One horror story could be constantly getting bumped from standby flights due to overbooking. Passengers end up waiting for hours or even days at the airport, missing important appointments or events. It's a nightmare when you've planned your trip around a standby flight only to be left stranded.
Book early. If you can avoid standby and get a confirmed ticket, that's the best way. This way you have a guaranteed seat and won't have to worry about being bumped or left behind.
Once I was on a standby flight. I got to the airport super early, like 4 am. I was all excited to get on the flight. But they kept delaying the standby list announcements. Finally, when they did, I was number 20 on the list and there were only 5 seats available. It was so frustrating. I ended up having to wait another 5 hours for the next possible standby chance.
Delays are a big problem. For standby flights, you might be waiting for hours or even days because the flight gets delayed due to various reasons like weather or technical problems. And all that waiting around in the airport is just dreadful.
I know someone who was flying standby on a long - haul flight. They had planned their trip well in advance, but when they got to the airport, they were told that they might not get on the flight for at least two days. The airline provided very little information about when a seat might become available. As they waited, they ran out of the necessary medications they needed for the long flight. It was a really difficult situation for them.
The uncertainty. When you're in a standby situation, not knowing what will happen next can be terrifying. For example, in a standby for a rescue operation, you don't know if help will arrive in time.
There was a person flying standby who had an important meeting at their destination. They arrived at the airport early and waited patiently. But due to some technical issues with the airline's standby system, their name was not properly registered. So when seats became available, they were overlooked. By the time the mistake was noticed, all the seats were taken and they missed their meeting. This shows how unreliable flying standby can be at times.
Sure. One standby horror story is about a plane on standby during a storm. The passengers were waiting nervously on the tarmac. All of a sudden, there was a huge lightning strike near the plane. The lights inside flickered and some people heard strange noises from the wings. Everyone was terrified, fearing that something bad was about to happen.
Flight cancellations are common horror stories. Imagine planning a trip for months, getting to the airport, and then being told your flight is cancelled. United Airlines has had issues where they don't offer immediate alternatives or adequate compensation.
One horror story is about long flight delays. Passengers were stuck on the plane for hours without proper updates or assistance. They were left sitting in uncomfortable seats, thirsty and hungry as the airline failed to provide timely refreshments.