Every airline has its own priority system, but in general, the order for boarding standby passengers is as follows: Full-fare passengers. Commuting flight crews. Standby passengers from the airline (in order of seniority or time of check-in)

Yes, airlines use a strictly defined hierarchical priority system for their standby lists in 2026, ensuring that the most valuable passengers or critical staff are cleared first. Generally, the order begins with "Must-Ride" crew and staff (pilots or attendants needed for a downstream flight), followed by "Involuntary" standby passengers (those whose original flights were cancelled or delayed by the airline). Next in line are Elite Status members (ranked by their tier, such as Diamond or Global Services), and then regular revenue passengers who have paid for a "Same-Day Standby" benefit. The final tier consists of airline employees and their families traveling for leisure on "non-revenue" passes. Within each of these buckets, the "tie-breaker" is usually determined by the specific fare class purchased and the time the passenger checked in or added themselves to the list. Most airline apps now allow you to see your live position on the list for transparency.