5 Tips on Flying Standby
One of the old practices that seasoned travelers employ is to fly standby. This way, they will be able to arrive on their destinations earlier than what they have booked. If you are unfamiliar with this practice, you will be pleased to know that it is quite useful.
So how come they are not popular? It is probably because many travelers are not aware of what to do in order to fly standby. If you are interested, here are five useful tips to follow:
- Know the flights and the load. You should check whether there is a similar cheap flight as yours and find out via the airline’s website or phone call if the flight is fully-booked. Make sure that your itinerary is exactly the same and you will only be flying standby on a flight with the same leg.
- Inquire for available seats at check in. As soon as you arrive at the airport, inform the airline that you are flying standby and inquire whether they could add you on the standby list. This means that you will have to get to the airport several hours in advance. Since most airlines will not add you on their standby list if you checked in your bag, it will probably be best to bring a carry on or simply do not check in your luggage.
- Travel Solo. Flying standby will be more difficult if you are doing so in a group. Only single passengers have a greater chance of getting standby seats.
- Be an Elite Member. Most airlines prioritize elite members of their frequent flier program. In order to increase your chances of leaving on an earlier flight, you should earn the elite status.
- Be prepared and flexible. Since your goal is to get on an earlier flight, you should be prepared for the worst seat on the flight. The important thing is that you will be able to arrive earlier than planned, allowing you to enjoy your trip for a couple more hours.
