How many hours early I have to be at airport for standby ?

Question

How many hours early I have to be at airport for standby ?

Answer 1

Checking in will take about 10-15 minutes.

Security will probably be 5-8 minutes.

If you are that person that wanders around the airport to shop and eat, then get to the airport and hour before.

If you are that person that just sits in the seat until boarding, arrive an hour before so you won't seem like it's forever, and you will get a good seat in an uncrowded area.

Answer 2

There is no set rule. However, aircraft load factors are over 80% so there may not very many seats available at peak times or to popular destinations. If there were passengers on an earlier flight that was canceled, they will be given priority over standby passengers. And, standby passengers are boarded in the order that they arrive at the airport and get on the standby list. Basically, your odds get progressively worse as departure time approaches.

In other words, the earlier that you arrive, the better your chances.

Why fly standby at all? Unless you are a non-revenue passenger, you don't get a break on the price. In fact, standby is the most expensive way to travel (at least if you're departing from the United States). You don't qualify for an advance purchase discount. Discount seats are limited, so there is a high risk that no discount seats will be available. You may as well buy a ticket and spare yourself the risk of being stranded for several hours waiting for a seat.

If you are flying non-revenue, be prepared to be very patient. If you're unlucky, you may be at the airport for a long time.

Answer 3

2 hrs