I agree with you on charging for standby- seems like an empty seat is a seat that cannot be sold, and if they are leaving with an empty seat they ought to give it to anyone who wants it even if there is a fare difference. You are taking a chance going out to the airport and going stand-by - possibly an expense right there. They then save themselves from being overbooked or can sell the available seat to someone else. Sometimes I don't know who makes some of the decisions that are made - not someone who understands human nature. They think that they are going to collect more money - I 'm sure it happens some of the time, - but more of the time people make decisions to save money like you did. By then I am sure you were anxious to get home and even $500 wasn't enough of an incentive to get bumped.