In plain English
It means a person is waiting for an open place on a specific flight. They do not have a confirmed seat. They can travel on that flight only if a seat becomes available.
In context
Here, standby reports that the passenger does not have a confirmed seat on that flight and will travel only if one becomes available.
- Situation
- Checking in, passing airport steps, boarding, connections, and flight status
- What it communicates
- reports seat-availability status for a passenger not yet cleared onto the flight
Meaning limits
By itself, this status does not establish that a seat will become available.
Examples
“Without a confirmed seat, she traveled on standby for the evening flight and boarded only when another passenger failed to check in.”
“Because he was still on standby, he waited near the gate while the agent counted empty seats.”