Same-Day Flight Changes: How Each Airline Handles Them

Two different things

A same-day confirmed change moves you to a different flight on the same day with a guaranteed seat, usually for a fee. Same-day standby puts you on a list for an earlier flight without a guarantee, often free.

By airline

Delta: confirmed change for a fee on most fares, free for top-tier elites; standby free on many fares. United: free same-day change on economy and above when a seat is available in the same fare class. American: fee on main cabin, free for Platinum and above. Southwest: free same-day change and standby on most fares. Alaska: fee on main fares, free for elites. Basic economy fares are excluded from same-day changes on all carriers.

• Policies were reviewed in September 2026 and change often; the agent confirms the current rule for your ticket.

How standby actually works

Same-day standby puts you on a waitlist for an earlier flight to the same destination; if a seat is open at departure, you get it, and if not you keep your original flight. The list is ordered by elite status first, then by when you joined, so requesting standby early in the day and checking in as soon as the window opens improves your odds. Standby is free or cheap on most standard fares but excluded on basic economy, and a full flight simply may not clear you, so it is a bonus, not a plan you can count on.

When paying for a confirmed change is worth it

A confirmed change guarantees the new seat, which matters when you cannot afford to miss the earlier flight, for a connection, an event, or a work commitment, or when the earlier flights look full and standby is a long shot. If your schedule is merely flexible and the flights have empty seats, free standby usually gets you there without the fee. The agent can look at how full the earlier flights are before you decide, which turns the choice from a guess into a calculation.

How to request one

Call (708) 866-8751 as early in the day as possible; both confirmed changes and standby seats are easiest to get in the morning and dry up through the afternoon. Have your confirmation code ready and know which earlier flights you would take.