Anyone know the rules for American Airlines Family Standby eligibility?

Question

My girlfriend's father worked a operations desk job for American Airlines out of SFO for many (20+) years. He died while still employed by them of heart attack in his sleep at on his day off in 1993. At the time my girlfriend was a young teen. now my girlfriend (julie) is 28. Her mother has fight standby benifits (just pays the tax for the flight). Recently I mentioined to her that its not impossable that she might have theses famliy standby benifits also. It never occured to Julie until i mentioned it. So, I wanted to know if anyone knows the rules on if a biological daughter can fly "free" standby.

Answer 1

Most airlines only allow spouses and dependants to fly for free, that is children still living at home under the age of 21 or 18 as long as they are enrolled in school, depending on the airline. Most legacy carriers have the same policies, ie Delta, American, Continental. Children that are non-depenant either lose their privledges all together or will have to pay a fare, usually equivilant to a certain cents per air mile plus tax, much like a buddy pass, just a higher priority in stand-by status. She should have been issued a flight card and her mother would have been responsible for updating the information as she aged out. Until she was 21 she would be eligable to fly for free as long as she was in school. Now that she is 28, should it be their policy still, she would have to pay, IF She is still on the benefits. If she isnt sure, her mother would have to call the pass bureau to find out and have a new card issued.

With flights being what they are today and the rates increasing for stand-by family members, its easier and less of a headache to just buy a ticket out right. I quit flying stand-by with my airline a long time ago...unless I had an extra day or two incase I got stuck.

Do not call American's Reservations line, they can not help with Friends and Family issues. There is a seperate department for that and her mother should have that information on her flight card.

Answer 2

It varies by airline and she would need to check with American Airlines Staff Travel area. Usually (I use that loosely) the children are also entitled to the same benefit UP TO A CERTAIN AGE. This will normally be 21 or 25 years old, depending on the airline. I think she should make inquiries - through her Mom - and find out for sure. I think it would be a shame that she may have had the benefits all these years without realising it and now they may have lapsed.