In plain English
It is a waiting list used when a trip has no seats left to book. The passengers on it are waiting for any seat that later becomes available on that full flight or other trip.
In context
Here, "standby list" names the queue of passengers a traveler joins to wait for any seat that becomes available on a fully booked flight or other trip.
- Situation
- Changing trips, requesting refunds, reading disruption options, and handling travel documents
- What it communicates
- names the queue a traveler joins to wait for an available seat.
Meaning limits
The term itself does not establish that any seat will become available or that a passenger on the list will get one.
Examples
“Because the evening flight was fully booked, Lena got on the standby list and waited to see whether any seat opened up.”
“At the terminal, the clerk placed the family on the standby list for the sold-out ferry.”