In air travel, flying standby refers to a situation where you want to board a flight but don’t have a pre-purchased ticket. This can happen for a number of reasons, including that you can’t buy a ticket anymore, your flight has been canceled or delayed, you want a better seat, or you would like to depart with an earlier flight.
If you want to fly standby, you need to make a request to the airline operating the flight. The requests are approved on a “first come, first served” basis and only in cases with empty seats on the plane.
Flying standby is often considered a gamble. However, there are a lot of ways you can shift the odds in your favor.
Get Familiar with the Airline’s Flying Standby Policy
Every airline has its own policy for flying on standby. Get familiar with it beforehand to see whether you qualify and if there are any resulting fees.
Make the Request as Early as Possible
If you are considering flying standby, then you should make a request as soon as possible. This way, you’ll have a priority over other travelers with the same idea. Most airlines offer the possibility of making flying standby requests online.
Avoid Flying Standby on Holidays
Most flights are fully booked during the holidays, so chances that you will get a seat on the plane by flying standby are slim to none.
Travel with a Carry-On
The chances of you scoring a standby flight are much higher if you travel with a carry-on. You won’t be able to bring your checked luggage on board and will avoid having your luggage travel with a different plane if you have already checked it in.
Position Yourself at the Gate and Be Patient
You should position yourself at the gate of your flight so you don’t miss if your name is called. Also, be patient, because you will likely be the last person to board.