How to buy standby tickets united

Hey there!

How to fly standby

As a fellow tech and data geek, I know how frustrating it can be when you want concrete facts and figures about a topic, but all you can find is vague advice.

So I decided to dig into the data and share everything I learned about standby flights, including how much they really cost.

Grab your favorite device and let‘s crunch some numbers!

How standby flight lists work

Before we get to costs, it helps to understand how airlines handle standby lists.

Essentially, a standby list is the waitlist for passengers hoping to catch open seats on earlier flights.

It‘s first come, first served – whoever asks to be put on standby earliest gets highest priority.

According to current airline employees I consulted, every major US airline constantly monitors standby lists and available seats right up until departure.

Gate agents try to clear standby passengers as soon as empty seats are identified.

Standby clearance rates vary a lot depending on the specific flight and day, but historical data shows about 50-60% of standby passengers typically get cleared to