Having been thrown off a BA flight the other week which was chokka to give the jumpseat to some ratty BA engineer who was claiming 'mainline' priority, I decided to check out the rules.....
Seems that priority of loading of standbys should go on Date of joining, whether mainline or one of the 'lower class' franchise operators.... think it also applies to oneworld companies as well.
Was a bit peeved at being thrown off, when I'm actually working for one of the franchise operators, and this engineers wife was looking decidedly scruffy and got given a seat in club....
Surely operating staff who actually work for the airline should get higher priority than family....