Long time lurker, first time poster on FT and the US Airways forum

I am confused about the standby policy on the new US, and, apparently, so are some US employees. I recently had two standby experiences that were quite different:

1) Last week, flying PHL-BOS: Was originally ticketed on the 6:30pm departure, which was on-time. Cleared security, proceeded to the agent at the gate for the 5:30pm departure, asked if I could go standby, and was immediately given a confirmed boarding pass with seat assignment for the 5:30pm flight, no questions asked, no standby fee paid.

2) Yesterday, flying PHL-PIT: Was originally ticketed on the 8:30pm departure, which was on-time. Got to the airport early afternoon, went to the ticket counter, and asked to go standby on the 3:30pm flight. Ticket counter agent took my credit card to charge the $25 fee, but was unable to give me a confirmed seat at the counter, since the flight showed full. She placed me on the stanby list and gave me a stand-by coupon. I cleared security, proceeded to the gate for the 3:30pm flight, and re-checked my status with the gate agent. He said the flight was full but he would call my name if something opened up. About a minute before boarding began, he called my name and gave me a confirmed boarding pass with seat assignment for the 3:30pm flight. I'm assuming my credit card will be charged the $25 fee since the ticket counter agent took my credit card info.

According to the US Airways website: "If there is an open seat available on a flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure you may change to that flight and we will automatically confirm your reservation for $25 for flights within the 48 contiguous United States and $50 for flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska. This lower confirmation fee replaces the usual $100 change fee, plus any differences between your old fare and new fare, for non-refundable tickets.

If there is NOT an open seat available on a flight that departs on the same day as your originally scheduled departure you may stand by for that flight at no charge. Standing by at no charge is not permitted if we can confirm that there is an open seat available for that flight. Seats may become available if passengers with confirmed reservations don't show up for the flight. However, unlike a confirmed reservation, flying standby does not mean that you will get on the particular flight that you want, and this is why you are permitted to stand by at no charge."

My situation yesterday seems to fall into the category of the policy's 2nd paragraph, i.e., there was not an open seat on the 3:30pm flight from PHL-PIT when I requested standby at the ticket counter, and therefore I should not be charged the stand-by fee. I called the CP line this morning to clarify, and I summarized the policy from the website to the representative. She placed me on hold to confirm the policy with the manager on duty. She came back saying that when travelling on a non-refundable fare, you always have to pay the $25 non-refundable fee to go stand-by, because even if you don't get on the earlier flight, the stand-by coupon can be re-used at a later time, even for another itinerary. She said that you can only go stand-by for no fee if you have a refundable ticket. She said all non-refundable tickets require the fee.

Does anyone have clarification on this issue? Did I get lucky last week on PHL-BOS and get away without paying the fee? Should I NOT be charged the fee yesterday on PHL-PIT because they could not confirm me at the ticket counter? And, in the future, is it better to just go straight to the gate for the earlier flight and request stand-by rather than stop at the ticket counter first? The telephone representative said that the gate agents do not have the ability to charge your credit card for stand-by. Thanks for the help!!!