On most modern airlines, flying standby is when a passenger without a seat assignment waits at the gate to see if there is an extra seat after all scheduled passengers have boarded.

"Standby" for a flight ticket means you are on a waiting list for a seat on a specific flight, but your travel is not guaranteed. There are two main types of standby: "Same-Day Standby" for regular passengers and "Non-Revenue" standby for airline employees. Regular passengers often fly standby if they want to catch an earlier flight than the one they booked, or if they missed their original flight and are waiting for the next available opening. You are only given a seat if there is a "no-show" or an unsold spot after all confirmed passengers have boarded. Standby priority is usually determined by your frequent flyer status and the type of ticket you purchased. In 2026, many airlines allow you to monitor your "Standby List" position in real-time via their app. If you "clear" standby, you will receive a notification and a seat assignment at the gate just minutes before departure. If the flight is full, you are typically "rolled over" to the standby list for the next available flight to your destination.