What does “flying standby” mean?

Flying standby simply means that you, the passenger, are put on a waiting list, called a standby list, for a given flight.  Passengers on standby are assigned seats on the flight as they are available, usually after the plane has boarded.  These are either seats that have not been sold, or seats that are empty because the original ticket-holder has failed to show up.

Why would anyone fly standby?

Many airline travelers find themselves flying standby when their original flight has been cancelled, when a delayed flight causes them to miss a connecting flight, or when they fail to make their flight on-time and must try to get on a later flight.  Airline employees, and sometimes their family members/direct dependants, may also fly standby, for free or at a reduced fare.

Airport Do’s and Don’ts

DO arrive at the airport early if you’re flying standby, for the best chance of getting a seat on the flight.  At minimum, follow the FAA guidelines (for U.S. travelers) , 2 hours early for a domestic flight, 3 hours for an international flight.  Your position on the standby list will be determined in part by when you check in; the earlier you check in, the higher in priority you will be.

DON’T leave the gate area once its 20 minutes before the scheduled boarding time.  The airline representative at the gate may start calling the names of standby passengers even before boarding has started, if they have confirmed that there are empty seats available on the flight.  If your name is called on the intercom, you must re-check (go to the gate desk) immediately to receive your seat assignment and boarding pass; if you don’t present yourself within a couple of minutes, they will move on to the next person on the standby list, and you will lose your seat.