Nov 8, 2015, 3:40 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
American Airlines Same Day Standby Policy and Discussion
(Not to be confused with SDFC / Same Day Flight Change - see links below)
Standby has its own rules and peculiarities: (As of 14 Jan 2016)
Same-day standby
Standby for a fee (waived for AA Elites)
For $75 on domestic flights, you may standby on an earlier flight under the following conditions:
*Standby between NYC-LON is offered for $150.
AAdvantage elite members may use the standby option for earlier or later flights.
Though it appeared those with checked bags were being denied SDS, JonNYC clarified that AA affirmed AA Elites are allowed to SDS if they have checked bags. Link.
Complimentary standby
Get complimentary same-day standby with:
Complimentary same-day standby is also available for:
Link
The following passengers may standby at no charge based on availability:
Link
Q. What happens to my upgrade if I stand by for another flight?
Your upgrade and position will be lost. You can not be added to the upgrade list on your desired flight until you have cleared from standby. At that point, it may be too late to request your upgrade, given upgrade requests are normally processed prior to the standby list.
See "Airport Upgrade and Standby List" / Order, PALL List and issues (FT)
Previous posts have been archived and can be read here
Standby is not the same thing as SDFC / Same Day Confirmed Flight Change:
See "Domestic" Same Day Confirmed Flight Change / SDFC / CFC / "Standby" or
International Same Day Flight Change / SDFC / SDC / CDC
(Not to be confused with SDFC / Same Day Flight Change - see links below)
Standby has its own rules and peculiarities: (As of 14 Jan 2016)
Same-day standby
Standby for a fee (waived for AA Elites)
For $75 on domestic flights, you may standby on an earlier flight under the following conditions:
- Standby is not allowed for international flights*.
- Has the same origin and destination
- Is for the same calendar day of departure
- Is marketed and operated by American Airlines or American Eagle
- Changes to another multi-city airport or to different connecting cities are not allowed
- You can standby for your originally purchased cabin (not upgraded cabin)
- Standby means upgrades on the original flights are lost (you can not be on an upgrade list until your standby has cleared)
- Standby pax may be required to gate check carry-on baggage
- Standby is prioritized - see "PALL List" link below
*Standby between NYC-LON is offered for $150.
AAdvantage elite members may use the standby option for earlier or later flights.
Though it appeared those with checked bags were being denied SDS, JonNYC clarified that AA affirmed AA Elites are allowed to SDS if they have checked bags. Link.
Complimentary standby
Get complimentary same-day standby with:
- Unrestricted Economy Class (Y fare), Business or First Class tickets
- American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum, Platinum Pro or Gold status and companions in same record
- oneworld® Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status and companions in same record
- AirPass membership
- First and Business Class MileSAAver award tickets
- AAnytime award tickets
- Choice Plus fares
Complimentary same-day standby is also available for:
- Active U.S. military personnel traveling on orders or personal travel
- Active U.S. military dependents traveling on orders
Link
The following passengers may standby at no charge based on availability:
- Customers who purchase unrestricted Economy Class fares (Y class of service)
- Customers who purchase Business or First Class tickets
- Active U.S. military personnel traveling on orders or personal travel
- Active U.S. military dependents traveling on orders
- American Airlines AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum or Gold members
- oneworld® alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
- Customers flying on the same reservation as an American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum or Gold member or oneworld alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flyer status or fare type
- AAirpass® members
- First and Business Class MileSAAver® Awards
- First, Business and Economy Class AAnytime® Awards
- Customers who purchase a Choice Plus fare
Link
Q. What happens to my upgrade if I stand by for another flight?
Your upgrade and position will be lost. You can not be added to the upgrade list on your desired flight until you have cleared from standby. At that point, it may be too late to request your upgrade, given upgrade requests are normally processed prior to the standby list.
See "Airport Upgrade and Standby List" / Order, PALL List and issues (FT)
Previous posts have been archived and can be read here
Standby is not the same thing as SDFC / Same Day Confirmed Flight Change:
See "Domestic" Same Day Confirmed Flight Change / SDFC / CFC / "Standby" or
International Same Day Flight Change / SDFC / SDC / CDC
Same Day Standby / SDS (not SDFC) Rules & Discussion (master thread)
Aug 24, 2017, 10:20 am
#481
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Yeah, the reason I booked it that was was because it was cheaper and I don't mind getting the extra segments. But I'll take getting about 3.5 hours of my time back in exchange for a segment. Now hopefully I don't miss re-qualifying for Plat by 1 segment...
Sep 1, 2017, 2:23 pm
#482
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
Just a data point on the debate on whether you can only be put on the standby list at the airport or if doing it online works. I have two award tickets from JFK to DCA tomorrow at 5:30 PM. However, I really want to take the 2:55 PM flight. At 2:55 today, I went to the reservation, clicked on same day flight changes and was given the option to standby for the 2:55 Pm flight flight, which I did. The AA App is currently saying me and my travel companion are #1 and #2 on the standby list. I'm still going to "check in" for my 5:30 PM flight in an hour or so, but it seems like I am already on the standby list and just need to present myself at the gate at around 2:10 or so for my 2:55 flight.
Sep 1, 2017, 2:39 pm
#483
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
IME standy online is only available if no E inventory is available on any flight. If E exist on any flight then standby option is greyed out and you have to be added at airport.
Sep 1, 2017, 2:49 pm
#484
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,894
Regardless, after a call to AA, I was able to same day confirm change into the flight, despite being told I was "technically" not eligible on a milesAAver ticket. More details on that in the SDFC thread...
Oct 5, 2017, 9:54 am
#486
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
How does SDS work for later flights? I've never tried to do this, but considering it for a flight tomorrow. Does your seat on the later flight only get confirmed once the gate agent starts clearing the list?
Oct 5, 2017, 11:31 am
#487
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Well yeah. It’s standby vs same day confirmed. U will be cleared at the airport.
Oct 5, 2017, 4:13 pm
#488
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Yes. Make sure you take a screenshot of your boarding pass to get through security, because your flight will disappear from the app once the originally scheduled flight leaves. (You'll still receive push notifications for your later flight, though, if you have those configured.)
Oct 6, 2017, 12:04 pm
#489
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
Yes. Make sure you take a screenshot of your boarding pass to get through security, because your flight will disappear from the app once the originally scheduled flight leaves. (You'll still receive push notifications for your later flight, though, if you have those configured.)
Oct 7, 2017, 9:05 am
#490
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
Yes. Make sure you take a screenshot of your boarding pass to get through security, because your flight will disappear from the app once the originally scheduled flight leaves. (You'll still receive push notifications for your later flight, though, if you have those configured.)
It isn't like the agent just says, "Yep, you are on standby, good luck getting through TSA!" and then sends you away empty-handed.
Oct 7, 2017, 11:39 am
#491
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, various hotel
Posts: 2,227
Every time I do SDSB, I am handed a "Priority Verification" card (pseudo-BP) from the ticket agent to use at security. Same when I do SDSB with an AC agent. I even get PreCheck displayed on it.
It isn't like the agent just says, "Yep, you are on standby, good luck getting through TSA!" and then sends you away empty-handed.
It isn't like the agent just says, "Yep, you are on standby, good luck getting through TSA!" and then sends you away empty-handed.
Oct 12, 2017, 9:18 pm
#492
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Correct. Generally, I'm unable to print a verification card for my later flight once the original has departed without seeing an agent, so I just check in as normal (and can verify i have Pre) and use that boarding pass to get airside.
Oct 19, 2017, 5:39 pm
#494
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 107
I love Passbook, but AA actually designed their barcodes to time out if the BP in Passbook is viewed a while after departure. The code turns a whiter shade, intentionally making it impossible to be scanned. Screenshot is best bet if you're SDS for a later flight and still want to use your phone.
Nov 9, 2017, 9:18 am
#495
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Anyone have any recent experience with standing by for a flight the day before scheduled departure, as long as it's within the 24-hour window? Have an upcoming midday flight, and it would be great to get out the night before.