Originally Posted by flg8rmatt

I think some people have a lack of understanding of the UM fee and what it covers. On the ground, all it covers on UA is an escort from the gate to the seat and from the seat to the gate at the destination. Escorts are also provided gate-to-gate if a connection is involved and UA has a "kid's club" lounge at their major hubs where kids can hang out with other kids if they have long connection times.

In no way does the fee cover any sort of priority standby or rebooking. It wouldn't give a teenager priority over a full fare customer in the case of IRROPs. All it would do is call the attention to the agents to the fact there is a minor traveling alone, which MAY cause the agent to make an exception to company policy. In fact, the only time I could see a UM getting priority as a matter of policy would be if the interruption occurred at a connecting point (which does not apply to the OP since it wasn't a connection at IAD), because then obviously the minor would have no friends/family to stay with. I have heard reports of UM's overnighting with crew members in their hotel rooms in such instances.

My daughter was nearly IDB'd as a UM here in PHX, precisely because WN knew it wouldn't have to foot a hotel/food bill for her. Turns out they didn't need her seat so she flew as scheduled, but I was explicitly told they picked the UM for IDB if they ended up needing a seat. WN policy obviously may be different from UA's, but paying the $50 to WN didn't get my daughter special treatment in that instance.