Yes, two different policies - both make sense depending on the intent of the airline.

I think WN could 1) generate some revenue and 2) free up some seats on later flights which could generate extra revenue or allow for overbooking, delays, etc. IF they allowed standby for a more reasonable fee - such as $40. I see few people paying the difference from, say, $100 to $250 to fly on a flight 1-2 hr. earlier. But I think many would be willing to pay a smaller amount, such as $40, to do so.

I would think WN could get higher loads (more revenue) if they had more people flying standby on earlier flights, and book more seats on later flights. Example: If on ave., 3 people with resrv. on the 10am flight took a standby on the 8:45am flight - that would allow WN to sell 2-3 more seats on the 10am flight.

If 1 person, on ave., does this standby for the 8;45am, they cannot sell extra seats on the 10am.

It would be interesting to know what the ave. amt. paid is for a switch to standby? From the next highest fare to the highest is likely not too much on average ($50), but from Internet Spl to Full Fare can be $150+.

Another thing I think WN could do to improve loads. Charge a cancellation fee for reservations (except full fare) cancelled less than 72 hr. before departure time. A number of people now make extra reservations as contingencies as there is no real penaltiy as long as one can use the Ticketless Funds later. And many do no cancel until just before flight time, if at all. This makes prediction of no shows very difficult.

How many times (very often) do I ask and the gate agent and she says they are overbooked by 8 people and may need volunteers. Then flight takes off with 3-6 empty seats. Yes, I know some full fares -- but I think also some cheap fare no shows that have no penalty for not cancelling.