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[edit] Standby Priority

Standby priority is the method by which American Airlines determines which passengers on the standby list (PALL list) will receive seats on a particular flight.

Standby priority is determined by the following factors in order of precedence:

1. Priority Code - Distressed travelers (those who have experienced involuntary travel delays or disruptions) are grouped above discretionary standbys:
   1. Revenue Involuntary (RI)
   2. Revenue Voluntary (RV,DRX)
2. Elite Status - Within each group above, passengers are ordered based on AAdvantage status:
   1. AAdvantage Executive Platinum
   2. AAdvantage Platinum
   3. AAdvantage Gold
   4. AAdvantage
   5. Non-AAdvantage members
3. Check-in Time - Within each status group above, passengers are ordered based on check-in time. Those passengers who checked-in earliest will have top priority for standby confirmation.

This information has been confirmed by an AA gate agent as of July 2008, with priority code taking precedence over status, and with check-in time (not time of addition to the list) still impacting standby priority, despite the fact that it no longer impacts upgrade priority.