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Previous posts have been archived and can be read here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)
Aug 19, 2023, 5:37 am
#856
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Programs: AA-EXP, Marriott(T)
Posts: 208
Getting added to stand by list from app chat?
Was not able to find in a search, sorry if I missed this.
The agents from the "Chat feature" in the app have now twice said they cannot add people to the stand by list. It must be done at the airpot at the gate. Is this true? (I've been added to the standby list in the AC, so know it's not just at the gate)
Is there ever a way to be added stand by for another flight remotely like while in-air over the internet?
Thanks
The agents from the "Chat feature" in the app have now twice said they cannot add people to the stand by list. It must be done at the airpot at the gate. Is this true? (I've been added to the standby list in the AC, so know it's not just at the gate)
Is there ever a way to be added stand by for another flight remotely like while in-air over the internet?
Thanks
Oct 2, 2023, 5:54 pm
#857
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Portland
Programs: MVPGold 75K
Posts: 496
International married segment, same day stand-by possible?
I am flying xxx to ord to cdg. This is sold as xxx to cdg in flagship. Can I stand by tomorrow for an earlier flight from xxx to ord, at the airport?System doesn't allow it online. Thanks
Oct 2, 2023, 6:36 pm
#858
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 1,119
This should not be a problem. I have also been able to add myself to the standby list via chat when the option wasn't available online when it should've been. You can try being added through chat/phone. While they are not going to clear the standby list until shortly before departure, it may give you an earlier sense of your chances of clearing.
It's also worth asking if they can same day confirm change you on just the earlier xxx-ord, although IME they dont seem to have a different view on confirmed changes than what you can do online
It's also worth asking if they can same day confirm change you on just the earlier xxx-ord, although IME they dont seem to have a different view on confirmed changes than what you can do online
Oct 3, 2023, 12:52 pm
#859
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Just be mindful that XXX-ORD has had its frequencies slashed, so loads could be high. Also, the FL at XXX has been closed for refurbishment—presumably waiting for the new XXX-NRT service to start.
Oct 4, 2023, 1:44 pm
#861
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,021
No Status - Can I Stand-By for an earlier flight?
I have no status, and this is a mileage ticket.
I have a 5:24 PM out of SDF-CLT-PNS on 10/7
My partner has a 5:30 AM SDF-DFW-PNS that is nearly full.
Can I stand-by for this or any other earlier flight?
I have a 5:24 PM out of SDF-CLT-PNS on 10/7
My partner has a 5:30 AM SDF-DFW-PNS that is nearly full.
Can I stand-by for this or any other earlier flight?
Oct 4, 2023, 1:54 pm
#862
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,217
On a standby, you can't change the routing. You could standby for an earlier SDF-CLT but not SDF-DFW. This is true for elites and non-elites. See https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...day-travel.jsp.
Oct 4, 2023, 2:00 pm
#863
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,021
On a standby, you can't change the routing. You could standby for an earlier SDF-CLT but not SDF-DFW. This is true for elites and non-elites. See https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...day-travel.jsp.
Oct 8, 2023, 1:25 pm
#864
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 470
Flying standby on earlier flight with checked luggage
The online material says any passenger can standby for an earlier flight.
I can’t find anything in the official policy that precludes standby for a different flight with checked luggage? Is this allowed?
Do they tag your bag for the earlier connection regardless if you clear or not?
I am trying to fly standby on the connecting flight to avoid a 7 hour layover in DFW. multiple earlier flights are available.
I can’t find anything in the official policy that precludes standby for a different flight with checked luggage? Is this allowed?
Do they tag your bag for the earlier connection regardless if you clear or not?
I am trying to fly standby on the connecting flight to avoid a 7 hour layover in DFW. multiple earlier flights are available.
Oct 8, 2023, 2:15 pm
#865
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 736
They can tag your flight for the earlier flight. That might be done automatically depending on the station, but you should always ask and confirm with the check-in agent.
If you clear standby and your bags are tagged on the standby flight, your bag will fly with you. If you didn't clear standby but your bags were tagged for it, then the bag might get on the standby flight (and wait for you at the destination baggage service office), get DV8'ed onto the flight you are standing by (or confirmed) next, or get DV8'ed onto another flight to the destination. It will depend on the exact circumstances and perhaps the mood of handling agents
If you clear standby and your bags are tagged on the standby flight, your bag will fly with you. If you didn't clear standby but your bags were tagged for it, then the bag might get on the standby flight (and wait for you at the destination baggage service office), get DV8'ed onto the flight you are standing by (or confirmed) next, or get DV8'ed onto another flight to the destination. It will depend on the exact circumstances and perhaps the mood of handling agents
Oct 8, 2023, 3:20 pm
#866
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 470
They can tag your flight for the earlier flight. That might be done automatically depending on the station, but you should always ask and confirm with the check-in agent.
If you clear standby and your bags are tagged on the standby flight, your bag will fly with you. If you didn't clear standby but your bags were tagged for it, then the bag might get on the standby flight (and wait for you at the destination baggage service office), get DV8'ed onto the flight you are standing by (or confirmed) next, or get DV8'ed onto another flight to the destination. It will depend on the exact circumstances and perhaps the mood of handling agents
If you clear standby and your bags are tagged on the standby flight, your bag will fly with you. If you didn't clear standby but your bags were tagged for it, then the bag might get on the standby flight (and wait for you at the destination baggage service office), get DV8'ed onto the flight you are standing by (or confirmed) next, or get DV8'ed onto another flight to the destination. It will depend on the exact circumstances and perhaps the mood of handling agents
Can AA take control of the ticket and reissue the earlier connecting flight or will I be stuck with the long layover?
Nov 24, 2023, 5:15 pm
#867
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 10
Standby didn't clear - refund?
Hi,
I'm confused on how AA same-day standby works. I have an AA award ticket for a great route, but a bad time (6am). I want to go standby on a later flight (~1 pm). What happens if I don't get on the 1pm flight? Can I get a refund, or are the miles lost because I didn't cancel before my original flight.
Thanks!
I'm confused on how AA same-day standby works. I have an AA award ticket for a great route, but a bad time (6am). I want to go standby on a later flight (~1 pm). What happens if I don't get on the 1pm flight? Can I get a refund, or are the miles lost because I didn't cancel before my original flight.
Thanks!
Nov 24, 2023, 5:59 pm
#868
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,778
Hi,
I'm confused on how AA same-day standby works. I have an AA award ticket for a great route, but a bad time (6am). I want to go standby on a later flight (~1 pm). What happens if I don't get on the 1pm flight? Can I get a refund, or are the miles lost because I didn't cancel before my original flight.
Thanks!
I'm confused on how AA same-day standby works. I have an AA award ticket for a great route, but a bad time (6am). I want to go standby on a later flight (~1 pm). What happens if I don't get on the 1pm flight? Can I get a refund, or are the miles lost because I didn't cancel before my original flight.
Thanks!
https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/...day-travel.jsp
Anyone can standby for an earlier flight, but only AAdvantage® status members can standby for a later flight the same day
Nov 24, 2023, 8:15 pm
#869
Join Date: Jun 2023
Posts: 10
Dec 27, 2023, 10:29 am
#870
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
SDC/Standby Question
I know there have been changes to SDC/Standby recently and I haven't had to use them so I wanted to ask about a situation here. I'm traveling BOS-CLT-MIA-BOG (paid J if it matters) tomorrow but just wanted to change the first sector and keep the others intact. A later BOS-CLT still gives me well above MCT in CLT but the app is only offering later flights with a later connecting flight to BOG which I don't want. Reservations apparently no longer handle SDC and the web help desk said they couldn't do anything as it may be a married segment. I didn't realize married segments had to apply to SDC as well? Has anyone else heard of this?
Secondly, if I just list as standby for a later flight BOS-CLT, do I need to show up at the airport for my original flight or will I be regarded as a no show? I've done this a few years back but just wanted to check if anything changed
Im PPro for context
TIA for any advice!
Secondly, if I just list as standby for a later flight BOS-CLT, do I need to show up at the airport for my original flight or will I be regarded as a no show? I've done this a few years back but just wanted to check if anything changed
Im PPro for context
TIA for any advice!