The standby fee, however, is significantly less than flight-change fees, and you can usually keep your earned miles.

Why do people buy standby tickets?

Standby these days are reserved for people who have been bumped off the flight they were initially booked on, those who would like to get on an earlier flight on the same day they were meant to travel, or who wish to fly to a different airport at their destination.

Are standby flights first come first serve?

Also, when it comes to flying standby, passengers are oftentimes chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis, so the earlier you check-in, the more apt you'll be to scoring a seat on the flight.

Can you fly standby internationally?

Flying standby for international travel is like business -- it's all about who you know. Gone are the days when a budget traveler could walk into an airport, snag a standby ticket and wait for the next available seat. Now, most airlines don't even sell domestic standby tickets.

Do airlines charge for standby?

The cost of flying standby depends on two things: the flight itself, and who you are to the airline. Most likely, however, there will be a nominal charge of between $25 and $100 to fly standby. receive a free standby flight as compensation.

What's the difference between first and standby?

First is the upgrade list for First Class - people who already have confirmed seats in Economy. Standby is the list of people waiting for Economy seats on the flight.

What makes a ticket non refundable?

Understanding 'nonrefundable'

Depending on the ticket type, often, 'nonrefundable' simply means: The airline will not give you all of your money back if you cancel (true for most basic economy tickets). The airline will not refund your ticket value as cash (it will be remitted as a voucher instead).

Is it good to fly standby?

Now, standby tickets can help you if you want to get a seat on an earlier flight or if your plane takes off without you and you need to book a later travel time. Generally speaking, standby tickets will have a fee of anywhere between $25 to $75 in addition to the cost of the ticket.

Does standby mean the flight is full?

Standby is a request to fly on an earlier flight than you're ticketed for, if there are empty seats last minute.

Why did I get moved to standby?

Standby is usually when you don't have a confirmed reservation for a flight, like if you were on a later flight and were trying to get on an earlier one.

Who goes first on standby list?

When should I arrive for standby?

It's always a good idea to get to the airport at least two hours before your flight, but you actually don't have to arrive extra early if you're flying standby. Most often, airline employees won't be able to help you until they're close to boarding time and have accommodated booked customers.

How often are flight attendants on standby?

Reserve flight attendants are usually on reserve 18 to 20 days per month, but it can be even less. The more seniority a reserve accrues, the more days off they may be able to have.

Does buying tickets last minute save money?

Here's what you have to remember: Last-minute flights aren't cheaper: on the contrary, they tend to get more expensive the closer to the departure date. If you have no choice but to book at the last minute, use tools like Skyscanner's “everywhere search” or lastminute.com.

What is the best day to fly standby?

The basic rule about choosing the best day of the week to fly is Tuesday or Wednesday. They not only tend to be the cheapest days to fly but less busy as well. Since there are fewer people who would like to fly mid-week, Tuesday and Wednesday are also the best days to fly standby.

Is standby more expensive?

Standby fees typically cost $25 to $100, with most airlines charging a $75 same-day change fee. Because flying standby is more expensive and not guaranteed, new travelers may want to avoid standby travel until they have more experience interacting with airlines and navigating airports.

Will I get a seat on standby?

If you're on the standby list, that means you haven't been given a seat on the plane. And without a seat on the plane, you aren't guaranteed to board.

How is standby pay calculated?

Standby Pay Law:

Under California law, employers must pay employees their full hourly rate for all time that they are asked to be on standby to work, even if they do not actually need to work.

Are refundable tickets 100% refundable?

Refundable flights

As the name suggests, refundable tickets are fully refundable, meaning you'll get the cash back (not a flight credit). To gain this convenience, you'll need to pay a premium, which makes these tickets more expensive than nonrefundable airline tickets.