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Previous posts have been archived and can be read here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)
Feb 12, 2016, 5:13 pm
#198
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I requested an upgrade for my flight tomorrow afternoon and it was confirmed.
Now I want to standby on the redeye tonight but aa.com gives me no options. I'm wondering if it's because the upgrade was confirmed for my original flight already.
I've called AA twice now and none of them have been able to resolve. One even transferred me to aa.com tech support and they couldn't assist either.
Anyone have any ideas? The flights are wide open for the redeye and other earlier flights tomorrow.
Now I want to standby on the redeye tonight but aa.com gives me no options. I'm wondering if it's because the upgrade was confirmed for my original flight already.
I've called AA twice now and none of them have been able to resolve. One even transferred me to aa.com tech support and they couldn't assist either.
Anyone have any ideas? The flights are wide open for the redeye and other earlier flights tomorrow.
If you just want to stand by for the redeye and the upgrade is of no consequence, that's different.
We will move your query to the existing thread. /Modertor
Feb 12, 2016, 5:20 pm
#199
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
Your upgrade was granted for your scheduled flight. When you stand by you lose your upgrade for the new flight. You must clear the standby list first (unfortunately, that list is processed after the upgrade request list), and after that if there is a seat available and the gate agent deems they have time, you could get processed for the upgrade.
If you just want to stand by for the redeye and the upgrade is of no consequence, that's different.
We will move your query to the existing thread. /Modertor
If you just want to stand by for the redeye and the upgrade is of no consequence, that's different.
We will move your query to the existing thread. /Modertor
Feb 13, 2016, 6:39 pm
#200
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
The website is notorious for not providing options for SDSB, even when E bucket shows plenty of availability. Don't believe it when you are told be the website the "no options are available" or whatever wording is used - there is very likely availability.
Go to the airport and they will have no problem putting you on standby for the flight of your choice.
Go to the airport and they will have no problem putting you on standby for the flight of your choice.
Feb 13, 2016, 9:02 pm
#201
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BNA and FLL
Programs: National Executive Elite, IHG Diamond Elite, Hilton Gold, SW A List, Marriott Gold
Posts: 964
I went to the airport and had no issues getting on the standby list for the redeye. I was cleared and had a whole MCE row to myself. The plane was maybe 50% full.
Feb 17, 2016, 10:22 am
#202
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2
$75 fee for SDS
Platinum here. When I flew a couple weeks ago I tried to go standby on an earlier flight (didn't get on any online list, just showed up at the airport) and I got a ticket but I was charged $75. The Flyertalk rules say no $75 fee for elites but the Gate Agent told me that was the new rules. Confused-- should I have been charged? Was the GA making this a SDFC instead of a SDS?
Apologize if this was covered earlier, I didnt find it.
Apologize if this was covered earlier, I didnt find it.
Feb 17, 2016, 10:30 am
#203
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 1,753
The website is notorious for not providing options for SDSB, even when E bucket shows plenty of availability. Don't believe it when you are told be the website the "no options are available" or whatever wording is used - there is very likely availability.
Go to the airport and they will have no problem putting you on standby for the flight of your choice.
Go to the airport and they will have no problem putting you on standby for the flight of your choice.
Platinum here. When I flew a couple weeks ago I tried to go standby on an earlier flight (didn't get on any online list, just showed up at the airport) and I got a ticket but I was charged $75. The Flyertalk rules say no $75 fee for elites but the Gate Agent told me that was the new rules. Confused-- should I have been charged? Was the GA making this a SDFC instead of a SDS?
Apologize if this was covered earlier, I didnt find it.
Apologize if this was covered earlier, I didnt find it.
What does your receipt say?
Feb 26, 2016, 9:21 am
#204
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Same day standby for AA Platinum
I am flying to Chicago direct tomorrow morning at 5.50 am. There is a 5 am direct flight as well. I have a Platinum status and was wondering what would be the best and easiest way to get wait listed for tomorrow’s flight without paying a fee?
Feb 26, 2016, 9:22 am
#205
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Goto the airport and do it via kiosk or check in agent or gate agent.
Feb 26, 2016, 9:26 am
#206
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Feb 26, 2016, 9:52 am
#207
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: AA Platinum, DL Gold
Posts: 105
I've found waitlisting for same-day standby online to be hit-or-miss, more often the latter as it almost always just says that no options are available. If it lets you, I believe you're able to at T-24.
Phone agents aren't able to to put you on the list for standby, so to reiterate the above post, the best way to do this is to go to the airport.
Phone agents aren't able to to put you on the list for standby, so to reiterate the above post, the best way to do this is to go to the airport.
Feb 26, 2016, 9:54 am
#208
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,546
Your position on the standby list depends on status and time of check-in, not what time you were placed on the list. Go check in online immediately if you have not already.
Feb 26, 2016, 10:51 am
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
You can easily do it at the airport. Do keep in mind that there will be EXP and CK members ahead of you on the waiting list so getting on the list online versus the airport won't really improve your chances.
Feb 26, 2016, 11:59 am
#210
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, DL PM, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,305
Awesome, thanks! I have done it at airports before, but did not realize standby was based on status. That probably explains why a couple of weeks ago in less than 20 minutes I dropped from #2 on standby to #3.