Is being on standby the same as being overbooked?

No. With standby, you are waiting for a seat to become available. In the case of overbooking, a passenger with a confirmed booking may be denied boarding because the airline has no seats available.

Can I get compensation if I don’t get a seat on a standby flight?

Normally not, in the case of denied boarding, if you do not have a confirmed booking on the flight. However, if the airline has confirmed your booking, your rights must be assessed on the basis of that booking and what happened at the gate.

Standby on flights – what does it mean for your journey?

Standby means you are travelling without a confirmed seat and are instead waiting to be allocated a seat, if there are any seats left. A standby ticket is usually cheaper, but a more uncertain option. You will be notified if you can board once the airline knows whether there is space available, often shortly before departure.

Meaning: Waiting for a vacant seat on a specific flight
Relevant for: Vacant seats, rebooking, denied boarding
Regulations: The airline’s ticket conditions and, depending on the booking, EU Regulation 261/2004.

What does this mean for your flight?

If you are on standby without a confirmed booking on the flight, you may be left at the airport if no seats become available. This is not normally the same as being denied boarding when you have a confirmed booking. For compensation under EU Regulation 261, it is therefore important to check what the airline has actually confirmed in your booking.

Example: If you are unable to board a flight where you are only on standby, you are not normally entitled to EU261 compensation for denied boarding. This differs from a situation where the airline denies you boarding on a flight where you have a confirmed booking.

Claim refund or compensation

Standby

What does this mean for your flight?

Have you been denied boarding?

FAQ