Originally Posted by
C17PSGR
I flew Delta last week where I have no status. I wanted to standby for an earlier flight and went to the SkyClub using my AmexPlat. They took my AmexPlat, charged me $75, and put me on standby for the earlier flight. I didn't think it made DL a sucky airline because of this policy and it certainly beat the alternative of changing my ticket and paying a fee which is probably 150 or 200. I agree I prefer the days when airlines would let everyone standby for an earlier flight without charge.
Back in the day Southwest let you standby and switch flights for no issue at all. I was at the airport, waiting for my flight, when there was an overhead asking if anybody spoke Chinese. I went out of security (it was a cinch back in those days) and helped a man who was trying to buy a ticket to Vegas and only AA was available (the agents were discriminatory and refused to give change to him in cash, requiring me to pony up myself. I don't even know the guy!)
Anyway, so I come back and my flight has left (this is OAK, intra-CA, meaning flights leave every half hour or so), told the agent, explained what I was doing, got on the next flight. No problem at all.
It wasn't a big deal because the man I helped was flying AA. Back then people helped each other out.