I took the time to write via DL.com and explain this situation, more to have a better understanding of the procedure and what I can expect from a GA in this situation than anything. Will update with the reply.

Hence the reason we oversell flights in the first place... :D

I have literally had to Demand I be put on the stand by list, as a DM I move to top and most of the time make the flight. Beligerent GA' who don't follow DL policy need a reality check and should be informed of those policies. ATL is the worst.

Had to coax a GSO GA to add me to the standby list a few weeks ago. She said no at first, because "the flight was full and no one would clear." When I overheard her tell a cohort later that she had two seats open, I ran up and convinced her to add me to the list before processing it. Of course, I got one of those two seats. Should not have to jump through hoops for published benefits.

This screams for a technical solution to take this out of the poorly trained GAs' hands. NW let you put yourself on the standby list online and AA lets you do it on the airport kiosk.

In addition to and prior to going to the SC or trying another GA, make sure you add...
"Excuse me, could I get the exact spelling of your name please?"

Absolutely agree. Flew UA a couple times last year and loved being able to add myself to the list.

One can do this at the kiosk with Delta, but like SDC, often the desired option won't show up.

I think it depends if it is mainline or regional. I have had the same experience with comair and mesa. Mainline, even as a lowly FO, I am added to the list. My favorite was with compass (regional) surprised me.

Leaving MEM I could stby this flight or wait 7 hours for the next flight.
FO: Can I be put on STBY for this flight.
GA: There are only 50 seats on this plane, we oversold by 2 and there are 3 others on the stby list.
FO: Could you please just add me to the list, if i miss this one I'll take my original.
GA: OK

Time to board. Only 44 people boarded and all standbys went.


VS

Yesterday ORD-MSP, I thought I had put myself on standby for an earlier flight (screen showed both original flight and standby flight). GIDS wasn't working when I got to the gate and asked GA what my chances were. He looked at me funny and asked for my BP. He put me on standby and wound up in a middle seat in Y, at least got home early.

Moral - even if the kiosk says that you are on standby, check the GIDS and if it isn't working, check with the GA.

There used to be a standing rule that the flight processing or standby list closed a certain period of time before the flight. The purpose of the rule was to allow the GA time to be able to properly process the standby list in the last minutes. Of course, many could and would ignore theses rules when practical.

In many situations, a lone gate agent may be trying to board the flight, process standbys and update last minute data changes while trying to insure an on time departure.

The GA may or may not be seem to be busy when an individual approaches and depending on your point of view, each of these duties may have different priorities. Good customer service would dictate accommodating the clients request when possible.

Ah, good old days of the ability to do FlyNow on the kiosks or standby. I loved the SB feature at the kiosks, you could get your BP for your original flight, and a standby BP showing that you were WL for your next flight. Hope DL brings this back...

I am not surprised. I don't know if it is the we know you are captive here or that the pressure to get flights out of gate is really strong in ATL, but some of my worse GA experiences have been there. BTW, I mean rude/misinformation etc, not upgrades.

Great advice, thanks.

I agree!! The less I have to talk to the GA the better!

sadly my experience was mainline