Standby is being placed on a list for a flight without a confirmed seat, boarding only if space remains shortly before departure.
Standby is being placed on a list for a flight without a confirmed seat, boarding only if space remains shortly before departure.
Also called: Waitlist.
How it works#
Order on the list follows status tier, fare paid and time of listing, not the order people arrive at the desk. A standby listing creates no right to travel on that flight, and the original booking stands until it is cancelled. When flights are full, standby is effectively hopeless, which makes load factor the number that decides it.
Not to be confused with#
Standby is not the same as a confirmed rebooking: a rebooking secures a seat, standby only offers the prospect of one.
In German#
The German term is Standby. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Denied boarding: Denied boarding is the refusal to carry a passenger who holds a valid booking and arrived on time, typically because the flight is oversold.
- Upgrade: An upgrade is the move into a higher cabin or room category than the one booked, paid for with miles, cash or granted as an elite benefit.
- Misconnection: A misconnection is missing an onward flight because the previous one ran late; the legal consequences depend on whether both flights sit on one ticket.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onBooking and flight search.