Yep, and elite status continues to become more valuable. For tickets purchased on or after February 22, only the following passengers will be allowed to standby for an earlier or later flight for free:
Continue reading: American eliminates free standby for most passengers
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Interesting. I (incorrectly) thought that EXPs could make confirmed same day changes for free. I've probably done this 3-4 times as an EXP, and I've never been charged!.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wont this mess up elites trying to stand by for free if a general member does a confirmed change for $50, thus grabbing the seat? Isn't it basically auctioning off standby seats?
More-or-less the same as what Delta has been doing for some time now with Same Day Confirmed, except DL requires you to be Gold Medallion (equiv to AA's Plat) to get it for free.
Ugh, I hope UA doesn't kill off free standby; it's one of the few things that UA does better than WN.
(And before you say WN doesn't fly to PVG, free standby is only available in Region 1. AKA, WN's killing grounds.)
Hey, I remember when UA used to have same-day confirmed for 1Ps and above at no charge!!
@Nick - Anyone standing by for free is taking a chance that someone will CFC in front them, same as it is currently, so no change. Only way for anyone to be assured a seat is to CFC, although EXPs sometimes have the fee waved as a courtesy.
What can I say.....just one more reason for me not to fly American.....if DFW and the dirty old planes weren't reasons enough