Canada’s national carrier, Air Canada is once again in the news for the wrong reasons. The airline has been accused of terminating an employee’s flying rights because her daughter complained of poor service.
According to a story published on the Insider, the employee who did not want her name to be mentioned let her daughter fly “standby” just like her mother who works for Air Canada. But the daughter did not like how she was treated by the Air Canada gates staff hence prompting the daughter to send Air Canada management a complaint email.
The airline management were enraged by the email hence prompting them to ban both the mother and her daughter from flying standby for a period of two years.
The employee complain to the airline union but the latter told the employee that there is nothing the union could do about the ban. It encouraged the worker to apologize to the airline instead.
What is Flying Standby?
Flying “standby” is an airline industry term referring to a situation when passengers are offered flights at discounted prices because they either work for the airline or have a family member who works with that particular airline. On average, passengers will incur a fee between $25 and $100 to fly standby. Standby availability on a flight means that there are seats on a plane that haven’t been filled by the travel demands of that flight.
Air Canada Policy on Flying Standby
Air Canada allows eligible passengers to fly standby. Usually it depends on the availability of seats on a particular flight. It is worth noting that one can only fly standby if they have not checked their bags yet.
For passengers flying Latitude, Premium Economy, Business Class and Comfort, flying standby is free on this airline. Once again, subject to seats availability on that particular flight. This is also more possible if there are multiple Air Canada flights between one’s departure city and their destination.
Flying Standby with Other Airlines
American Airlines: Standby is allowed but this airline will charge $75 per passenger for same day flights. However, American Airlines waives this fee for military personnel passengers, holders of AA Advantage Elite membership as well as those flying Business Class.
Delta Airlines: Same as American Airlines, this airline also charges $75 per seat for flying standby. But those flying economy are not allowed to fly same-day standby.
United Airlines: This airline charges a fee of $75 to fly standby.
Alaska Airlines: Alaska offers free, same-day standby for ticketed passengers in certain cities. However, passengers must be at the gate 30 minutes prior to takeoff.
Have you ever flown standby before? What was your experience like? Share with us on the comments below.
