DALLAS — American Airlines Inc. now charges many passengers to check a bag. It’ll soon charge passengers for a blanket and pillow.

Now, one more free privilege is about to go — the ability for paying passengers to stand by and grab a different flight at no extra charge.

For tickets bought Feb. 22 and afterward, American will do away with the standby option for its non-elite passengers. If you want to change to another flight at the airport, you’ll pay $50 — or you won’t change your flight.

American spokesman Tim Smith said the carrier isn’t just trying to bring in fees with the change. American is trying to improve its operations as well.

“It’s not the average standby list, but you get one of those Friday afternoon scenarios when you have more than 100 people standing by for a flight out of a business market,” he said.

“It really does become chaotic getting everyone processed. You have to process each and every one of these people individually. Those who don’t make it, then you have to roll them over onto the next flight and start it all over again,” he said.

“It literally can slow up the boarding and ultimately the on-time departure in extreme conditions.”

He added: “There is certainly revenue involved here, too, but the other is a realistic part of the decision.”