United adds app feature to join standby lists for earlier flights

United Airlines is launching a standby-list function within its mobile application, timed for the upcoming Labor Day holiday. Passengers whose original flight is delayed or cancelled and who are rebooked on a later schedule can add themselves to up to three earlier flights heading to the same endpoint. The airline will monitor those standby requests and send a text notification if a seat becomes available, allowing the traveler to accept the earlier flight before the confirmed reservation is cancelled.

The service eliminates the need to contact a United representative in person or by phone. United frames the update as part of a broader push toward self-service recovery tools, which already provide live inbound aircraft updates, TSA security-line wait estimates and the ability to share suitcase location via AirTag or Find My accessories.