Flying standby means you have an unconfirmed ticket so you can 'stand by' at the gate of an airplane, ready to hop on if there's an open seat. Most airlines require you already have a paid ticket on a later flight that same day, but airline employees and their guests can fly standby without buying other tickets.

Flying standby—the practice of waiting for an unconfirmed seat on a flight—is typically allowed for three main groups of people. The first and most common group is airline employees and their eligible dependents (spouses, children, and parents), who use "non-revenue" standby travel as a job benefit. The second group includes revenue passengers with flexible or "Same-Day Standby" eligible tickets. In 2026, many major carriers (like Delta, United, and American) allow all passengers—except those in Basic Economy—to stand by for an earlier flight on the same day for free, provided the origin and destination remain the same. The third group consists of passengers impacted by "Involuntary" changes, such as those whose original flights were canceled or significantly delayed due to weather or mechanical issues; these passengers are placed on a priority standby list for the next available departure. Elite status members (such as Gold or Platinum flyers) are often given higher priority on these lists, ensuring they are the first to be cleared if a seat becomes available at the last minute.