A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
Flight schedules are such that the standby options are of limited utility to me, even when my status would qualify for one. I don't fly many routes where there are so many flights where I might catch an earlier one just by showing up an hour or two earlier than usual. Plus I'd assume that with flights being as full as they are, even if I cleared a standby list it would be to an E- middle seat in the back.
20 years ago I flew a lot more standby. AA Plat meant that I cleared more often than not, and the fact that everybody had to use paper 500-milers for domestic upgrades meant that I even had a decent chance of clearing straight into F.