miadukes

Thanks, that's what I wanted to figure out. That makes sense but wasn't sure if that was the official policy. and I know exceptions could happen and I am not counting on those but wanted to know what actually happens since nowhere does it officially say you loose your ticket.

donotblink

I have Expert Flyer and most people on this forum also pay for it. What are your dates? I'll look it up for you.

swag

bake in the days of yore before there was an AA app, I did standby for later flights several times. I always phoned AA before my original departure to let them know of my intention and to ensure my ticket wasn't cancelled for being a no-show. Phoning had the additional advantage that I could ask the agent what my chances were for the later flight(s), and they were always happy to give an estimate like "maybe", "pretty good", if not hard numbers.

If you're uneasy with the app, the phone call should still work in 2018.

IADCAflyer

I get what the OP is asking and is concerned about... Namely:

#1 What happens if you stand by for a later flight and all the flights that you are standing by for wind up being sold out. Are you then SOL?

#2 Since you're standing by for a later flight and wind up not boarding for your scheduled flight, does AA's computer system cancel your reservation because it views you as being a "no show" for your booked flight?

miadukes

Thanks for your input, phoning will be the thing to do then.
Yes thank you that was more my concern.


Thanks everyone for your input. I am always trying to learn more about the ins and outs of being a pro flyer and programs since I don't fly nearly as much as everyone here.

Adelphos

I stand by for later flights somewhat regularly - always on routes such as BOS to LGA and DCA to LGA with multiple frequencies. I have never stood by for the last flight, but I can tell you about my process.

1) When it is time to check in for my original flight (24 hours before), log in to the AA app. Many times, "Same-Day travel change" is available, and you can select standby for the flight you want.

2) Even if you do this, I always call the AA reservations line and declare to the agent that I will be standing by for a later flight. They always say something like "are you sure you don't want to do a confirmed flight?" I say always say no. They note this in the system, then I hang up.

3) Show up to the airport before my desired flight and go up to the check-in agents. I tell them I am standing by for a flight and need a pass to get through security. They always spend a few minutes on the computer and give me a pass (not a boarding pass, but some other pass that I forget the exact name of) to go through. I have no idea if the original itinerary was "cancelled" or not, but it doesn't really matter; either way, the check in agent is able to put you on a standby list and give you a pass to get through security.

seawolf

The system does NOT prevent GA from putting a passenger on standby between JFK/LGA but it is prohibited by policy. Some stations have consistently allow for it.

I can't speak to what happens if you have a round-trip segment as my experience involved one segment flights only.

Regardless of whether you speak/not speak with AA beforehand, the original (earlier) flight segment would be "cancelled" and the reservation will no longer pull up in the kiosk/app/aa.com but airport agents will be able to retrieve it and put you on later same-day standby.

miadukes

Bolding is mine. Thank you for this very useful information!!

samm

Hi, I can speak to this directly as I have done a same day elite standby for a later flight dozens of times and have experienced every possible outcome imaginable. This sole perk was the reason I ever even set out to get AA elite status in the first place. I used to fly ORD/LGA weekly, and with the hourly flights it made a lot of sense for me to book the cheapest (often 6am) flights and then go to the airport at my leisure, and get on the one that matched my schedule (and traffic!) at the time. Prior to last year AA IT was very finicky about allowing you to select SDS or SDFC through self-service tools. This was frustrating since phone agents can't process this for you either, it can only be done at the airport. It seems like within the last year it offers the option pretty consistently. If it doesn't, it is extremely important you call AA within 24 hours and advise them of your intention that you will be missing your original flight to SDS for a later one. Here is why:

Indeed, your ticket will be cancelled either way. However, if you do not call and the gate marks you as a "no-show", when you do arrive to the airport, the agent may assign you a lower standby priority. This has happened to me several times (see PALL list) and they will assign you an RL code. This is the "flat tire rule", for someone who misses their flight. When generating the order of the standby list, these passengers will fall after those assigned an RV code, or a voluntary change. By calling them in advance, they cancel the ticket and notate the reservation, so you avoid the RL code. Before I even knew about these codes or the PALL list I never used to call, and there were two flights that I would have been able to board had I been assigned an RV instead of an RL code. The standby list was 20ish people deep and (as a Plat at the time) I was dead last on the list, they were letting non-elites who were voluntarily standing by for earlier flights clear from the list before me. I was very upset as I was the only one who did not clear.

In terms of chancing it with the last flight of the night, I've done that many times; on two sad occasions I didn't clear from the list. As others have stated, the policy is "same calendar day", The first time it happened was out of DEN, and the next flight was at 1am, so technically a different calendar day. They let me list for that and I cleared. The second occasion was truly the following morning, and they also agreed to roll me over. But I doubt they would have done so on the phone. It's at the discretion fo the agent, but formally, this doesn't seem to be endorsed.

Hope this helps.

rumboj

miadukes

Samm and Rumboj, thanks for the very detailed experiences. I feel better attempting this after reading both of these.

samm

You bet! Happy to help. Your concerns were totally valid, and the AA site doesn't make it very clear on the nuances around how to go about SDS'ing for a later flight. Good luck!

samm

I'm actually very surprised they let you SDS for a flight to Canada with regularity. I thought that was only eligible for confirmed SDFC. Is there ever any E space when you request this?

seawolf

Yes there is E space on flights to/from Canada and yes you can do SDS as well.

rumboj