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Flying standby as a retiree
Many airlines keep staff travel for retired employees, but the rules differ from those for active staff: who qualifies, your place in the queue, guests and paperwork. New to standby? Start with How to fly standby.
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Check loads in the appWho qualifies
Each airline sets its own threshold, usually a mix of age and years of service. Some examples:
- American Airlines: at least 10 years of service, with age plus years of service adding up to 65 or more.
- Air Canada: 25 years of service, or age plus service adding up to 80, or age 65 (60 for pilots) with at least 10 years.
- Endeavor Air: from age 52 with 10 consecutive years, or with 25 years of service.
Ask your staff travel department before you retire: the rules for your group and your hire date decide what you keep.
Your place on the standby list
Retirees usually list after active employees. On Breeze Airways, for example, retired team members come after active ones but before buddy pass travellers and other airlines' staff on ZED tickets. American has listed retirees below active employees since 2014.
Some airlines treat their retirees like active staff: on Oman Air, its retirees board together with its active employees. How the queue works is explained in How the standby list works.
Guests and family
Retiring doesn't always mean losing guest passes: American retirees get 8 guest passes a year, plus passes for their parents. Rules for companions and adult children differ by airline. More about flying with others in Flying standby with family.
Other airlines and ZED
Many retirees can also fly on other airlines on ZED fares: Endeavor Air retirees can travel on more than 100 partner airlines, and American retirees can book ZED in myIDTravel. Prices and partner lists depend on your airline's agreements, see Staff ticket prices.
What's different
- Baggage. Some perks carry over: on staff tickets on United and Avianca, retirees, like active staff, don't pay for the first checked bag.
- Documents. A retiree ID card doesn't replace your passport or ID at security.
- Taxes. In the US, flights of companions and adult children may count as taxable income for you, as on American.
- Benefits can change. At some airlines, travel for former staff isn't part of your contract and can be withdrawn, as at British Airways.
Retiree rules differ between airlines and change, and our summary may be inaccurate or out of date. Check with your airline's staff travel department or retiree association.
Questions, answered
Do retired airline employees keep flight benefits?
At many airlines, yes, if you meet the age and service threshold, for example 10 years of service with age plus service of at least 65 at American. Each airline sets its own rules, and they can change.
Do retirees fly before or after active employees?
Usually after active employees. On Breeze, for example, retirees come before buddy pass travellers and other airlines' staff; some airlines treat their retirees like active staff.
Can retirees still give buddy passes?
At some airlines, yes: American retirees get 8 guest passes a year. Check your airline's retiree rules.
Rules change often and this guide may be out of date. Check with your airline's staff travel department before you travel. Staff Airlines isn't responsible for denied boarding, missed flights or other losses. Found a mistake? Let us know.
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