AirTran offers two means of flying standby. Both require you to have a confirmed ticket for an AirTran flight on the day you wish to travel standby. The first option is to reserve a seat on an earlier flight. You will be charged $49 per flight. If you have two connecting flights, for example, you'll be charged $147. A nonstop flight would cost only $49. You must make this transaction at the airport. The second option is to stand by for a flight on the same day for free, but without a reservation.
For tickets purchased on or after Feb. 22, 2010, American has eliminated free standby for flights within North America and to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The airline now charges $50 for confirmed standby tickets. This is valid only for flights leaving prior to the flight for which a ticket was originally purchased. The fee is waived for military travelers, certain frequent fliers, and for those flying in a class higher than basic coach.
Continental allows passengers to change flights if the request is made within 24 hours of the original departure---before or after. The new flight has to leave within 12 hours of the request. Continental charges $50 for this service. If Continental cannot confirm a flight for you, and you wait standby nonetheless, the airline still charges you $50 if you make it onto a flight.
US Airways' standby policy is similar to the AirTran policy. The airline allows standby for earlier flights on the same day as your original, except those bound for Hawaii or Europe. If US Airways can confirm a standby flight for you, you are charged $50. If not, you can fly standby at the last minute for free.
Southwest Airlines enforces a policy not many others do. If you find a standby flight earlier on the same day of your original flight, you must pay the difference in ticket prices. For those who bought a cheap ticket well ahead of time, this can be quite costly. On the plus side, Southwest does allow travelers to cancel their flights free of charge. The ticket price is credited back to the traveler if it is used toward a new trip booked one year in advance. Travelers use their confirmation numbers when canceling tickets, and they must inform Southwest in advance.
