American Airlines will stop flying between Bermuda and Washington, D.C. (DCA) soon. The final flight leaves Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on August 5. This change is part of the airline’s shift to its off-peak summer schedule.
Although the Washington route is ending, flights from Bermuda to Charlotte, New York, and Philadelphia will continue everyday. Other changes also affect flights to Miami. Those flights will run less often starting next month.
Skyport’s August schedule shows that starting August 11, some dates have no incoming or outgoing American Airlines flights. These route cuts aren’t the only change. American Airlines also brought back an old standby policy that had upset many travelers.
Only 16 months ago, the airline changed the rules. Back then, standby access was only for AAdvantage members. People often use standby when they miss a flight or want to switch flights last minute.
They can ask at the gate & get on the plane if seats are still open after boarding finishes. This rule, announced in March last year, led many to sign up for the AAdvantage program.
While signing up is free, joining the Admirals Club—where the real perks are—costs up to $1,650. That club includes benefits like easier last-minute flight changes. The decision to limit standby upset many travelers. Other airlines, such as Delta and United, continued to offer free standby for everyone.
They even allowed travelers to ask for standby right at the gate, a move most carriers were avoiding. But now, starting July 1, American Airlines has changed course. All passengers, not just members, now have access to same-day standby.
“All customers are eligible to list for same-day standby with an agent up to 45 minutes prior to departure – regardless of AAdvantage membership or status,” the airline said.
The airline also explained that this new rule only applies to domestic flights.
American Airlines says this update gives passengers more flexibility with their plans.
Elite members, like Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, and Concierge Key, still get extra time. They can request same-day standby up to 15 minutes before takeoff.
One traveler praised the policy shift in a blog post. They said they were glad to see American Airlines’ standby policy return to what it was before. That traveler had called the old change “one of the most irksome policy changes” of last year.