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Previous posts have been archived and can be read here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 9, 2015, 8:17 pm
#136
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
Last it was explained to me-- and there's every chance this has changed, even though JFK and LGA are MACs (which is definitley different than co-terminals) -- switching between the 2 still will/could trigger re-issue based on the ticket conditions.
This from some documentation (that, again, may or may not be current):
and
and for NYC:
This from some documentation (that, again, may or may not be current):
MAC INFORMATION - Multi-airport city (MAC) information
Co-Terminals
Multi-airport cities are not the same as co-terminals.
Co-terminals are two or more nearby cities, considered the same point for the purpose of fare construction only.
Changing from one co-terminal to another can be rerouting if actually changing from one city to another which would require a reissue.
Co-Terminals
Multi-airport cities are not the same as co-terminals.
Co-terminals are two or more nearby cities, considered the same point for the purpose of fare construction only.
Changing from one co-terminal to another can be rerouting if actually changing from one city to another which would require a reissue.
Multi Airport Cities Note - Does not apply to AAdvantage
Co-terminals should not be confused with multi-airport cities. Changes, confirmed or standby, from one of these airports to another airport serving the same city may be permitted.
It is not a change of routing unless fare is airport specific, then passenger may not standby. Add collect to an applicable fare for confirmed changes.
Co-terminals should not be confused with multi-airport cities. Changes, confirmed or standby, from one of these airports to another airport serving the same city may be permitted.
It is not a change of routing unless fare is airport specific, then passenger may not standby. Add collect to an applicable fare for confirmed changes.
NYC STANDBY - Tariff - Standby policy for NYC area airports
General Information
Due to the fact that there are multiple airports within the New York/New Jersey area, some passengers may wish to standby between the different airports. Once you have determined that the passenger is eligible to standby you can proceed with the specifics on standby within the New York/New Jersey area airports as outlined below. Remember, these exceptions for NYC airports do not apply to/from Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
This procedure applies only for travel within the United States or for travel between the United States and Canada. (This includes Web Fares if fare rule allows.)
This does not apply to/from Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
Application
AA will allow standby from or to any of the NYC airports, provided fare rules and proper routings are observed:
NYC (JFK/LGA)
to
or HPN or
EWR
It is necessary to determine if the fares for each city were common rated (same amount of money) and had the same fare basis code on the date that original ticket was issued.
If both are the same, AA will only charge the change fee and the passenger will be allowed to standby from the other airport.
-passengers may stand by between LGA and JFK at no additional charge as long as there is not a flight application restriction in the fare rule.)
General Information
Due to the fact that there are multiple airports within the New York/New Jersey area, some passengers may wish to standby between the different airports. Once you have determined that the passenger is eligible to standby you can proceed with the specifics on standby within the New York/New Jersey area airports as outlined below. Remember, these exceptions for NYC airports do not apply to/from Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
This procedure applies only for travel within the United States or for travel between the United States and Canada. (This includes Web Fares if fare rule allows.)
This does not apply to/from Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).
Application
AA will allow standby from or to any of the NYC airports, provided fare rules and proper routings are observed:
NYC (JFK/LGA)
to
or HPN or
EWR
It is necessary to determine if the fares for each city were common rated (same amount of money) and had the same fare basis code on the date that original ticket was issued.
If both are the same, AA will only charge the change fee and the passenger will be allowed to standby from the other airport.
-passengers may stand by between LGA and JFK at no additional charge as long as there is not a flight application restriction in the fare rule.)
Dec 9, 2015, 8:36 pm
#137
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Houston, TX/Australia
Programs: AA EXP/Exec Citi, NZ* G, Nat EE, Avis PP, HH Gold
Posts: 649
Are those the fare rules from your ticket or your wife's?
Dec 9, 2015, 10:04 pm
#138
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA CK, SPG Plt, Marriott Plt, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 443
Dec 15, 2015, 3:41 pm
#139
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
I take it SDC and SDSB are not possible on flight to/from Canada? Above references 48 states and online general terms on the AA.com site mention just LHR as the only foreign destination. Can anyone confirm if Canada (and Mexico) are excluded from n0-fee SDC and SDSB for an ExecPlat?
Also, appears no more co-terminal so since I am arriving into JFK, I must fly out of JFK, LGA is no longer possible on SDC but is on SDSB.
Also, appears no more co-terminal so since I am arriving into JFK, I must fly out of JFK, LGA is no longer possible on SDC but is on SDSB.
Co-terminals are only allowed if permitted by the fare rules and if the passenger qualifies for free standby either by fare or by status.
Dec 23, 2015, 6:31 am
#140
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix
Programs: HGP: Diamond, SPG:Gold, HH:Gold, AA: Plt, Copa: Plt
Posts: 17
A question, one that is not clear form the Standby page. I'm AA Plat, traveling with my wife and daughter, who are regular AA members. Are we all able to same-day Standby for a LATER flight?
Dec 23, 2015, 11:06 am
#142
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
Standby is not permitted to Mexico.
Dec 24, 2015, 7:24 am
#143
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
Anyone know figure out what the official policy is?
Dec 24, 2015, 11:52 am
#144
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
FYI I tried doing this last week and failed. I was scheduled on a flight between midnight and 1am and tried to switch to a flight a few hours earlier on the calendar day before. Called the EXP line three times to try to switch to a flight with available E inventory, they all said no (two of them put me on an extensive hold to go research further.) I even tried doing it at the airport at the check in counters the day of and also got rejected. It's possible had I gone through security and found a friendly gate agent maybe they would have put me on standby, but I wasn't wanting to get on the earlier flight so badly that I was willing to sit around at the airport and wait an extra few hours if I failed. I was also already upgraded on my existing itin and knew if I was standby and not SDC the chances of being upgraded if someone did help me change were a lot lower since all confirmed passengers on the standby list would get upgraded first.
Anyone know figure out what the official policy is?
Anyone know figure out what the official policy is?
Dec 24, 2015, 9:20 pm
#145
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
FYI I tried doing this last week and failed. I was scheduled on a flight between midnight and 1am and tried to switch to a flight a few hours earlier on the calendar day before. Called the EXP line three times to try to switch to a flight with available E inventory, they all said no (two of them put me on an extensive hold to go research further.) I even tried doing it at the airport at the check in counters the day of and also got rejected. It's possible had I gone through security and found a friendly gate agent maybe they would have put me on standby, but I wasn't wanting to get on the earlier flight so badly that I was willing to sit around at the airport and wait an extra few hours if I failed. I was also already upgraded on my existing itin and knew if I was standby and not SDC the chances of being upgraded if someone did help me change were a lot lower since all confirmed passengers on the standby list would get upgraded first.
Anyone know figure out what the official policy is?
Anyone know figure out what the official policy is?
What I'm not certain of is if your upgrade would've carried over or if you would've had to be confirmed in coach and then placed on the upgrade list again. I believe that the cleared upgrade stops SDFC from being offered as an option on AA.com or the kiosk.
Dec 25, 2015, 8:33 pm
#146
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
You were eligible to SDFC to a flight departing between 8 PM and midnight on the previous calendar day (but same evening). The airport agent should check the policy.
What I'm not certain of is if your upgrade would've carried over or if you would've had to be confirmed in coach and then placed on the upgrade list again. I believe that the cleared upgrade stops SDFC from being offered as an option on AA.com or the kiosk.
What I'm not certain of is if your upgrade would've carried over or if you would've had to be confirmed in coach and then placed on the upgrade list again. I believe that the cleared upgrade stops SDFC from being offered as an option on AA.com or the kiosk.
I'm sure SDFC policy is to be confirmed in coach when E is available and then getting added to the waitwist with the original timestamp. When one has already been upgraded I know the self service SDFC can't figure it out but I've never had problems calling in to change to other flights available on the same calendar day. But even the agents couldn't confirm on the flight before midnight and they said there was no way to override.
Dec 27, 2015, 5:45 pm
#147
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Any success recently of standing by for co-terminals?
Has anybody had any luck recently with a gate agent letting them standby for a coterminal airport? I'm ticketed from LAX-SJC but would now greatly prefer LAX-SFO. The EXP desk won't allow it but they said you might get someone at the airport who will let you do it. Thanks!
Dec 27, 2015, 5:55 pm
#148
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I was involuntarily sent to a co-terminal today due to a prior flight cancellation.
I've found that if there is a delay (weather or otherwise), it's usually not a problem to get sent to a co-terminal if you ask (sometimes multiple times).
I've found that if there is a delay (weather or otherwise), it's usually not a problem to get sent to a co-terminal if you ask (sometimes multiple times).
Dec 27, 2015, 7:00 pm
#149
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Assuming there are no delays though, I'm wondering if I have a shot at all at doing standby for SFO instead of SJC
Dec 27, 2015, 7:38 pm
#150
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 328
My experience has been... if there's ANYTHING going on with your scheduled flight, a gate agent in the right mood will give you a chance.
"There's been delays all morning into SFO, and it's important that I get rolling to my destination on time. San Jose has been looking good... could I standby with you?"
Help the gate agent by giving them a reason to say yes and feel good about getting you to your destination.
"There's been delays all morning into SFO, and it's important that I get rolling to my destination on time. San Jose has been looking good... could I standby with you?"
Help the gate agent by giving them a reason to say yes and feel good about getting you to your destination.
Last edited by Microwave; Jan 19, 2016 at 6:31 am Reason: Removed manual signature