Spoken like a true New Yorker. I grew up in the hellhole of the lower east side abiding by this very basic and fundamental principle. You've had to have lived it to appreciate it and abide by it. Out Of Towners will never understand.
If you want a rose parade go to Pasadena.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Well, I'll give CO credit for responsiveness to FT rants. Minutes after landing my cell phone rings -- it's CO apologizing and informing me that the refund has already been processed. The caller did not seem familiar with the meaning of the October 1 date (am I wrong here?), but she was a ray of sunshine otherwise.

^ good work on followup, too bad it happened though.

How did they know who you were? Did they get your name from the people in the PC?

If ever has been to a CO DO they have a list of FT nicks to OP number

Couldn't agree more. There are some less than helpful staff, but when I missed a flight out of EWR not long ago, entirely my own fault, the OPSC desk couldn't have been more helpful. Booked me onto the next available flight with a confirmed seat in F, even though I'd only been upgraded on the original flight.

IAH is a bigger city than EWR. Yet I have never had a problem in IAH, honestly haven't had a problem in CLE in YEARS. I avoid EWR at all costs. No excuse for the lack of common sense, respect or a clue that passengers actually make pay checks possible found in EWR. No problem in ORD on UA, IAD is a mini EWR, no thanks. Having lived on the east coast I see it now, not some much when I lived there. The other day I met a friend in DEN for connecting flights on to LAS she is from BOS, she wondered why everyone in DEN was so nice....

Right. Just like the people in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and San Antonio. Just that the ratio of nice people to A$$es is reversed.

Oh, and I forgot all those a$$es in Portland, OR. Just like Newark, but with more rain!

My sister has been flying in and out of EWR a lot. She's had a few "pleasant" experiences with somewhat less than informed CO agents as well.

I don't know if would help but maybe having a few printouts of some policies might be handy like luggage weight when Elite, etc.

As a Brooklynite I am not one to gloss over the gruffness and attitude that is a part of our regional culture.

That said, I have met plenty of extremely friendly and smiling employees at EWR, and plenty of unfriendly and unsmiling ones elsewhere (the most attitude I ever encountered was at HNL, that bastion of Polynesian friendliness).

Once, I was flying CO to MXP and I realized I forgot my passport while en route to EWR. When I got to the ticket counter I exalpined what had happened. The ticket agent (a typical Joysey girl with big hair and baby-blue eye shadow) could not have been friendlier or more professional.

First, she tried to find me an alternate route the same day. When that wasn't possible, she booked me on the flight the next day, at no charge (I was flying economy).

Recently, I flew BF EWR-GVA, and had what is perhaps the finest, friendliest service I have ever had on any airline from the group of Newark-based f/a's. Now, I realize that just because f/a's are Newark based doesn't mean they're from the area originally.

In my case, though, the extraordinarily friendly lead flight attendant had an obvious East Coast accent.

The East Coast culture is certainly not noted for its smiling friendliness, but there are times when that's actually a good thing. At least here you know exactly where you stand. No disingenuous, passive-aggressive stuff, that--if anything--just leaves you feeling like a schmuck.

I've flown out of EWR hundreds of times. I've had my fair share of bad apples, but most are perfectly professional and a few outstandingly helpful.

Maybe it's just me, but the Newark staff have always been good to me. I only make one long distance flight a year, but I always fly through Newark to visit my family back in Denmark and I fly business class.

Maybe it's not because the airport is in New Jersey, but because the operation is extremely busy....

The training of CO employees can be hit or miss. I actually had a conversation with CO CS after I submitted an email complaint about the opposite situation when they were charging for same day standby. I arrived early and asked if I could take an earlier flight leaving MCO. I was told it would be $50 despite the fact that it was really $25 for plats. My travel partner (also plat) and I decided not to pay as it would come out of our own pockets. Our booked flight was cancelled due to mechanical issues and we were kicked to a later flight. My complaint was specifically that CO should encourage people to take earlier flights in order to open up seats on later flights. I am sure some people on my flight without status weren't happy they were bumped two flights.

Anyone who thinks that NJ (and most of the northeast for that matter) does not have a different attitude than the rest of the US is just in denial.

I remember the first time I went to Chicago. I stepped off the subway and was trying to figure out which was was north so i could find my hotel, and I only had to look lost for about .5 seconds until someone asked me if I needed help. I thought I was going to be mugged , but it was indeed a genuine offer for help. I had other instances in Chicago where they were helpful unlike what I would see in NY.

But to be fair, I have only had nice service in EWR. I did have a GA yell at me in PHL once for being there after the bag check cut off But she did help me get on the flight.

The GA should have not even questioned the OP about placing him on the standby list, regardless of wether a flight is overbooked or not.