Originally Posted by trekwars2000

So I was flying PNS-ORD-LAS yesterday and the PNS-ORD went Mx for 5 hours causing me to miss the last flight of the day ORD-LAS. Got rerouted PNS-IAH-LAS, but could only get confirmed on the IAH-LAS flight at 9pm even though I was getting into IAH at 430pm. Got put on the standby list for the 545pm IAH-LAS list but never saw my name showing on the standby list via the mobile app/website. Needless to say I was a little concerned about where I was on the list when I couldn't see it myself.

The CO gate agents seemed to imply to me that there were two different standby lists because when I asked if I was at the top of the list they said that yes I was at the top of the "revenue standby" list. I asked about being a distressed passenger and they didn't seem to imply that it mattered and it was more based on my status.

I didn't think UA in the past had multiple standby lists but rather one list prioritized by status in the following order (more or less, ignoring must-ride passes and headheading FA's, etc):
1) Distressed Passengers based on status
2) Revenue Passengers based on status (basically those just wanting to take an earlier flight or those that missed their prior flights)
3) Non-Revs

Does the new system give distresses passengers priority over someone just standing by for an earlier flight?

On a side note, I did get on the "oversold" 752 as the first person called. Apparently they board 757s at IAH 45 minutes prior to departure and everyone sits on the plane for 25 minutes while they wait for the stragglers/late connectors to board? Then at the departure time they finally clear standbys. Seems mighty excessive to board a 180 passenger plane 45 minutes prior. Ended up in 22A - wow, I hadn't been in E- in a long time and definitively hadn't been in an E- window in a while. Almost makes me want to write in and ask for compensation for the seat, but I guess that is just want normal economy seats are now are days... (kidding about the comp)...