02-07-2025
American Airlines Officially Reinstates Old Rule in July
American Airlines is bringing back an old policy just in time for the summer.
In March 2024, American Airlines announced that it was limiting standby access to AAdvantage members. This move incentivized travelers to sign up for the airline's frequent flyer program. As you'd expect, not everyone was on board with that move.
Fast forward roughly 16 months later, and American Airlines has already reversed its decision.
Starting on July 1, standby access is eligible for all American Airlines travelers regardless of their membership status.
"All customers are eligible to list for same-day standby with an agent up to 45 minutes prior to departure – regardless of AAdvantage membership or status. The policy is only applicable to domestic flights and segments," American Airlines said. "We are continuously looking for ways to enhance the travel journey for our customers and this update gives all customers the convenience of a flexible itinerary, space permitting."
This move puts American Airlines on par with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines when it comes to standby access.
Even though American Airlines is reverting back to its old policy, it won't diminish the value of an AAdvantage membership. The policy states that AAdvantage members are eligible for same-day standby up to 15 minutes before departure.
After all, American Airlines has added a few more destinations in an effort to help out its membership numbers.
'American is focused on giving our customers the most options to pick the perfect vacation destination, and now there are even more ways to turn travel dreams into reality' Jason Reisinger, American's Managing Director of Global Network Planning said in a statement. 'Earning AAdvantage miles and status with American's new summer routes is the perfect setup to planning winter holidays with friends and family.'
American Airlines Officially Reinstates Old Rule in July first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 1, 2025
