How can I get a standby flight?

Flying standby can involve a long wait, an unknown adventure, and huge savings on your ticket purchase. However, it might be the cause of frustration as well. It is best to know how to navigate standby flights to avoid being anxious and annoyed. Flexibility and patience may be the most important tools when navigating your standby flights. With Air Europa Flights, you may be lucky as a standby flight can be scored easily if your original flight was missed. Whatever your reason might be for traveling on standby, here are the tips to navigate standby flights.

Tips to navigate standby flights-

Know about the airline's standby policy-

Different airlines have different standby policies, and it can lead you to pay an additional charge for services related to baggage or inflight services. 

Get in touch with the customer service department

Calling the airline to inform them about your intent to fly on standby is a good method to ensure that you will get a suitable flight. If you are flying with Scandinavian Airlines, the airline representative may offer an alternative to your original flight if the seats are available.

Aim for a cheap ticket

If you have pre-planned to travel standby, benefit by booking a cheap ticket. With the ticket in hand, you can ensure unrestricted entry into the airport and get a last-minute flight.  Inform the airline that you may opt for an earlier or a later flight. 

Make the payment

A minimal fee for the service may be charged when you get selected for the flight. Pay the fee, if required.

Arrive early at the airport

Basically, many airlines confirm that standby tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. All things considered, arrive at least 2 hours before the flight, in case of a  Domestic flight booking. The probability of the standby tickets being confirmed is higher on the early morning departures. To ensure that you get the flight, go for such departures.

Go through the security and wait at the gate

You must clear the security check and wait at the gate until the last passenger boards. You may get a seat last minute when a passenger is a no-show in case your ticket is on standby.

Travel light

Pack only a carry-on whenever you are on standby for a flight. Some airlines may not let you board the plane when you have a lot of check-in baggage.  Another scenario might be that the time to check in your hold baggage might not be enough.

Adapt as per the situation

At times, you might not be able to get a standby flight. Thus, flexibility is going to be a major factor in successful standby travel. Be open to rescheduling your hotel check-in as per your estimated arrival at your destination.

Avoid group travel on standby

Plan your trip alone if you want to fly standby. For groups, it may be difficult to get the seats together on the same flight, and you may end up on different flights.

Plan your standby travel during nonpeak

Those traveling on standby have a higher likelihood of getting the flight if the flight departure is on Tuesday or on the day of a major festival. 

Avoid traveling around a festival as the demand increases at such times, and you may get the flight.

Know your reason-

The airline may give you priority depending on the reason you are traveling on standby. The reasons are listed below.

• The airline or you cancel the original flight.

• You get the next flight as the original flight is overbooked.

• You need to go with an earlier or later departure.

• The original confirmed flight is missed due to a reason beyond your control, i.e., due to a delayed connecting flight or misinformation about the departure time.

Out of the above reasons, if the airline was responsible for you being on standby, you can be persistent with your request for the flight, and you may just get it.

But don't forget to be polite even if your request is denied.

Ask for an upgrade

As a result of your reason for traveling on standby, you may even get an upgrade on the class of the ticket. But it depends on the availability.

With the tips above, you may easily get a standby flight along with a discount on flight booking if planned properly. But keep in mind to double-check the airline's policy to avoid last-minute hassle so that you are not in the situation of losing out on your hard-earned money that you may have paid for the original booking.  Get the solutions to more queries related to your trip by calling the airline's customer service number or using the official website. Get the best possible solution in a timely and efficient manner.