Staff AirlinesHow to fly standby › Standby list
How the standby list works
Each flight has a standby list, also called a priority list: the queue in which standby travellers get the free seats. Who goes first depends on the airline, and many airlines let you see your place in the queue.
Start with the flight: compare estimated open seats before you list.
Check loads in the appWho goes first
The order depends on the airline:
- By check-in time: on British Airways, JetBlue and Frontier, the earlier you check in, the higher you are.
- By airline and date of joining (DOJ): on Vueling, EL AL and Etihad, your airline and the date you joined it set your place. EL AL's and Etihad's own staff come first.
- Own staff first: on Southwest, Southwest employees board before staff of other airlines; after them, check-in time counts.
Where to see your place in the queue
Many airlines run the list electronically. At the airport it is often shown on screens at the gate or the standby desk, with your position in line. Some airlines also show it online:
- Southwest: in the Southwest Mobile App, once you have checked in.
- Delta: in the FlyDelta App.
- Frontier: at F9standby.flyfrontier.com, which shows only passengers who have checked in.
- Breeze: on the Breeze website and app under Flight Status.
- Etihad: in the Etihad app, after you add your booking to Trips.
In Staff Airlines, when an agent answers a load request for a flight and shares its standby list, every Premium user on that flight can see it.
A boarding pass without a seat
When seats are tight, you may first get a boarding pass without a seat number: you are on the standby list, and you swap it for a real seat when the flight clears. On Aeroflot, for example, the kiosk prints a boarding pass without a seat, and you exchange it at the check-in counter no later than 45 minutes before departure. Stay near the gate and listen for your name. If you don't get on, see Step 5 in How to fly standby.
Questions, answered
What is a standby list?
The queue of standby travellers for a flight, in priority order: by check-in time on some airlines, by airline and date of joining on others. Many airlines show it electronically: on screens at the gate or standby desk, where you see your place in line, and in their app or on a website.
How do I see my place on the standby list?
Look at the screens at the gate or standby desk, or in the airline's app; some airlines, such as Frontier, also have a standby website.
Does checking in early help on standby?
On airlines that order the list by check-in time, such as JetBlue and Frontier, yes. On airlines that order it by airline and date of joining, check-in time matters less.
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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