In most cases, this means showing up a few hours before the first flight of the day. Because passengers are placed on the standby list on a first come, first served basis, this will maximize your chances of success.

In 2026, standby flight lists are almost never strictly "first-come, first-served"; instead, they are managed via a complex priority hierarchy determined by the airline's software. At the very top of the list are "Must-Ride" crew members and passengers who were displaced by an airline-controllable cancellation. Next are elite frequent flyers, prioritized by their status level (e.g., Diamond vs. Silver). Within the same status level, the "tie-breaker" is often the fare class of the original ticket (those who paid for a more expensive ticket move up). Only after all status and fare class factors are considered does the time of request (when you joined the list) come into play as a final decider. For employees and their families using "buddy passes," the priority is based on their seniority within the company. You can usually monitor your real-time position on the standby list via the airline's mobile app, which provides a transparent look at your chances of clearing the flight.