How do you fly on standby?

Answer 1

First thing is you have to buy a ticket for the destination that you want to travel to. Then lets say, for example, your flight that you have a ticket for leaves at 3:00PM, but you know there are other flights that leave earlier, like noon and 1:30 PM. So you go to the airport and check in for your flight at 11:00 AM so you can see if there is a "no-show" for the earlier flights. You go to the ticket counter and ask to be put on the "stand-by" list for one of these earlier flights. If anyone cancells, you will get to go early as a standby (assuming there is no other person who is ahead of you on the list).

Answer 2

IIRC, Airlines no longer have "standby" tickets like the old times in which you can purchase a standby ticket for real cheap and hope there is room on the plane.

However, if you do buy a ticket, you can choose to fly standby on a earlier/later flight on the same day.

Answer 3

Most airlines do not offer stand-by anymore. Main reason is because now you have to be a ticketed passenger to go beyond security. Stand-by is not guarenteed, so it would allow too many people access to the concourse that are not actually confirmed on a flight.

The only stand-by that remains are for employee's of the airline and anyone they give what is called a Buddy Pass to. Employee's are given passes to friends and family and they fly stand-by/space available. Thats the only type that remains.

Some airlines allow ticketed passengers to stand-by on earlier flights, but most have adopted what is called "Same Day Confirm". For a small fee, you are confirmed on an earlier flight if space is available at check-in since the whole stand-by program is no longer allowed with most airlines.

Answer 4

You wait for someone to be a "no show" so that you'd be able to get their seat. :)