What is a standby flight?
A standby flight is a travel option where a passenger with a confirmed ticket gets added to a waiting list for a different same-day flight, offering the chance to fly earlier or later but with the same itinerary.
The cost for flying standby varies by airline and can range from free to a fee of around $75, with some airlines also requiring payment of the fare difference for a new seat. Standby flights are not guaranteed, and passengers retain their original booking in case no alternative flights become available.
Standby flights used to mean showing up at the airport to snag last-minute tickets on flights with open seats. You’d get to the airport early and get added to the standby list, hoping for an open seat at a deeply discounted price.
It required a lot of travel flexibility and sometimes took hours for an available seat to open up for a destination you were interested in, but it was the height of affordable airfare and an amazing way to score round-trip and one-way tickets on the cheap.
Today, standby flights work much differently. You can fly standby if you’ve already purchased a ticket and want to change your flight time to an earlier or later flight on the same day.
So what is a standby flight, how much does it cost to fly standby with each airline, and what should you expect if you find yourself on the standby list? Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of flying standby.
What Is a Standby Flight?
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- Join a standby list (waiting list) for a new flight
- No guarantees for a new seat that matches your itinerary
- May be free, pay standby fee, or pay airfare difference
A standby flight, or flying standby, is when a passenger with a confirmed ticket gets added to a “waiting list” or standby list for another same-day flight that’s earlier or later with the same itinerary.
Standby flights are never guaranteed. Many airlines let you join the flight standby list for free, but some will charge you a fee up to $75 (refundable if you don’t get a new seat).
The important bit about standby flights – and what makes them different from same-day flight changes – is that you get to keep your original booking in case there are no earlier/later flight options available when you’re added to the standby list.
You’ll keep your original boarding position, seat assignment (if applicable), and flight time if no seats on flights to your destination on the same day open up.
There’s no guarantee that the airline will have a seat for you on a same-day flight with the same itinerary. Since you get to keep your original ticket, there’s no real risk involved in flying standby.
In some cases, a new, more expensive seat will become available while you’re on the standby list. Some airlines, like Southwest Airlines, won’t make you pay the airfare difference, but most will.
Flying standby is a way to keep your options open – think of it as “playing the field” in terms of air travel.
You’ve got your booked flight and are all set to go at the scheduled time, but you’re also on the waiting list should a better (earlier/later) flight come along to your destination.
Passengers might choose to fly standby in a few scenarios:
- You need to arrive at your destination sooner
- Your original flight was cancelled or you were bumped
- You’re running late or may miss your flight
How Much Does It Cost to Fly Standby?
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Flying standby can cost anywhere from $0 to $75+, depending on the airline, your flight itinerary, airfare difference, and which flights become available to you that day.
It’s free to fly standby with many airlines, meaning there’s no actual fee to join the standby list and wait for an available seat on a same-day, same-itinerary flight.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean flying standby will be totally free on your end. Some airlines charge a standby or same-day flight change fee from $50-$100.
Even if your airline doesn’t charge a fee for standby flights or same-day flight changes, you may still be responsible for paying the difference between your existing ticket and the new flight’s airfare, taxes, and fees.
Loyalty program members, passengers who purchase special add-ons with flight flexibility or refundability, and passengers with refundable tickets may be able to fly standby at no additional cost.
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Standby Flight Fees and Rules by Airline
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Every airline has its own policy for standby flights and fees associated with joining the standby list or changing your ticket on the same day.
Some airlines don’t charge a standby flight fee at all, allowing you to join the standby list while retaining their original booking in case no applicable seat opens up that day.
Some airlines don’t charge a standby flight fee unless a new seat becomes available for a higher price than the original ticket. In these cases, you’d be responsible for paying the difference between your existing ticket and the new one.
Other airlines charge you a fee to join the standby list because they consider it a same-day flight change, resulting in a charge between $50-$100+ with you being responsible for paying any airfare difference on a new ticket.
We’ve reviewed the standby flight policies and fees for the most popular airlines in the U.S.:
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Frontier Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
Keep reading to see the standby flight fees and rules by airline so you can determine if flying standby is a smart choice or one that’ll cost you.
American Airlines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: $50+
Flying standby with American Airlines is free as long as your new flight meets a few criteria. It has to depart earlier than your existing flight on the same day and follow the same itinerary (stops, airports, etc.) as your existing flight.
Only AAdvantage® members have the option to standby for a later flight on the same day with the same itinerary.
American Airlines only offers standby flights for domestic itineraries – to or from the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
American Airlines also allows you to standby for a flight through one of their partner airlines, like Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or JetBlue.
Same-day confirmed flight changes, where you never join the standby list but instead switch your reservation to a new flight on the same day, comes with a fee starting at $50.
You can join the standby list at the airport check-in kiosk or at the departure gate. Standby flights are never guaranteed, so assume you’ll be flying on your original reservation.
Delta Air Lines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: $75+
Delta Air Lines Same-Day Standby allows you to be added to a waiting list for earlier same-day flights with the same itinerary as your existing reservation. It’s free to join the list, but there are restrictions in place.
But Delta Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members have the option to standby for a flight that departs earlier or later than their original flight.
Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion Members may standby for a flight that departs any time on the same day as their original flight
You’ll only be eligible to fly standby with Delta if a same-day confirmed flight change isn’t available (there’s a $75 fee for confirmed same-day changes and your original ticket will be made invalid).
Flying standby with Delta means you get to keep your original reservation and join a waiting list in case a seat on an earlier flight with the same itinerary becomes available. If one doesn’t, you’ll continue on with your original reservation.
You can only fly standby with Delta when your arrival and departure destination are in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you’ve booked a multi-segment flight with connections and need to fly standby, you’ll have to join the standby list for every segment of your flight with no guarantees.
You can join the standby list to wait for a seat on a different flight by using the Fly Delta app (tap ‘Same-Day Change’ to see flights) or speaking to a Delta representative at the airport.
Frontier Airlines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: $99+
Frontier Airlines standby flights are only offered free to passengers who purchased The WORKS bundle, bought the Flight Flexibility add-on, or are Elite level Frontier Miles members.
When you fly standby with Frontier, you can join a waiting list for a flight that’s earlier or later than your original flight as long as it’s booked on the same day with the same itinerary (stops, airports, etc.).
Some airport and city changes may be allowed for the purpose of standby flights (find a list here). For example, a scheduled flight to Miami could be substituted with one flying into Ft. Lauderdale on the same day.
It only costs extra to confirm a same-day flight change with Frontier, which doesn’t involve being added to the standby flight list.
There’s a $99 fee (but it’s free for Classic Plus fares) to switch your reservation to a same-day flight with the same itinerary and get a confirmed new reservation without the risk of flying standby.
To join the standby list with Frontier, visit the airport ticket counter or departure gate well before your scheduled departure time.
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JetBlue Airways Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free or $75 (may be refundable)
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: $75-$200+
JetBlue standby flights usually have a fee of some sort. It costs $75 to join the standby list (unless you’re flying Blue Extra or are a Mosaic member, when it’s free). The standby fee is refundable if you don’t manage to score an open seat on a same-day flight.
That makes the risk level very low for flying standby with JetBlue. You can choose to make a confirmed same-day flight change instead of joining the standby list, but it’s even more expensive.
Confirmed same-day flight changes with JetBlue cost anywhere from $75 (Blue Basic fares) to over $200 (all routes outside of North and Central America or the Caribbean).
In addition to the flat fee, you may also be responsible for paying for any airfare, tax, and fee difference in your new reservation and your existing one.
Flying standby with JetBlue has a few restrictions, like other airlines: You have to fly the same itinerary (stops, airports, etc.) on the same day. Seat upgrades and add-ons may not be applicable on the new seat if you fly standby.
To join the standby list with JetBlue, you’ll have to go to the airport and talk to an agent at the ticket counter or departure gate.
Southwest Airlines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: Free w/restrictions
Southwest Airlines’ Same-Day Standby rules are some of the most flexible in the industry, allowing you to join the standby flight list for free as well as book a same-day flight change at no cost.
When you join the standby list with Southwest Airlines, you get to keep your original reservation while making yourself available for any open seat on an earlier or later flight to the same destination on the same day.
Southwest doesn’t even charge a fare difference for standby flights or same-day flight changes! If the new flight is cheaper than your existing reservation, they’ll refund you the cost difference in travel credit.
There are a few rules for flying standby with Southwest. You have to join the list no less than 10 minutes before your flight’s departure (at the airport) or 30 minutes before your flight’s departure (on the app or online).
You’ll be asked to pay the government taxes and fees for the new ticket if one is available, but these costs will be refunded to you. Your original boarding position is not guaranteed for the new reservation.
Standby flights are handled in a priority order as follows:
- Disrupted passengers who were booted/flight was canceled
- A-List Rapid Reward and Preferred Members in fare class order
- All other passengers in fare class order
You can join the standby flight list with Southwest on the app or online if it’s at least 30 minutes until your departure time. Tap ‘View/Manage’ and choose ‘Same-Day Standby’ to select your current flight and join the list.
You can also join the standby list at the airport ticket counter or at the departure gate. You may need to use this option if it’s less than 30 minutes to departure, your flight is international, or you’re standing by for a later flight.
Spirit Airlines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: $99+
Spirit Airlines standby flights are available for free, but only if there’s no option available for a same-day change.
If Spirit finds an earlier available flight with the same itinerary on the same day, you’ll pay a $99 change fee per person to book it.
If there’s no available same-day flight, you can choose to join the standby flight list and wait for a seat to open up on a same-day flight. Spirit doesn’t offer clear terms and conditions for this service online.
It’s unclear if flights with slightly different itineraries (such as different arrival airports in/near your destination city) are available to choose with the standby flight option.
If you’re able to confirm a change to your flight with an earlier flight on the same day ($99 fee), you’ll also be responsible for covering any difference in airfare, taxes, or fees.
To fly standby with Spirit Airlines, you’ll need to arrive at the airport early and approach the check-in desk to join the standby list (free) or find an available earlier flight on the same-day ($99 + any airfare difference).
You won’t be able to browse standby flight options online, so this method does require getting to the airport and hoping a seat on a flight with the same itinerary is available on the same day.
The later you arrive at the airport, the fewer seats you’ll find available to grab as a standby passenger. That’s why it’s smart to get to the airport as early as possible if you’ll be flying standby.
United Airlines Standby Flights
- Standby Flight Fee: Free w/restrictions
- Confirmed Same-Day Flight Change: Free or airfare difference
Flying standby with United Airlines is free, but you may need to pay the airfare, tax, and fee difference if your new flight is more expensive than the original flight you booked.
Joining the United Airlines standby list allows you to keep your flight options open for earlier flights to the same destination on the same day without losing your existing reservation.
All passengers have the option to standby for a flight with United, including those with Basic Economy tickets. The flight must be earlier than the existing reservation and follow the same itinerary on the same day.
While standing by for a United flight is free, changing your flight on the same day (switching your reservation without joining the standby list) may cost money.
It’s free to change your flight when it’s more than 24 hours until your departure time. But on the day of departure, only Premier members can get a same-day flight change for free.
If a new flight is available, you may need to pay the airfare, tax, and/or fee difference for the new reservation on the same-day flight change.
You can join the United Airlines standby list on the United app or at the airport by using the kiosk to access ‘View Flight Options’ under your itinerary. Or speak with a United airport service agent to join the list.
United will automatically assign you a new seat if one becomes available when you’re on the standby list with a text or email notification to let you know.
Things to Consider
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What is a standby flight and are there any special tips and tricks you can use to boost your odds of successfully scoring a seat on a different flight?
Keep these things in mind to increase your odds of standby success.
- There are no guarantees. When you join the standby list, you should assume you’ll be flying on your original reservation with a chance at scoring a seat on an earlier flight. There are no guarantees when you’re flying standby, so operate on the assumption you’ll be flying your original itinerary.
- Get the airport as early as possible. Flying standby becomes less and less likely to be successful when you arrive at the airport closer to your scheduled departure time. Get there as early as possible to get yourself on the list ASAP, or if your airline allows you to join the standby list on the app or online, do that as soon as you can the day of departure.
- Find out if later flights are an option. If you’re running late or know you’re going to miss your flight, you may be able to standby for a later flight with a lot more risk – but not all airlines accommodate these requests. Speak to a customer service agent at the airport or call your airline’s help line to see if you can standby for a flight that’s later than your scheduled reservation.
- Opt for flexibility add-ons and bundles in the future. Airlines like United, Frontier, and JetBlue offer more flexibility for standby flights to passengers who have purchased special add-ons, bundles, or memberships that come with flight flexibility/refund benefits. Consider adding these options or becoming a member to have more standby freedom and pay less for flight changes in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Travelers who asked “What is a standby flight?” tend to have a few related questions. Read through the FAQs below to learn more about flying standby and how common it is to catch a standby flight!
What happens when you are on standby for a flight?
When you’re on standby for a flight, you are on a waitlist to catch a different flight to your destination (earlier or later) on the same day. It allows you to keep your current reservation and only change flights if a seat becomes available at the time you need.
Flying standby is different from a same-day flight change because you don’t cancel your reservation unless an earlier or later flight to your destination becomes available. If no seats open up, you’ll fly with your original ticket.
Are you guaranteed to get a flight if you fly standby?
No, you’re never guaranteed to get a flight if you fly standby. Flying standby puts you on a waitlist for a flight to your destination and doesn't void your original ticket in case you don't get another seat.
You can only fly standby on the same route, stops, and airports for your original ticket in most cases.
Are standby flights first come first serve?
Standby flights are not offered first come first serve. Standby flights are offered to passengers on a priority basis and only "first come first serve" once the higher-priority passengers are booked on a new flight.
Disrupted (canceled, bumped, or delayed) passengers get first dibs on standby flights, then loyalty program members, then regular passengers.
What are the chances of getting on a standby flight?
Your chances of getting on a standby flight vary by the day, time, travel season, airline, and route you’re flying. Your chances are better if you've been involuntarily bumped from a flight or on less-crowded flights.
On a packed flight, you’ll only get a standby flight if a booked passenger doesn’t show up to claim their seat or if someone cancels or changes their flight at the last minute.
Who is allowed to fly standby?
All airlines have different rules for who can fly standby. Some only allow fare classes above Basic Economy or travelers flying domestically to fly standby, while others will let any passenger fly standby if a seat becomes available.
Your chances of flying standby improve if you’ve been involuntarily bumped from a flight or if you’re a loyalty program member with your airline.
So, What Is a Standby Flight and Is It Free?
Standby flights are alternative flights that are sometimes available for passengers who need to make it to their destination earlier, later, or have been bumped from their scheduled flight unexpectedly.
Flying standby allows you to keep your existing flight reservation while the airline scouts out a new seat on another flight for you.
As long as the flight is to the same destination, follows the same route and stops, and meets the airline criteria for standby, you have the chance to catch an alternative flight on the same day with or without paying a fee.
Airlines may offer the standby flight option for free – like American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, and United – or they may charge a one-time fee to let you fly standby.
If your next trip ends up needing a little tweak on the day of departure, don’t worry – just ask to join the standby list and see if your airline can drum up another seat for you on an earlier or later flight the same day.
It can really take the headache out of unexpected travel changes!