Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Anyone can see it plain as day by looking at the seat map an hour before the flight, then watching the "cleared list" on the TV screen and the seat map there fill up front to back, with empty middle seats scattered throughout the rear while the BE customers are all moved to the best seats. I've seen it on almost every single flight I've flown and am highly annoyed that someone is put in the exit row middle next to me when they should be assigned to row 35 in a middle seat.
Basic Economy customers do not appear on the standby list.
Almost everyone on the standby list are non-revs. On most flights, all of the passengers on the standby list are non-revs. The only revenue passengers who will show up on the standby list are revenue standby passengers.
Basic Economy customers can buy E+ seat assignments. I know of no way to determine if the BE passenger has paid for an E+ seat assignment from looking at his boarding pass.