How can you Fly on standby with United Airlines?

United Airlines Standby Policy

It is challenging for the people reaching out to the airport, and something unexpected awaits them. What will happen if your plan cannot go as per your thoughts? In case you have a scheduled flight and you booked it through United Airlines, then you can have some flexibility on the day of your flight too if your plans change last minute. United Airlines offers travelers options if they change their flight on the departure date. You can make the same-day changes or even opt for standby for an early flight. This blog will describe how you can fly standby with United Airlines. We will also go through many restrictions and rules to make your experience smooth and worthwhile.

United Standby List

As you have listed yourself on standby, you will see that the list changes continuously. There is no confirmation that you will get a list if you have listed yourself on standby.

Here is the order followed by United Airlines for confirming the passengers for standby:

• Passenger Premier status ( The Airlines gives utmost priority to the premier 1K, Premium Platinum, Premium Gold, Premium Silver, and Mileage Plus members and all other passengers.
• The passenger who has bought Chase Presidential Plus or mileage plus card.
• Fare class
• Time and date of placing the request.
• Applicants in United Corporate preferred.
• Passengers spend more than 25,000$ annually on United Chase cards.

Travelers with basic economy tickets are the last to go; the priority list above is followed to confirm standby with United Airlines.

United’s Same-day change policy for its flights

United Airlines follows a strict rule for their same-day changes:

• The same-day change policy for United Airlines is applicable for basic economy tickets. But consolidated tickets, basic economy fares, and bulk fares are not a part of it.
• Same-day flight change is only possible if you check in more than 60 minutes before departure.
• The destination and origination remain the same, but connecting flights can be removed or added. 
• Usually, same-day change flights are requested 24 hours prior to the actual departure time. It is possible to change the flight after or before the original time unless it departs within 24 hours of placing your request.
• The travelers and others included in the reservation should travel via United Airlines or United Express Aircraft.

Difference between same-day changes and standby for United

If you are changing your flight at the last moment, there are two solutions you can go for standby and same-day change. The only difference between the two is that same-day changes are always confirmed. On the other hand, standby with United Airlines is only guaranteed on departure. If your seat is not confirmed, you will retain your original booking.

Making same-day changes with United Airlines

United Airlines help their passenger make changes to their flight after or before check-in, even for the flyers who made their reservations with the miles.

Same-day change policy for Mosaic Members

If you are one of the United Premier members, you will have a lot of flexibility to change your flight within 24 hours of your scheduled departure. You need to confirm your seat on any other flight within 24 hours of your original departure without paying any price. It means the traveler is not required to pay any change fees.

If your ticket class is unavailable for your new flight, you need to pay the fare difference too. If you have any issues, you choose to look on standby without paying extra charges.

Same-day change policy for other passengers

If you are a traveler without any premier status or a mileage-plus member, you can still confirm your seat on any other flight. The passengers can fly within a day of their departure time. But do know that a fare difference is applied even if the traveler chooses the same fare class. It is advised to opt for How can you Fly on standby with United Airlines instead of going with another option.

Basic Economy Ticket fare class:

The basic economy ticket holders cannot opt for same-day changes even if they have elite status. The passenger can opt for standby boarding for any other flight within 24 hours of the previous departure time. But they should know they will be the last to confirm.

What will happen if any passenger has already checked their bags?

They can opt for the same-day change if they have already checked their bags as long as are 60 minutes left for their new flight’s departure. It will allow United Airlines to move your baggage from one flight to another. If you are only traveling with a carry-on, you do not need to worry about anything.

How can you fly on standby with United Airlines?

If you do not like to pay any charges for same-day change or can’t confirm your seat on any other flight, opt for the standby list, and you can board an early flight without paying any charges. In case you have connecting flights, then remember that you need to opt for standby for every flight separately.

Who is typically on the standby list?

United Airlines usually keeps sure passengers on the priority on the standby list; here are the details:

Involuntary Standby clients: The clients did not book the flight initially as United Airlines canceled or changed the itinerary.

Voluntary Standby Clients: The clients listed are the ones who have chosen United Airlines for voluntary standby for another flight different from their original booking.

Pass riders: Eligible dependents and employees qualify for these sections for standby with United Airlines based on the available seats. They are at the last spots and are always prioritized once all the standby clients are accommodated.

Can a traveler change his seat assignment?

On installing the United app, you can change the seat if the airline has already assigned it an hour or more the departure time of your flight. In case you have received your seat assignment, and you want to change it. If it is within 60 minutes of your departure, then you need to speak to any gate agent to help.

How can any passenger join the United Airlines Standby List?

To add themselves to the Standby List, the passenger needs to download the United App or visit the official website of United Airlines. You can speak to the airport representative about the issue. If you are contacting the airport kiosk, the user can choose “view flight options”.

If United adds you to the waitlist, the passenger can check the first three letters of the last name and the initials can be seen on screens at the gate for new flights. Nowadays, passengers can also look at the real-time status for standby for the United app.

If any seats are available, the airline will assign you any of them within 30 minutes before the departure of any of your domestic flights. For international flights, the time range is 60 minutes. Suppose you have kept your notification on for the day-of-travel notification. In that case, United Airlines will email or text you to let you know you received a confirmation email for the seat assignment. Now you can refresh the boarding pass on the app or look for a screen near the boarding gate to look at your seat and status.

If you have already requested to be listed on the standby list, but your name is still not listed, you must immediately look for a representative. In this kind of issue, only United can help you out.

United Standby Rule for family members, employees and friends

United Airlines employees enjoy unlimited standby travel opportunities and discounted airline ticket prices wherever they fly. Their spouse, children and parents can travel on domestic travel on standby. The United employees and all of their employees can receive great discounts if they travel to international travel. The only catch is that these benefits are available when passengers fly on standby. The employees flying along with their kids or spouses are a high priority, while passengers travelling alone with the buddy pass are the lowest priority. The buddy passes generally are given the lowest importance on the standby waitlist.

United Airlines Missed Flight Standby Rules

United commits to helping travelers in all the ways they can. If your flight is delayed for an hour or is canceled or the traveler has missed their connecting flight, you can reach out to the airlines to help you. The traveler can look for options for alternate flights that can work well for you through channels like the United Kiosk present at the check-in section of an airport, the United App, or the United website. If you can log in for any of them, then you need to follow any of the following: 

One option is to re-book your flight at the earliest flight possible for the available seats. 

You can check if you can book any other alternate flight. United Airlines will also be looking for an alternative flight for you. You can speak to them and can also look for a boarding pass.

The traveler can look for an alternate flight for you. If any of your flights heading to a specific airport is canceled, you can switch to any nearby airport if it suits your ticket plans.

The traveler can look to join a standby list too. If you can find any earlier flights with no available seats, try entering the United Standby list. United Airlines will look into the matter and can help you join the flight if the space is open. If the traveler can join the standby list and United Airlines cannot provide a confirmed seat on your new flight, then the standby fees will be waived. 

If you can opt for trip cancellation, then contact the airport authorities to receive your refund.

United Airlines standby rules for the upgrades

While booking a flight ticket, the airlines allow the passenger to upgrade their ticket right away, or you can also apply for the upgrade to add your name to the upgrade list.

Instant Upgrades on United Airlines

If you are one of the elite travellers on United Airlines and booked your ticket in economy-fare classes, i.e. B and Y, then you are very much eligible for the instant upgrade. You can immediately check for the promotions once you have bought your ticket. The instant upgrades are also offered to the other passengers like Premier 1k members and the client applying for the certificate or miles to upgrade to the next cabin.

Waitlist for United Airlines upgrades

The upgrades must be confirmed while booking the ticket. Instead, you may end up on the upgrade waitlist. In many cases, you will receive the upgrade confirmation a couple of days before, but at other times, you will be informed at the gate before your scheduled departure.

Here is the priority list for you to know how United Airlines clears the upgrade list:

• Premium plus travellers: The passengers booking R, O and A fares are always prioritised in the upgrade list. “These fare categories denote United Premium Plus and hold a priority level surpassing that of United Global Services members with Y bookings.
• Upgrade Type: Travelers opting to redeem miles or plus points for the upgrade are always given priority over the elites who opt for a complimentary premier upgrade.
• Traveller Premier elite status: If you are a member of United Global Services, then you should know about the priority list followed, i.e. Prmier ik, Platinum, Gold and Silver Elites.
• Ticket Fare Class: The passenger who is buying regular economy class tickets should know the order followed for the upgradation is Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G.
• United Airlines Credit card owners: Presidential Plus and United MileagePlus Club Cardholders.
• United Corporate preferred members
• Cardholders spend over $25,000 on Chase United Mileage Plus.
• Date and time of request.

Fly Standby with United Airlines: Frequently Asked Questions:

Here is the list of FAQs related to the Flying Standby with the United Airlines:

How does the new standby process work?

The seats are assigned automatically if the traveler wants to be on the standby list or is seeking an upgrade option just 30 minutes before departure while travelling on a domestic flight. The duration applicable for international flights is 60 minutes. To fly standby with United Airlines you need to consider the timeline.

If my name appears on the upgrade list, I want to travel in Economy fare class with my companions. What can I do?

If you are still outside and have yet to check in, reach out. We will update your name and communicate to the team that you should not considered for the upgrade.

Being a passenger, how can I correct or change my seating arrangement?

If you are assigned a seat one or more before the flight’s departure, you can change your seat via the United app. In case you have received a seating assignment within 60 minutes of departure, you must keep your seats the same via United App.

Will I receive my allotted seat if I am running late?

If you can board the plane 20 minutes before the departure of your international flight and 15 minutes before your domestic flight, you will lose your allotted seat.

Is there any automated procedure allowing me to choose my seat preferences?

Yes, clients travelling alone can choose their personal seat preference (aisle or window) via the United App. The procedure is automated and will allow the clients to choose based on seat availability and personal preference during assignments.

How should I know that I am listed on the United standby list?

To maintain privacy for the travellers, we display just a few characters of their names on the standby list. Their last name’s first three letters and the initial first letter are shown. For Instance, if your name is John, then the name displayed as “JOHN, M” on the United Standby list.

I was checking the standby list, but my name wasn’t there; how can I add myself?

If you are eligible, you can add yourself to the standby list at the airport by selecting “view flight options” at the kiosk by contacting an executive.

In case you have already requested, you can check with the United Airport representative, and your issue will be solved then and there.

How much it will cost for a standby flight with United Airlines?

United used to charge about $75 for standby fees, but it is all gone now. Any client can stand for an early flight without paying any extra fees.

Does United Airlines offer standby without any charges?

The passengers can fly standby with united Airlines on a flight that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours. It doesn’t matter what type of ticket you have or service class you have bought, you can travel without paying any fee.

How much does a buddy pass cost on United Airlines?

Generally, buddy passes are accessible and used for booking standby tickets to provide benefits for airline employees. And the airline’s employees can share these benefits with their family and friends. They are free to use, and the only part of the fare the passenger needs to pay is the taxes and the charges for every flight leg.

More post about United Airlines:

The Guide to United Airlines Flight Delay Compensation

United Airlines Missed Flight Policy

United Airlines Name Change or Correction Policy

United Airlines Pet Policy