How I Use FlightStats to Find Alternative Flights as a Standby Traveler

Flying standby is a game of patience, strategy, and quick decision-making. If you don’t get a seat on your intended flight, the next move is crucial—finding the fastest alternative. That’s where FlightStats comes in.

FlightStats is a free app (and website) published by Cirium that provides real-time flight departures and arrivals at any airport, making it easy to scan for backup options when your first choice doesn’t pan out.

I use two main features of FlightStats to navigate my standby journey:

1. Tracking Departures and Arrivals by Airport

One of the best ways to find an alternative route is by seeing which flights are currently departing from your airport.

Here’s how I use this feature:

• Step 1: Open FlightStats and select the "By Airport" tab.

• Step 2: Enter the airport where you're stranded or hoping to catch a flight.

• Step 3: Choose the date and time range to filter flights that are leaving soon.

• Step 4: Scroll through the departures to identify airlines and routes that could work.

Let’s say you’re at Zurich Airport (ZRH), trying to get to London but the first flight you tried was full. With FlightStats, you can instantly see all flights departing within the next hour—including those on British Airways, Swiss, Finnair, KLM, and BA CityFlyer.

This means you don’t have to rely on just one airline. If you were only considering SWISS flights, now you know that British Airways and KLM might be options as well. If your standby priority is lower on one carrier, hopping onto another might increase your chances of getting out sooner.

This can also help you find connecting points through other cities to help you reach your final destination. Sometimes time is of the essence, and it’s better to at least get on a flight headed in the right direction than staying put.

Bonus tip: If you’re really stuck, switch to search by Arrivals. This helps if you're considering backtracking or looking for inbound aircraft that might be turning around for an outbound flight you can hop on.

2. Searching Flights by Route for More Alternative Airlines

If you’re open to several options on multiple airlines to get between two points, FlightStats also lets you search by route.

• Step 1: Select "By Route" in the app.

• Step 2: Enter your departure and arrival city.

• Step 3: The app will display all airlines that fly that route, even those you might not have thought of.

You could also find out that budget airlines or regional carriers have flights that aren’t on your radar. While most standby travelers fly on their airline’s benefits, knowing all available options—including paid flights—can be helpful when you really need to move.

3. Why FlightStats is a Must-Have for Standby Travelers

• It’s free: No cost to download or use, making it an easy tool to add to your standby toolkit.

• Real-time updates: Unlike airport screens, which may lag or be limited in scope, FlightStats pulls in data directly from airlines. This can also help you discover delayed flights, which could be a savior to help you get where you need to go.

• Filters by time range: Instead of searching airline by airline, you get a broad snapshot of what’s leaving within a certain window.

• Cross-airline visibility: You’re not locked into checking just your airline’s flights—great when you need a creative routing solution.

• Works worldwide: Whether you're trying to get out of JFK, LAX, ZRH, or HKG, you can access schedules instantly.

Final Thoughts

For nonrev travelers, standby flying is all about staying informed and flexible. While airport agents can sometimes suggest alternative flights, having FlightStats in your pocket puts you one step ahead.

Missed a flight? Don’t panic. Open the app, scan departures, check routes, and make a new plan fast.

Do you use FlightStats or other apps to help with your standby strategy? Let me know your go-to tools.