My sources in Delta's headquarters have told me that the plan is as follows: If you want to fly standby after 1/1/03, you must pay $100 to get on the syandby list. If you clear, Delta keeps the money. If you don't clear, you get a refund. Maybe you have to ask for the refund (that part isn't clear), but you do get it one way or another.
I still object to this fee. Delta could provide a seat on an earlier flight at no cost whatsoever -- in fact, doing so has the potential to benefit Delta. Refusing to do so is just mean-spirited.
Maybe the public's overwhelmingly negative reaction (see The Ticket) will cause the airlines to rethink this one.
Bruce