Sally French

There's no way. So I asked if I could do standby later for free. And it turns out that's a highly underrated perk of elite status. If you are just a regular member of American Airlines loyalty program, you can only standby on earlier flights. And my flight was at 1 a.m. So what was I going to do? Leave at midnight? Yeah.

There's no way. So I asked if I could do standby later for free. And it turns out that's a highly underrated perk of elite status. If you are just a regular member of American Airlines loyalty program, you can only standby on earlier flights. And my flight was at 1 a.m. So what was I going to do? Leave at midnight? Yeah.

There's no way. So I asked if I could do standby later for free. And it turns out that's a highly underrated perk of elite status. If you are just a regular member of American Airlines loyalty program, you can only standby on earlier flights. And my flight was at 1 a.m. So what was I going to do? Leave at midnight? Yeah.

But with elite status, you can standby on a later flight as long as it leaves on the same day, goes between the same airports, and has the same number of stops.

But with elite status, you can standby on a later flight as long as it leaves on the same day, goes between the same airports, and has the same number of stops.

But with elite status, you can standby on a later flight as long as it leaves on the same day, goes between the same airports, and has the same number of stops.

But if you have elite status, you'll also be slightly higher on the standby list. I was number two on the list for both the flights that I flew standby on. And that's with the lowest level of elite status. Of course, there are other factors too, like if you paid for your ticket in cash versus miles. But here's my hot take.

But if you have elite status, you'll also be slightly higher on the standby list. I was number two on the list for both the flights that I flew standby on. And that's with the lowest level of elite status. Of course, there are other factors too, like if you paid for your ticket in cash versus miles. But here's my hot take.

But if you have elite status, you'll also be slightly higher on the standby list. I was number two on the list for both the flights that I flew standby on. And that's with the lowest level of elite status. Of course, there are other factors too, like if you paid for your ticket in cash versus miles. But here's my hot take.

I think if you're smart about the risks, flying standby later has got to be one of the best perks of airline elite status.

I think if you're smart about the risks, flying standby later has got to be one of the best perks of airline elite status.

I think if you're smart about the risks, flying standby later has got to be one of the best perks of airline elite status.

And you could fly at a better time.

And you could fly at a better time.

And you could fly at a better time.

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We also want your honest feedback on this show. We would be grateful if you could write us a review and rate our show on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

We also want your honest feedback on this show. We would be grateful if you could write us a review and rate our show on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

This episode was produced by Hilary Georgie and Tess Viglin. Claire Soce helped with fact-checking. And a big thank you to Nicholas Karisamy for editing our audio.

This episode was produced by Hilary Georgie and Tess Viglin. Claire Soce helped with fact-checking. And a big thank you to Nicholas Karisamy for editing our audio.