Welcome to FlyerTalk.

As US was the operating airline and it has different policy than AA (through October 16, 2015), we will move this to the proper forum, where you can gain some input from savvy US Airways flyers. /Moderator

(It's likely AA would apply the "Late Arrival Standby" policy, as long as you're not on the last scheduled flight of the day. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...l-standby.html.)

The smallness of the airport, where you might be dealing with a contract agent who does double duty at both check-in / ticket counter and the gate, probably hindered more than helped.