When you fly standby, your checked baggage is handled differently depending on when you are added to the list. If you check your bags for your original flight and then decide to go standby for an earlier one, your bags will usually stay on the original flight unless a ramp agent has enough time to manually move them. This is known as "voluntary separation," and you will need to retrieve your bags from the baggage office at your destination once the original flight arrives. However, if you are cleared for the standby flight before your bags are processed, the airline's system is alerted, and every effort is made to load the bags onto your new aircraft. To minimize stress, many standby travelers prefer to travel with carry-on only to ensure they and their belongings arrive at the same time, especially since standby seats are never guaranteed until the very last minute.