If you are married or have a domestic partner, they get the same travel benefits as you - unlimited travel on AA/AE at "normal" priority and 4 one-way legs at a slightly higher priority (but still standby). You also get 20% discount on confirmed seats too if you REALLY need to get there.

Parents go at a slightly lower priority and get 24 one way passes/year. So the way I explained that to my parents, that's 6 trips/year for them to go together.

After 2 years, you get buddy passes which deduct from your 24 parent bank too. Buddy passes cost a little bit more and are lowest standby level.

If your parents are like mine, you'll have no buddy passes to give out. I started in August and my parents have used up almost all their passes. Thats only over the course of a few months. They don't know what they'll do next year when they have to spread the passes out over a full year, instead of a few months.

Oh and pass banks refill every Jan 1 and anything not used is NOT rolled over to the next year. Part of the reason my parents are traveling so much before the new year.