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Previous posts have been archived and can be read here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)
Jan 14, 2018, 3:15 am
#526
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
I have had an agent make that exact change for me at check-in in August 2017. She did take a few minutes and explained that it was because they did not want those types of changes given the SDFC/SDSB rules but she got it done anyway. I was Platinum Pro so I don’t know if that encouraged her to do it. My advice would be to just ask nicely since the rule technically is that they shouldnt make the change.
Jan 25, 2018, 2:16 pm
#527
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
I am confirmed (with SWU) in first on a later flight. There is J1 on an earlier flight. I am on standby via
SDFC. What is my priority ? Am I ahead of all others that are waiting for CK/EXP upgrades ? This is
on a completely domestic itinerary.
SDFC. What is my priority ? Am I ahead of all others that are waiting for CK/EXP upgrades ? This is
on a completely domestic itinerary.
Jan 25, 2018, 7:01 pm
#528
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,641
If your original ticket is economy, you standby for your original ticketed cabin. Standbys are usually not processed until upgrades are cleared thus freeing more economy seats up.
Feb 12, 2018, 1:57 pm
#529
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SFO/PEK
Programs: JL JML, Delta Plat, CA Plat, CZ Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton DM
Posts: 49
Thanks for the info. I got a question here: I'm having a flight tomorrow from SFO to LAX on 8:40 AM. I have requested a standby to an eariler flight on 7AM. Do you have any idea when AA will start to clear the standby list? Current on the first one. I guess I also need to arrive the airport like 5:30 tomorrow morning to re-check with ground agent right?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Feb 12, 2018, 4:19 pm
#530
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
The gate agent will generally start clearing standby about T-45 to T-60 if there is space, in my experience. I have asked a GA to process me early when I was #1 and there was plenty of space so I could go visit the lounge, and was successful. If the flight is full or nearly full, they may wait until T-15 to start processing standbys.
You do not need to recheck with the gate agent; if you are on the standby list you will get processed whether you are present or not. You don't lose your original seat until you board so if you no-show after clearing (I've done that due to a late first leg) - no problem.
You do not need to recheck with the gate agent; if you are on the standby list you will get processed whether you are present or not. You don't lose your original seat until you board so if you no-show after clearing (I've done that due to a late first leg) - no problem.
Feb 12, 2018, 4:21 pm
#531
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,641
Thanks for the info. I got a question here: I'm having a flight tomorrow from SFO to LAX on 8:40 AM. I have requested a standby to an eariler flight on 7AM. Do you have any idea when AA will start to clear the standby list? Current on the first one. I guess I also need to arrive the airport like 5:30 tomorrow morning to re-check with ground agent right?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Feb 14, 2018, 3:52 pm
#532
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: LGB
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 241
Thanks for the info. I got a question here: I'm having a flight tomorrow from SFO to LAX on 8:40 AM. I have requested a standby to an eariler flight on 7AM. Do you have any idea when AA will start to clear the standby list? Current on the first one. I guess I also need to arrive the airport like 5:30 tomorrow morning to re-check with ground agent right?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
I've done same-day standby on earlier flights CMH-ORD, and have been cleared (and upgraded) as early as ~3hrs before the requested flight time (before I even arrived at the airport). Not sure if its just because the flights aren't usually full, or if being an outstation has something to do with it.
Feb 15, 2018, 7:13 am
#533
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
Hi there,
I have a flight coming up for myself + 2. I was advised by AA to split the reservation into 2 + 1
so my free upgrade as EXP shows up. So now I have me + 1 on one locator while the third
person is on another locator. Only I have status out of 3.
If I have to do SDFC (for free) is that an issue now ? Would they do free SDFC for both
locators ? I never considered this issue and allowed them to split the records to get
the free upgrade. But now SDFC is more important to me than upgrade since it is a short
flight:-(
Any suggestions as to what can be done so all three of us can get free SDFC based
on my EXP status ? Does it also matter if the tickets are revenue or mileage ? I have
revenue (paid) tickets one way and mileage tickets on the return...
Thanks in advance....F.A.
I have a flight coming up for myself + 2. I was advised by AA to split the reservation into 2 + 1
so my free upgrade as EXP shows up. So now I have me + 1 on one locator while the third
person is on another locator. Only I have status out of 3.
If I have to do SDFC (for free) is that an issue now ? Would they do free SDFC for both
locators ? I never considered this issue and allowed them to split the records to get
the free upgrade. But now SDFC is more important to me than upgrade since it is a short
flight:-(
Any suggestions as to what can be done so all three of us can get free SDFC based
on my EXP status ? Does it also matter if the tickets are revenue or mileage ? I have
revenue (paid) tickets one way and mileage tickets on the return...
Thanks in advance....F.A.
Last edited by flyalways; Feb 15, 2018 at 7:21 am
Feb 15, 2018, 7:25 am
#534
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
Hi there,
I have a flight coming up for myself + 2. I was advised by AA to split the reservation into 2 + 1
so my free upgrade as EXP shows up. So now I have me + 1 on one locator while the third
person is on another locator. Only I have status out of 3.
If I have to do SDFC (for free) is that an issue now ? Would they do free SDFC for both
locators ? I never considered this issue and allowed them to split the records to get
the free upgrade. But now SDFC is more important to me than upgrade since it is a short
flight:-(
Any suggestions as to what can be done so all three of us can get free SDFC based
on my EXP status ? Does it also matter if the tickets are revenue or mileage ? I have
revenue (paid) tickets one way and mileage tickets on the return...
Thanks in advance....F.A.
I have a flight coming up for myself + 2. I was advised by AA to split the reservation into 2 + 1
so my free upgrade as EXP shows up. So now I have me + 1 on one locator while the third
person is on another locator. Only I have status out of 3.
If I have to do SDFC (for free) is that an issue now ? Would they do free SDFC for both
locators ? I never considered this issue and allowed them to split the records to get
the free upgrade. But now SDFC is more important to me than upgrade since it is a short
flight:-(
Any suggestions as to what can be done so all three of us can get free SDFC based
on my EXP status ? Does it also matter if the tickets are revenue or mileage ? I have
revenue (paid) tickets one way and mileage tickets on the return...
Thanks in advance....F.A.
Feb 15, 2018, 7:31 am
#535
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
I had similar situation last month. Had split 4 pax into 2 PNR's (2 and 2) for the upgrade possibility. Day of travel, wanted to go on earlier flight which had plenty of space. EXP desk said they could move me + companion, but given split PNR's, could not change passengers on the other reservation. I wound up sending DM to AA twitter and they made the switch. (Yes... AA twitter accomplished what EXP desk could not).
with my companion on the outbound :-)
Feb 15, 2018, 7:38 am
#536
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: RDU
Posts: 2,264
Had been upgraded on flight 1. If memory serves, the flight change removed the upgrade and put me back on the upgrade list, which ultimately cleared both into first.
Feb 15, 2018, 7:49 am
#537
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
If he did SDFC, he is NOT standing by for his original cabin. He is confirmed on the flight in economy and seems to be "standing by" for an upgrade.
Mar 2, 2018, 8:07 pm
#538
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SFO/PEK
Programs: JL JML, Delta Plat, CA Plat, CZ Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton DM
Posts: 49
Well it ends up pretty good. Arrived airport early, being issued a standby card by SFO agent, waited at the gate for a while and I was the first to get cleared around 10 min before boarding (Total 5 Standbys, all get cleared later).
What ended up happening?
I've done same-day standby on earlier flights CMH-ORD, and have been cleared (and upgraded) as early as ~3hrs before the requested flight time (before I even arrived at the airport). Not sure if its just because the flights aren't usually full, or if being an outstation has something to do with it.
I've done same-day standby on earlier flights CMH-ORD, and have been cleared (and upgraded) as early as ~3hrs before the requested flight time (before I even arrived at the airport). Not sure if its just because the flights aren't usually full, or if being an outstation has something to do with it.
Apr 3, 2018, 12:24 pm
#539
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 255
What happens if you SDSB for last flight and do not clear?
Anyone knows what happens when you same-day standby for the last flight of the evening and ultimately do not clear? Would AA put you on standby for a flight the next day? Of course, you would have to pay your own accommodation and meals.
Apr 9, 2018, 10:59 am
#540
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP (LT Plat 2MM), Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat, SPG Plat75, UA1K
Posts: 1,248
Just want to confirm my understanding: I am an EXP traveling on an Award Ticket traveling in F that was ticketed in F. I am on an 8:30pm flight out of LGA to ORD (have to take this later flight as this is the final leg of a CMB-AUH-JFK//LGA-ORD F Award and the minimum connecting time from JFK-LGA is brutal). Anyway, if I get to LGA early enough, can I standby for F on an earlier flight (say 6:30pm or 7:30pm)? If so, would it be dependent on F MileSAAver space being available or just any F seat?
Thanks!
Thanks!