It's sounds like your experience has been different, but the gate agent told me that one has to be on the standby list 30 minutes before the flight -- no exceptions for Gold/Platinum.
Turns out this is a "new rule". HA HQ confirmed it over the phone. The G/A does have discretion, however, as he let us on an earlier flight to OGG this morning when we walked up as it was boarding, when HA17 from LAS arrived early, "as a one time courtesy", after lecturing us for half a minute about the new policy. :rolleyes:
