Originally Posted by
CowboySeth Senior
I checked in pretty early and was at the gate 2 hrs before the flight. I was using the a list standby option.
Check in time for standby is irrelevant. A higher status A -Lister or reassignment can bump your position literally at the last second. I have been both the bump-er and bump-ee.
As mentioned, there is whole hierarchy to who gets those seats and it is not linear based on chronological check in.
If there are seats open they will start clearing a batch of standbys even prior to boarding, then if there are a lot of booked passengers but not checked in or known they will miss the connection they can clear another batch, then they will clear the rest with the 10 min rule rule and bumping those that no show checked in or not.