I was on a flight from LGA to DTW yesterday. Booked the last flight of the day, but meetings got done early. Went to LGA early and got priority standby status on full flight. Made it on flight, while non-elites waited for the next one. No EUA, but I was just happy to get home 4 hours earlier.

Nice work NW!

sucks for us not-yet-elites who check in for standby 6 hours before our flight and get bumped off because of last minute elits...

Another reason to make elite!

You are correct in that it would suck for a non-elite. This is a benefit for Golds and Platinums, which really does not make up that many fliers. However, we do tend to fly the most, so we do tend to change plans the most.

Honestly though, the airlines main purpose is to make money. They tend to make more money by keeping their top fliers happy than they do in accomodating non-elites, which may or may not ever fly the airline again (especially if they are on a spring break trip, or family vacation and booked the "best" available flight).

It would be nice if everything in life were "fair" but it is true that Membership does have its Benefits. This is another reason NWA does not give out Lifetime Elite status. It makes you fly every year to earn it and keep it, so the extra benefits are beneficial to the traveler and the airline.

Agreed, excellent perk. I used it just today. I was returning from MEL through LAX and was scheduled for a 5hr layover. My flight arrived a little early to LAX so I knew if I hustled I could try to go standby on the flight that was just about to leave for MSP. With 45 minutes left before take off, I arrived at the counter and got on the standby list. I'm plat and had a paid first class seat for the later flight. I was told at the gate that the flight was oversold and I was waitlisted for first along with 30 other people. But I was at the top of the list. 1 person was a no-show, so I got on - and in first. Countless others did not.

I know it is frustrating when you don't get on a flight. But I have to agree - for those who fly more often, this is a necessary perk. It seems I spend a lot of time flying (and the associated travel tasks), and the last thing I have time for is to sit in a terminal for X hours waiting for a later flight. Especially when I'll be back there in a couple days doing it all over again. NWA recognizes this and I thank them for it.