Here's the complete history:
In September 2002, Delta announced $100 standby fees effective January 1, 2003. Shortly thereafter, they said that the fee was for a confirmed seat within 3 hours of the new flight's departure time (if available, of course), not standby, and standby as we know it is gone on cheaper fares. In December, they announced a postponement of the effective date to January 15, 2003.
Later, they announced a new "industry-leading product" (barf): the previously announced 3-hour-in-advance confirmed seat would cost only $25; the fee would be waived for GMs and PMs; and it would be effective March 1, 2003. They never said what the rules would be during January 15 - February 28, 2003 (the "period of darkness"
).
I flew standby -- the "old" way, with no perceptible differences -- on January 23, January 26 and February 3, 2003. Nobody asked me for any money (which is a good thing, because they wouldn't have gotten any!).
Bruce
[This message has been edited by bdschobel (edited 02-07-2003).]