United will eliminate free unconfirmed standby starting on April 28. Passengers wishing to take an earlier flight will be charged $50 if they clear the standby list. Passengers can still confirm a seat on an earlier or later flight (within a three hour departure window, as long as space is available) for $75.
There are four exceptions to this new policy:
- Global Services
- 1Ks
- Standard Awards
- Refundable Tickets
The elimination of free standby comes as no surprise, but I was bewildered to read that Premiers and especially Premier Executives are not exempt.
Prediction: UA will relent and include Premier Executives and Star Gold members in the exception category.
With each "enhancement" United makes, 1K status becomes more valuable. If you’re a mid-tier elite, a silver medal just aint worth what it once was…
While I’m currently a 1K, I hope they do end up fully waiving it for 1Ps so that if/when I’m ever a 1MM, I won’t have to pay it.
I think they’ve decided that they’d like to make some more money off of their Premier Executives, who probably used Standby more than most. Hopefully this makes enough 1Ps jump to AA (where GOLD/Plat can get free standby) that UA changes their mind.
WOW. I’ve associated mid-tier status with it not sucking. Sure there’s some stuff you don’t get, like SWUs or all the award booking/change fees waived or whatever, but you usually get most of the nice stuff. To be charged for standby as a mid-tier would seriously damage my airline loyalty. Why not get bottom tier on 2 airlines then?