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Previous posts have been archived and can be read here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)
Dec 27, 2015, 11:44 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Jan 7, 2016, 9:30 am
#154
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
If you purchase an economy ticket, you need to first clear the standby on the flight you will like to go out, and then be placed on the upgrade list.
If you have already been upgraded on your purchased flight, and decide to stand by on an earlier flight, you will need to repeat the process all over again. Just because you are upgraded, does not mean that you can not automatically stand by for F on another flight.
If you have already been upgraded on your purchased flight, and decide to stand by on an earlier flight, you will need to repeat the process all over again. Just because you are upgraded, does not mean that you can not automatically stand by for F on another flight.
Jan 7, 2016, 11:03 am
#156
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 7
If you purchase an economy ticket, you need to first clear the standby on the flight you will like to go out, and then be placed on the upgrade list.
If you have already been upgraded on your purchased flight, and decide to stand by on an earlier flight, you will need to repeat the process all over again. Just because you are upgraded, does not mean that you can not automatically stand by for F on another flight.
If you have already been upgraded on your purchased flight, and decide to stand by on an earlier flight, you will need to repeat the process all over again. Just because you are upgraded, does not mean that you can not automatically stand by for F on another flight.
Jan 7, 2016, 11:21 am
#157
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
I have done same-day (gratis) standby dozens of times since becoming EXP. Only twice have I also cleared an upgrade. One time was a late night Eagle flight, where there were apparently empty seats in F after upgrading all requestors. The second time was a battlefield upgrade to F on a mainline flight. I cleared standby, and apparently an F pax was a no-show. The GA must have looked at the manifest rather than the PALL list and saw an EXP in coach, upgrading me after boarding was complete.
Neither time was I "entitled" to an upgrade. All upgrades normally complete processing before any standbys begin processing. The only way to get an upgrade is if the GA processes upgrade requests again after clearing standbys, and they generally won't (and IMHO shouldn't) do that.
If you want a shot at an upgrade, and there is "E" class inventory available, you can same-day confirm onto the new flight and then go onto the upgrade request list.
Neither time was I "entitled" to an upgrade. All upgrades normally complete processing before any standbys begin processing. The only way to get an upgrade is if the GA processes upgrade requests again after clearing standbys, and they generally won't (and IMHO shouldn't) do that.
If you want a shot at an upgrade, and there is "E" class inventory available, you can same-day confirm onto the new flight and then go onto the upgrade request list.
Jan 7, 2016, 12:04 pm
#159
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Jan 7, 2016, 6:27 pm
#160
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: TYS, BNA, CLT, ATL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 54
AA SDS Question
Hi All,
Hoping someone here can give me a little insight and guidance on an AA itinerary I have tomorrow from CLT to CVG. I normally fly Delta but live in CLT and found a ridiculously cheap direct fare to CVG so I figured I would try AA. I have no status on AA (have yet to status match), only have the AAviator Mastercard, so any exceptions or rules that apply to elites won't fit the bill for tomorrow.
I'm on the 4:10 p.m. (AA5244) and trying to get on the 11:40 a.m. (AA5166). I couldn't do a SDFC for $75 since it wasn't available, so I did standby for $75. I haven't seen a standby list anywhere (is there one published?). Is the best plan to just call AA on the way to the airport to get an idea of where I am on the standby list? Any tips or tricks for trying to get on the earlier flight?
Thanks in advance!
Hoping someone here can give me a little insight and guidance on an AA itinerary I have tomorrow from CLT to CVG. I normally fly Delta but live in CLT and found a ridiculously cheap direct fare to CVG so I figured I would try AA. I have no status on AA (have yet to status match), only have the AAviator Mastercard, so any exceptions or rules that apply to elites won't fit the bill for tomorrow.
I'm on the 4:10 p.m. (AA5244) and trying to get on the 11:40 a.m. (AA5166). I couldn't do a SDFC for $75 since it wasn't available, so I did standby for $75. I haven't seen a standby list anywhere (is there one published?). Is the best plan to just call AA on the way to the airport to get an idea of where I am on the standby list? Any tips or tricks for trying to get on the earlier flight?
Thanks in advance!
Jan 18, 2016, 3:23 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
I've read the thread but I'm still a little confused on how SDS actually goes down.
I'm an AA Gold and currently on EWR - CLT - RDU with a tight (read 30 minute) connection tomorrow. There is E5 E6 on both legs respectively of an EWR - CLT - RDU flight that leaves EWR at 1:10 and has a 1 hour layover at CLT.
I don't want to spend 5 hours at the airport but how does this exactly work for the later flight. It would seem like there is a good chance I will clear the standby waitlist at E5, E6 for both so can I just not show up at EWR until 1215pm instead of showing up at 945 for the 1030?
I'm an AA Gold and currently on EWR - CLT - RDU with a tight (read 30 minute) connection tomorrow. There is E5 E6 on both legs respectively of an EWR - CLT - RDU flight that leaves EWR at 1:10 and has a 1 hour layover at CLT.
I don't want to spend 5 hours at the airport but how does this exactly work for the later flight. It would seem like there is a good chance I will clear the standby waitlist at E5, E6 for both so can I just not show up at EWR until 1215pm instead of showing up at 945 for the 1030?
Last edited by Duke787; Jan 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Jan 24, 2016, 4:55 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: GSO
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 776
Can anyone confirm successfully being able to Standby for a later flight on an award ticket booked using BA Avios)? I will be flying CLT-ORD in February, but the only award flights available are in the morning on the day I need to travel.
I am PLT, so normally I should be able to Standby for a later flight for free, but wanted to make sure that an award ticket (on BA ticket stock) won't mess things up. I don't see any rules that exclude award tickets or explicitly state that the ticket must be on AA stock (although AA metal is obviously a requirement).
I am PLT, so normally I should be able to Standby for a later flight for free, but wanted to make sure that an award ticket (on BA ticket stock) won't mess things up. I don't see any rules that exclude award tickets or explicitly state that the ticket must be on AA stock (although AA metal is obviously a requirement).
Jan 27, 2016, 9:40 pm
#163
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Hi All,
Hoping someone here can give me a little insight and guidance on an AA itinerary I have tomorrow from CLT to CVG. I normally fly Delta but live in CLT and found a ridiculously cheap direct fare to CVG so I figured I would try AA. I have no status on AA (have yet to status match), only have the AAviator Mastercard, so any exceptions or rules that apply to elites won't fit the bill for tomorrow.
I'm on the 4:10 p.m. (AA5244) and trying to get on the 11:40 a.m. (AA5166). I couldn't do a SDFC for $75 since it wasn't available, so I did standby for $75. I haven't seen a standby list anywhere (is there one published?). Is the best plan to just call AA on the way to the airport to get an idea of where I am on the standby list? Any tips or tricks for trying to get on the earlier flight?
Thanks in advance!
Hoping someone here can give me a little insight and guidance on an AA itinerary I have tomorrow from CLT to CVG. I normally fly Delta but live in CLT and found a ridiculously cheap direct fare to CVG so I figured I would try AA. I have no status on AA (have yet to status match), only have the AAviator Mastercard, so any exceptions or rules that apply to elites won't fit the bill for tomorrow.
I'm on the 4:10 p.m. (AA5244) and trying to get on the 11:40 a.m. (AA5166). I couldn't do a SDFC for $75 since it wasn't available, so I did standby for $75. I haven't seen a standby list anywhere (is there one published?). Is the best plan to just call AA on the way to the airport to get an idea of where I am on the standby list? Any tips or tricks for trying to get on the earlier flight?
Thanks in advance!
I've read the thread but I'm still a little confused on how SDS actually goes down.
I'm an AA Gold and currently on EWR - CLT - RDU with a tight (read 30 minute) connection tomorrow. There is E5 E6 on both legs respectively of an EWR - CLT - RDU flight that leaves EWR at 1:10 and has a 1 hour layover at CLT.
I don't want to spend 5 hours at the airport but how does this exactly work for the later flight. It would seem like there is a good chance I will clear the standby waitlist at E5, E6 for both so can I just not show up at EWR until 1215pm instead of showing up at 945 for the 1030?
I'm an AA Gold and currently on EWR - CLT - RDU with a tight (read 30 minute) connection tomorrow. There is E5 E6 on both legs respectively of an EWR - CLT - RDU flight that leaves EWR at 1:10 and has a 1 hour layover at CLT.
I don't want to spend 5 hours at the airport but how does this exactly work for the later flight. It would seem like there is a good chance I will clear the standby waitlist at E5, E6 for both so can I just not show up at EWR until 1215pm instead of showing up at 945 for the 1030?
Can anyone confirm successfully being able to Standby for a later flight on an award ticket booked using BA Avios)? I will be flying CLT-ORD in February, but the only award flights available are in the morning on the day I need to travel.
I am PLT, so normally I should be able to Standby for a later flight for free, but wanted to make sure that an award ticket (on BA ticket stock) won't mess things up. I don't see any rules that exclude award tickets or explicitly state that the ticket must be on AA stock (although AA metal is obviously a requirement).
I am PLT, so normally I should be able to Standby for a later flight for free, but wanted to make sure that an award ticket (on BA ticket stock) won't mess things up. I don't see any rules that exclude award tickets or explicitly state that the ticket must be on AA stock (although AA metal is obviously a requirement).
Feb 1, 2016, 10:03 am
#164
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Standby for later flight
Sorry if this is covered somewhere, I couldn't find.
Newly-minted plat trying to understand how standby for a later flight works.
Do you just no show for the ticketed flight, or do you have to request before it leaves?
And what happens if you don't get on the new flight, and it's the last one of the day?
Newly-minted plat trying to understand how standby for a later flight works.
Do you just no show for the ticketed flight, or do you have to request before it leaves?
And what happens if you don't get on the new flight, and it's the last one of the day?
Feb 1, 2016, 10:28 am
#165
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: AAdvantage PP
Posts: 13,913
Sorry if this is covered somewhere, I couldn't find.
Newly-minted plat trying to understand how standby for a later flight works.
Do you just no show for the ticketed flight, or do you have to request before it leaves?
And what happens if you don't get on the new flight, and it's the last one of the day?
Newly-minted plat trying to understand how standby for a later flight works.
Do you just no show for the ticketed flight, or do you have to request before it leaves?
And what happens if you don't get on the new flight, and it's the last one of the day?