11 Airline Loyalty Benefits That Actually Pay Off

7. Priority waitlists and standby privileges

Priority on waitlists and standby can be a powerful perk when flights sell out or are oversold. Elite status often moves you ahead of general passengers and increases your odds of getting onto earlier flights without buying a new ticket. For tight business schedules or important family connections, being able to get on the next flight without extra spending is both convenient and cost‑saving. This benefit is especially valuable on busy holiday routes and short-haul connections where last-minute rebookings happen frequently. There are strategies to improve your odds—timing check‑in, choosing the right fare class, and building loyalty history with one carrier. For travelers who value schedule certainty, priority standby beats the cost of always purchasing higher-fare tickets for flexibility. But if your trips rarely need rearranging, standby privileges won’t change your travel costs. Treat this perk as practical insurance for time-sensitive itineraries rather than routine use.