Hey All,

While I'm really *ahem* unimpressed *ahem* by United lately -- especially at +/-$0.40cpm (two maintenance-related emergencies in 2 months, luggage missing for 3 days of a 4 day trip & no interim expense authorization, and on...)

Anyway, during my last trip (January 6 to be specific--weather hell) I wound up in EWR heading for RIChmond. The flight I was confirmed on was showing a 3+ hour delay, while a flight scheduled to depart later was showing a 1.5 hour delay -- meaning it would get to RIC earlier, but it was also full.

I had an agent list me standby on that flight, took my SBY BP and found a "quiet" corner in terminal A to get some work done and watch my position on the standby list. Then I noticed I had disappeared from the list -- not cleared with a seat assigned, but was completely removed from the list. Before I had a chance to decide what to do about that I got a call from a 800# I didn't recognize.

It was a very nice gentleman from "the Protection Desk at Tampa Reservations" and he basically said "I see you listed yourself for standby for XXXX to Richmond." I replied that I had, and I just noticed I wasn't listed anymore. "You are confirmed on that flight; let me get the ticket exchanged and would you like a window or aisle?" Formalities completed, he told me to see any gate agent for a new boarding pass.

I wound up getting the same agent who listed me for standby who seemed a little surprised when I told him that Res told me to get a BP, but he printed it and voilą.

It was very much appreciated, but I've never had a live human call for protection before -- I've gotten the automated calls plenty of times -- and it struck me as a little odd based on the call volumes res were handling.

So my question is... is this normal or...? I've been a (PMCO) Silver for the better part of a decade, but just moved up to Gold last year so I don't know if it's a perk of status or a fluke.