Ok the rules exist in black and white for all to see, however there is always latitude especially on a route as unpredictable as YYZ-LGA, which is supposed to run like a bus service basically every hour. Lord knows they'll cancel a flight and just keep stacking you up where they can.
If you do get the airport early and there are seats available why not let a traveler, especially one with status get out a bit early? Well that's what happened to me this weekend. Usually never had a problem before as a non status flyer, this time first flight as E, sorry no go unless I wanted to pay the change fee. OK back to the lounge to indulge at the companies expense.
Down to our gate as scheduled, different agent, she lets 2 people on standby, no fee and in J to boot. I watched an SE ask for an upgrade and get the brush off, right back to Economy. Great service so far and I'm sure he was really happy to have blessed AC with his business.
Trip back to TO same deal arrive early ask to get out ahead of schedule as delays are notorious, sorry must pay change fee, forget that as the tix were already too expensive. We wait and sure enough the flight arrives late and its a 190. The avionics system needs to be reset as we board and there's no ac or lights for awhile and we end up leaving 1 hr and 10 mins late. To compensate they say all drinks are free following a weather related lock down for half the flight. I doubt everyone got a shot at the cart as it rolled down the aisle. So abbreviated was the in-flight service that I only got halfway through one episode of Entourage
Its little things like this that leave a bad taste in your mouth. So far my E status has been worth one glass of wine.