True, but for a lot of the popular TATL routes ex-IAD/ex-EWR, you do often have additional UA options. I recall SDC'ing a EWR-CDG several times, which was great and not something I could have done on the 1x daily routes. So we're effectively talking a small subset of international stations where they can easily handle SDC and flat-tire rule options (FRA, LHR, and CDG all come to mind). I suppose also that places which have flights to multiple hubs that they might be willing to put you on standby on one of those, though it will mean standby on multiple flights (as you'll also have to stand by for your connection at the new hub).