Originally Posted by RyanP

Yes it's stupid we pay first 5 years. But it's WELL worth it for the listing priority we get with the check in times. I travel international a lot, and it's easy for me to always get #1 or #2 on the standby list and actually get on every flight with my registered companion, rather than being stranded in some foreign country because I was number 87 on standby behind some ramper's cousin and their 12 kids, like I see on UAL and Delta all the time.

Fee goes away after 5 years anyway.. and if you are in the cockpit it's always FREE. Asking for the cockpit jumpseat gets you around the fee if they are wiling to do it. Whenever I commuted before my 5 years was up, I just avoided Eagle/AA most of the time, unless I absolutely needed the priority to get on (like on a weather day), then I'd gladly pay the $10 over getting stranded overnight. Now after my 5 years is up, it's fantastic. There is no better at any regional.

When you are standing at the gate for the last flight home of the day on AA and there is only 2 seats available and 19 standby's on the list, trust me, you will like our system (if you actually planned ahead 24hrs). $10 non-rev fee for a new-hire is still cheaper than buying a hotel room and losing a night off at home because you didn't have the priority to get on with some other system..