I just read the page on the UAL website detailing the new policy to charge for confirmed and unconfirmed standby. Only Global Services customers, 1Ks and customers traveling on Standard Award tickets or fully refundable tickets are exempt from fees for confirmed same-day travel changes and unconfirmed same-day standby. In other words, just the top levels. Premier and Premier Executives (star alliance gold) members are NOT exempt from this. Although I'm a 1K member (for this year anyway), I do feel sorry for other UAL passengers especially those Premier/PE who will also be affected by this change.

People often book a high-traffic, late-afternoon flight. If business concludes early and you opt for an earlier flight, that clears the way for the airline to put another person buying a last minute ticket in that seat, let alone any cost savings if the original later flight is oversold.

I encourage all MP level members to voice their displeasure with the airline and send them a complaint immediately as they are losing one of the little perks that made the airline stand out from the rest. Pretty disappointing when they can't even take care of their most loyal passengers.