A search turned up nothing, so if this has been previously posted I apologize.

Today, I arrived at ORD ticketed on the 11:00AM flight to LGA. W fare, return leg, no checked bags. I would have preferred to fly into EWR today so went over to the 10:55 EWR departure at the gate next door and asked nicely if I could stand by for the flight. The GA flatly said, "That's no longer allowed." Incredulous, I (politely) asked if she could check why, if this was a specific fare rule on my ticket or what. After speaking to the "help desk" (and, I might add, noting my request and their denial therof in my PNR ), she said, "It's a new policy, EWR is no longer a co-terminal of LGA/JFK for same-day standby on discount tickets. It's simply not permitted."

Nonplussed, I did the in-person equivalent of saying "thank you" and hanging up; I thanked her and went to the RCC to seek help. Unfortunately the RCC agents were mired in phone calls and none was available to help me...after a 10 minute wait I abandoned that approach and went to my original LGA gate. Spoke to the GA for this flight who listened to my request and said, "What? Of course you can go to EWR."...until she pulled up my PNR and saw the notes.

After much keypunching this very helpful GA said, in effect, the other GA was right. A new policy was just enacted such that same-day standby is not permitted for EWR vs. a LGA/JFK ticket, nor for IAD/DCA vs. a BWI ticket. The rule applies in reverse in both cases, i.e., a BWI ticket cannot be used to standby for IAD/DCA flights.

Confirmed this on the phone with the 1K desk this afternoon; the agent who answered originally said she knew of no such policy but after another call to a help desk confirmed that this is indeed the case. She could confirm that EWR and BWI were affected by this, but said no other city pairs were affected by this rule (however, she then said "as far as I know this type of standby has never been permitted for Bay Area airports nor for LAX/BUR/ONT/SNA."

News to me, and not welcome.

I was not even offered the opportunity to pay $100 to switch to the EWR flight. It would have required a re-fare + $100, which at the time of departure would mean full Y.

Any lurkers care to confirm, deny or further illuminate this "new policy"?