How Do Standby Airline Tickets Work?

Flying standby used to be simply showing up at the airport a couple of hours before the flight, trying to find the cheapest available flight, or waiting to get on the standby list of a specific flight. In recent years, however, standby flying has morphed into an extra service that ticket-holders can invoke, given that certain conditions apply. This article explores what standby flying means in the modern world of commercial aviation.