Buddy Pass 101: How Airline Standby Travel Works in 2025

Flying on a buddy pass in 2025 sounds like the ultimate travel hack: Cheap, flexible, and exciting. But let’s not sugarcoat it: standby travel is part thrill, part gamble, and absolutely not for the faint-hearted.

I’ve flown on buddy passes a dozen times in the past year. From sleeping overnight at Schiphol to landing a last-minute first-class upgrade out of Atlanta, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) what it means to navigate the unpredictable world of airline standby. If you’re planning to use a buddy pass this year, here’s what you need to know and what I wish someone had told me earlier.

What is a buddy pass?

A buddy pass is a non-rev travel benefit that allows friends or family of airline employees to fly on standby, usually at a steep discount. The employee has a limited number of passes they can distribute each year, and each airline has different rules about who qualifies and how it’s used.

You’re not buying a ticket with a guaranteed seat. You’re entering a queue, often behind employees, their dependents, and other priority travelers. It’s not unusual to get bumped from multiple flights before finally getting on one.

That’s the trade-off: low cost, high uncertainty.

2025 Changes: What’s New in Standby Travel?

Several airlines have updated their non-rev and buddy pass policies in 2025, mostly in response to ongoing post-pandemic demand shifts and operational pressures.

Tighter capacity controls: Some airlines are restricting buddy pass travel during peak seasons, summer, school holidays, and long weekends, making it harder to get seats unless you’re flying off-peak.
Digital standby queues: Airlines like Delta and Lufthansa now show real-time standby lists in their mobile apps, which helps but doesn’t eliminate the guesswork.
More international restrictions: With rising global demand, some long-haul flights are rarely non-rev friendly anymore, especially in premium cabins.

Knowing what’s changed in 2025 helps you avoid disappointment. Don’t rely on outdated blog posts or Facebook groups; ask the employee who gave you the pass or check airline forums with current data.

The Truth About Priorities?

Let’s clear something up: you’re probably low on the priority list.

Employees usually board first. Then, their spouses, registered companions, and kids. Buddy pass travelers come after that. On some airlines, you’re also ranked by the date the pass was issued or by the employee’s seniority.

I’ve seen the buddy pass list from both sides now, and let me be honest—it can be brutal. Last spring, I was sitting in Dallas trying to get to LAX. I checked in early, dressed the part, and crossed my fingers. When the gate screen lit up, I was number 42 on the standby list. The flight had five open seats.

I waited for hours. Watched three other flights board and depart. Nothing.

At 11 p.m., I gave up and booked a hotel. That’s how it goes sometimes.

If you absolutely need to be somewhere at a certain time, buddy passes are probably not the best option.

What Actually Helps (And What Doesn’t)

There’s no official rulebook for this stuff. Just a lot of trial and error and stories you swap in crew lounges at 2 a.m. Here’s what I’ve learned, not from a blog, but from missing flights, sleeping on airport floors, and figuring it out mid-chaos.

Travel light. Like, ridiculously light. One bag. Carry-on. If a gate agent calls your name for a different flight across the terminal, you don’t want to be the person scrambling for a suitcase that never boarded.
Check the app. I usually open StaffTraveler before I even get dressed. If the loads are full across the board, I stay put. It doesn’t tell the future, but it’s a better guess than staring at the departure board and hoping.
Always have a Plan B. Actually, have a Plan C. I’ve bounced through cities I never intended to visit. Chicago instead of D.C., Brussels instead of Amsterdam. It’s rarely direct, but if it gets you there, it counts.
Don’t book hotels unless you can cancel them without begging. Too many times, I’ve paid for a room I never saw. Now I just check for 24-hour cancellations and hope for the best.
You have to roll with it. One of the worst flights I missed was one I almost got. I was next on the list when the doors closed. That’s when you either laugh or unravel. Go with the first one.

Buddy Pass Common Misconceptions

Some people think buddy passes are just cheap plane tickets. They’re not.

You’re not entitled to a seat. You’ll pay taxes and fees, sometimes up to $200+ on international routes. You may wear business casual attire (still required by some carriers). And no, gate agents don’t “make space” for you if the flight is full.

And one more thing: don’t complain. If you get bumped from five flights in a row, that’s on you. It’s not the airline’s fault or the agent’s. It’s part of the deal you signed up for.

Is a Buddy Pass Worth it in 2025?

That really depends on what kind of traveler you are.

If you’re chill, don’t mind changing plans at the last minute, and can turn a missed flight into a story, not a meltdown, then yes, It’s still one of the best perks around.

But if you’re the type who needs structure, hates waiting, or gets stressed when a plan shifts by more than five minutes, this probably isn’t for you.

Buddy passes aren’t golden tickets. They’re more like a behind-the-scenes pass to the airline world. You’re not guaranteed a seat. You’re not treated like a paying passenger. And that’s the trade-off.

That said, I’ve had some of the best flights of my life using one. First class from Tokyo to LA for $70. Window seat, full row, great crew who smiled when they realized we knew how this worked. It’s hit or miss, but when it hits? It’s unbeatable.