"They seem to be taking the standby issue seriously. Today's London Free Press has a Jazz ad offering two online fares YXU-YTO: the "Super Low" @ 10 day+ advance purchase, $50 change fee, & "Same-day standby unavailable" -- $49 o/w; and the "Business Flex" @ 5-9 day advance purchase, no change fee, & "Same-day standby available" -- $69 o/w.

So now the possibility of doing a standby is a selling point."

And that's the point. As tickets become cheaper, the benefits ascribed to them decrease. AC is actually making it more flexible for the consumer to buy exactly the benefits they want for their travel plans. If you know you are likely to standby for an earlier flight, then you pre-pay for the privilege. If you are a leisure traveller who just wants to get from one city to another, and only want a seat with minimal Aeroplan points, then you have that option too.

I think we have to get our heads around this new reality. Buying air travel is like buying a car. Once you choose the brand, you move on to the options. The more of these options we want, the more the ticket costs. Right up to a fully flexible, front cabin, Exec Class seat.

Let's face it, airline travel has become a commodity, and buying the right ticket is like confronting the myriad of choices one must make at the Safeway each time you want to buy an item: consider how many variables we have when selecting toilet paper or detergent or breakfast cereal...

Obviously this approach requires education and public disclosure, neither of which is in wide circulation. And simplifying the vast array of fare codes so there aren't two types of L fares!