Due to declining profits and rising fuel prices, the air travel industry has shrunk and fewer last-minute seats are available for standby flyers - an ideal option for travelers who want to arrive a few hours. sooner or later to their final destination. Most airlines charge a fee of 25-100 euros for flight changes confirmed on the day of departure; Standby, technically, is an unconfirmed change to a flight that occurs on the day of departure, which means that your chance to get a seat is not guaranteed. Here are some tips on how to optimize your experience.
Steps
Step 1. Look for your airline's policy
Different companies have separate fares and arrangements for waiting passengers, so it's a good idea to become familiar with these aspects. Furthermore, the standby option is not offered by all airlines.
- American Airlines: List of standby exemptions
- United Airlines: Changes on the same day of departure
- Delta: Changes to travel on the same day of departure
- jetBlue: Standby guidelines
- US Airways: Tickets Policy
- Southwest: Information on rates
- Virgin America: Standby Policy
- AirTran: Standby guidelines
- Frontier Airlines: Changes to flights on the same day of departure
Step 2. If you haven't done so yet, buy the cheapest flight ticket to your preferred destination
Most airlines assume that you must have already purchased an airline ticket to be eligible for standby. If you don't already have it and don't have any airline preferences, get a jetBlue ticket, which will offer you standby at no additional cost.
- Some airlines have restrictions on ticket type or elite membership status that make you eligible for standby, so be sure to read their policy carefully.
- Some companies, such as Delta, offer standby as an option only if on-the-fly changes confirmed on the same day of departure are not possible.
- Most airlines offer standby flights to destinations that match those on the tickets purchased. There are 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 that flexibility cannot be guaranteed.
Step 3. If possible, take only hand luggage with you
Your chances of securing a standby flight are significantly higher if you don't have hold baggage. Also, as you may not get a standby seat, it's best to keep your suitcase with you at all times.
Step 4. On the day before or on the day of the flight, go to the airline's website or call to find out if seats are available and to find out about the flight information
Find the first useful standby flight and check if it has any vacant seats. Doesn't it have any? Find another one.
- If you want to make sure you get a seat, you can call the airline to make a change on the same day of the flight in exchange for a payment.
- Do not check a third party site, such as Expedia or Priceline, as you will not find up-to-date flight information.
Step 5. Go to the airport at least two hours before the standby flight of interest to you
When you check in, let the ticketing agent know that you have a ticket for a later flight but prefer the standby for the earlier flight. If your request is in accordance with the airline's policy, you should be placed on the standby list.
Step 6. Go through security and wait near the boarding gate of the standby flight of your choice
Let the gate employees know that you are waiting on standby for available seats.
Step 7. If you can secure a seat, congratulations
Have a good trip! Otherwise, head to the gate of the ticket you originally bought for boarding and finally arrive at your destination.
