Jun 12, 2015, 7:09 pm
Last edit by: audidudi
This wiki covers basic info and common FAQs. For full terms and conditions, see the relevant DL web page: Same Day Travel Changes
Same-Day Confirmed
To request an SDC, you can
Online SDC does not seem to present all the options available to you, especially when you are SDCing a GAP fare and there is no inventory in your fare bucket. Calling in is best. People have had success with Twitter but that may depend on how "involved" the SDC is.
You can SDC starting 24 hours before your initial departure. You can SDC to any flight leaving the same calendar day. There is a $75 fee for SDC ($50 for tickets issued before March 15th, 2017), waived for GM and higher. This fee, and the waiver, applies for each person, although for GM+ traveling with companion the companion fee is sometimes waived.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (main cabin)?
A. Yes (whether revenue or award ticket). Note there is sometimes inventory in a fare bucket even though it may not be offered for sale on the web site. SDC on V or N (low award) fare is not unheard of.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (Comfort+)?
If booked into W (not WU) there only needs to be an available seat in Comfort+ regardless of fare class.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (First/Business/DeltaOne)?
Q. What about SDC with RUC/GUC/mileage upgrades (that have already cleared)?
As of November 2017:
It is unclear how this affects SDC if you are confirmed in RY/OY.
Q. I have a premium cabin fare, can I SDC to an itinerary with a single-cabin aircraft?
Written reply received from Delta, Dec. 2015:
Q. What about Medallion complimentary upgrades?
A. These do *not* count as premium cabin fares even if you already cleared. The main cabin rules for SDC regarding fare inventory will apply, and if it goes through you will SDC into a main cabin seat (but you are eligible to be upgraded again -- make sure you appear on the upgrade list on your new itinerary)
Q. Can I change the routing/connections?
A. You cannot SDC from a connecting itinerary to a non-stop itinerary. In all other cases the answer is unclear. The SDC rules do not explicitly prohibit routing changes. However ticket fare rules usually contain a clause that additions/changes to connections must be permitted by the fare rules. These are apparently in conflict, and practically speaking it depends on the agent/supervisor you speak with. Some refuse, some allow anything reasonable.
Q. Can I change the origin/destination?
A. Technically no, but there is an unwritten rule that DMs can make co-terminal changes. (There are some unintuitive gaps in what DL considers co-terminal, e.g. DAL and DFW do not count.)
Q. How are SDC flights credited?
A. You will earn MQMs for the route you actually fly.
Q. Can I SDC onto a red-eye later the same day, that connects to a flight the following morning?
A. Yes (though the agent may need to process it manually)
Q. I have a red-eye flight or a flight leaving shortly after midnight; can I SDC to a flight the next day/day before?
A. Officially, no. In practice, some people have reported success (with no real pattern to status). Can't hurt to ask.
Q. Can I SDC on an international itinerary?
A. Officially, no. In practice, you can SDC remaining domestic flights after all international flights have been flown; if you have onward checked bags it is best to do this before you re-check them. There are non-zero reports of SDC of domestic flights before connecting to an international flight but this should not be counted on.
Q. Can I SDC an Alaska Airlines codeshare?
Same-Day Standby
"Same-day standby is only offered if same-day confirmed is not available."
"You can use the same-day standby option for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection flights."
SDS can be requested 24 hours before your initial departure. GM+ can SDS to any flight departing the same calendar day; others can only SDS for an earlier flight. No routing changes are permitted.
SDS costs$75 ($50 for tickets issued before 15 MAR 2017) but only if you clear the standby list (waived for GM+) SDS is now free for all passengers as of August 4th, 2021
Upgrades are not preserved -- if you already cleared the upgrade on your original flight you must still standby for the main cabin.
Q. Is it possible to get upgraded after a standby?
A. Almost always no, whether because it is explicitly forbidden or because the standby list is processed after the UG list and it is rare for any F seats to be leftover after that happens. So, maybe sometimes?
Same-Day Standby Upgrades
"The same-day standby upgrade option allows you to upgrade your flight for a small fee, provided space is available and your ticket is eligible. This option applies to specific flights and routings [...]"
This is not the same as upgrading after successfully standing by for a main cabin seat (see above).
SDSU fee chart (may be out of date):
All flights within and between the Domestic 48 States and Alaska
All flights to and from Hawaii
All eligible other flights
Same-Day Confirmed
To request an SDC, you can
- Use the Same Day Change function on the Today screen in the Delta app (recommended, but with some peculiarities -- may not show all routings, and if changing to an earlier or later flight will only show the option within 24 hours of the target flight)
- Click the "Change" button during OLCI (after you click "Check in" on the first screen)
- Call a phone agent (recommended if app does not work)
- Use Delta's chat functions via the app (hit or miss)
Online SDC does not seem to present all the options available to you, especially when you are SDCing a GAP fare and there is no inventory in your fare bucket. Calling in is best. People have had success with Twitter but that may depend on how "involved" the SDC is.
You can SDC starting 24 hours before your initial departure. You can SDC to any flight leaving the same calendar day. There is a $75 fee for SDC ($50 for tickets issued before March 15th, 2017), waived for GM and higher. This fee, and the waiver, applies for each person, although for GM+ traveling with companion the companion fee is sometimes waived.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (main cabin)?
A. Yes (whether revenue or award ticket). Note there is sometimes inventory in a fare bucket even though it may not be offered for sale on the web site. SDC on V or N (low award) fare is not unheard of.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (Comfort+)?
If booked into W (not WU) there only needs to be an available seat in Comfort+ regardless of fare class.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (First/Business/DeltaOne)?
Q. What about SDC with RUC/GUC/mileage upgrades (that have already cleared)?
As of November 2017:
* If your original ticket is a Delta OneTM ticket, you may move to any other flight with a premium cabin seat available
* If your original ticket is a First Class ticket, you may move only to other flights with a First Class seat available; you may not move to a flight with a Delta One experience, even if seats are available.
* If your original ticket is a First Class ticket, you may move only to other flights with a First Class seat available; you may not move to a flight with a Delta One experience, even if seats are available.
Q. I have a premium cabin fare, can I SDC to an itinerary with a single-cabin aircraft?
Written reply received from Delta, Dec. 2015:
f the aircraft does not support a First/Business/Delta One cabin you are still eligible to change to the flight as long we are still selling seats on the flight.
Q. What about Medallion complimentary upgrades?
A. These do *not* count as premium cabin fares even if you already cleared. The main cabin rules for SDC regarding fare inventory will apply, and if it goes through you will SDC into a main cabin seat (but you are eligible to be upgraded again -- make sure you appear on the upgrade list on your new itinerary)
Q. Can I change the routing/connections?
A. You cannot SDC from a connecting itinerary to a non-stop itinerary. In all other cases the answer is unclear. The SDC rules do not explicitly prohibit routing changes. However ticket fare rules usually contain a clause that additions/changes to connections must be permitted by the fare rules. These are apparently in conflict, and practically speaking it depends on the agent/supervisor you speak with. Some refuse, some allow anything reasonable.
Q. Can I change the origin/destination?
A. Technically no, but there is an unwritten rule that DMs can make co-terminal changes. (There are some unintuitive gaps in what DL considers co-terminal, e.g. DAL and DFW do not count.)
Q. How are SDC flights credited?
A. You will earn MQMs for the route you actually fly.
Q. Can I SDC onto a red-eye later the same day, that connects to a flight the following morning?
A. Yes (though the agent may need to process it manually)
Q. I have a red-eye flight or a flight leaving shortly after midnight; can I SDC to a flight the next day/day before?
A. Officially, no. In practice, some people have reported success (with no real pattern to status). Can't hurt to ask.
Q. Can I SDC on an international itinerary?
A. Officially, no. In practice, you can SDC remaining domestic flights after all international flights have been flown; if you have onward checked bags it is best to do this before you re-check them. There are non-zero reports of SDC of domestic flights before connecting to an international flight but this should not be counted on.
Q. Can I SDC an Alaska Airlines codeshare?
"Same-day standby is only offered if same-day confirmed is not available."
"You can use the same-day standby option for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection flights."
SDS can be requested 24 hours before your initial departure. GM+ can SDS to any flight departing the same calendar day; others can only SDS for an earlier flight. No routing changes are permitted.
SDS costs
Upgrades are not preserved -- if you already cleared the upgrade on your original flight you must still standby for the main cabin.
Q. Is it possible to get upgraded after a standby?
A. Almost always no, whether because it is explicitly forbidden or because the standby list is processed after the UG list and it is rare for any F seats to be leftover after that happens. So, maybe sometimes?
Same-Day Standby Upgrades
"The same-day standby upgrade option allows you to upgrade your flight for a small fee, provided space is available and your ticket is eligible. This option applies to specific flights and routings [...]"
This is not the same as upgrading after successfully standing by for a main cabin seat (see above).
SDSU fee chart (may be out of date):
All flights within and between the Domestic 48 States and Alaska
Code:
Traveling Y/B/M Fares S/H/Q/K/L Fares U/T/X/V Fares 0 to 500 miles $49 $119 $169 501 to 1,000 miles $79 $149 $199 1,001 to 1,500 miles $99 $209 $259 1,501 to 2,000 miles $149 $249 $319 2,001 to 3,000 miles $239 $269 $359 3,001 miles and up $329 $369 $399
Code:
Traveling Y/B/M Fares S/H/Q/K/L Fares U/T/X/V Fares 2,001 to 3,000 miles $239 $269 $359 3,001 miles and up $329 $369 $399
Code:
Traveling Y / B / M / H / Q / K Fares 0 to 500 miles $50 501 to 1,000 miles $75 1,001 to 1,500 miles $100 1,501 to 2,000 miles $150 2,001 to 3,000 miles $225 3,001 miles and up $350
Same-day confirmed and same-day standby options
Nov 23, 2015, 6:49 pm
#2176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
I know DL's rule is no SDC before all the international segments have been flown, but curious if others had your experience reported above (i.e. being able to SDC on a domestic flight that starts an international trip).
It doesn't seem all that long ago that if I went to the ticket counter wanting on an earlier domestic flight starting an international flight or even earlier domestic and international flights that DL would let me go assuming there was space (which I knew because of EF).
I leave Thanksgiving Day and OKC can turned rain storms into flying nightmares so I would prefer an earlier flight out of OKC than my 12:30 pm. As one would expect, there are plenty of seats in FC for earlier OKC-ATL and I would not be distracted by a longer layover at ATL on my way to FCO (since I will be in the F or E lounge).
It doesn't seem all that long ago that if I went to the ticket counter wanting on an earlier domestic flight starting an international flight or even earlier domestic and international flights that DL would let me go assuming there was space (which I knew because of EF).
I leave Thanksgiving Day and OKC can turned rain storms into flying nightmares so I would prefer an earlier flight out of OKC than my 12:30 pm. As one would expect, there are plenty of seats in FC for earlier OKC-ATL and I would not be distracted by a longer layover at ATL on my way to FCO (since I will be in the F or E lounge).
Nov 23, 2015, 6:58 pm
#2177
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
NO, A is not technically a YUP fare except in the sense that it's an instant upgrade from a coach fare. The A fare has an underlying coach fare which most certainly is NOT FULL Y. Some (refundable) P fares are Y-UP but most are B-UP or M-UP and they tend to cost a lot more than an A fare. There's a lot of variation, but chances are that your A fare has, as its underlying fare basis, at best H (which would be extremely unusual as these fares tend to be nonrefundable P, as is also true for Q), perhaps K, and probably something like L.
Dec 7, 2015, 4:15 pm
#2178
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
Frustrated. Early arrival FCO-ATL so I asked agent in transit area to get SDC on an earlier flight to OKC. She said it was not possible!! She wanted me to go SDS or pay a fee. Incredible.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Dec 7, 2015, 4:23 pm
#2179
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,403
Frustrated. Early arrival FCO-ATL so I asked agent in transit area to get SDC on an earlier flight to OKC. She said it was not possible!! She wanted me to go SDS or pay a fee. Incredible.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Dec 7, 2015, 4:32 pm
#2180
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,877
Frustrated. Early arrival FCO-ATL so I asked agent in transit area to get SDC on an earlier flight to OKC. She said it was not possible!! She wanted me to go SDS or pay a fee. Incredible.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Granted I should have sorted this out using Twitter since I had wifi during the flight, but I was busy messaging a friend I left behind in Turkey and tried to get in as GoGo ws going off.
On a positive note, the transit through ATL arrival at E concourse using GE and Pre-Check with my luggage coming out #5 and 7 was amazing.
Dec 12, 2015, 6:57 am
#2181
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,923
Flying SFO-SLC-BWI this morning on the first flight out. Called yesterday to try to SDC onto SFO-ATL-BWI redeye the night before but denied. I thought I'd seen success stories of early flight -> redeye but on rereading/searching this thread it seems like that went away earlier this year. Fair enough.
OK, can I go through JFK instead? (bubbashow feels a disturbance in the Force!) Agent tries but won't let her do it w/o refaring because JFK-BWI is a single-cabin aircraft. I gave up and accepted SFO-DTW-BWI instead (my main goal was for the first segment to be longer in case I want to sleep more)
Decided to try one more time at the ticket counter this morning. TA told me it wasn't allowed onto JFK/"Business Elite" and when I pushed with the web site "premium cabin" language he went to check with a colleague and came back and said "yeah you'd have to pay the fare difference."
I'm fine with the DTW routing so I let it go, Bubba can rest easy :-) but has anyone gotten this to work recently, specifically SDC onto JFK with a single-cabin connection? (I've seen past reports of successful SDC *away from* an F itinerary with a single-cabin segment...)
OK, can I go through JFK instead? (bubbashow feels a disturbance in the Force!) Agent tries but won't let her do it w/o refaring because JFK-BWI is a single-cabin aircraft. I gave up and accepted SFO-DTW-BWI instead (my main goal was for the first segment to be longer in case I want to sleep more)
Decided to try one more time at the ticket counter this morning. TA told me it wasn't allowed onto JFK/"Business Elite" and when I pushed with the web site "premium cabin" language he went to check with a colleague and came back and said "yeah you'd have to pay the fare difference."
I'm fine with the DTW routing so I let it go, Bubba can rest easy :-) but has anyone gotten this to work recently, specifically SDC onto JFK with a single-cabin connection? (I've seen past reports of successful SDC *away from* an F itinerary with a single-cabin segment...)
Dec 12, 2015, 7:41 am
#2182
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
not recently, but yes ... it did require PM phone supervisor intervention (I think the "underlying inventory" issue for the ERJ trumped the G/A/P "premium cabin seat" logic; married segment fare construction notwithstanding, the fallback was "well, you're selling JFK-IAD in T and my fare basis is L, so shouldn't you be able to force the higher inventory?")
Dec 12, 2015, 10:18 pm
#2183
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: UA Gold | Former: DL Diamond, HA Pualani Gold
Posts: 380
Agent didn't question it and worked it out with me very quickly. Don't remember if it required a reissue, as she said I'd get an email shortly, and we hung up.
I'm a DM, so I'm sure that helped make it easier.
Dec 13, 2015, 8:28 am
#2184
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,923
Thanks, guys -- I also received this written reply:
Will definitely push harder if this comes up again.
When flying in our premium
cabins, including Delta One, First and Business Class, you may make
a same-day confirmed change as long as a seat is available in the
premium cabin, regardless of whether your exact booking class is
available. This includes paid upgrade, mileage upgrade, and Global and
Regional Upgrade Certificates. Also, if the aircraft does not support a
First/Business/Delta One cabin you are still eligible to change to the
flight as long we are still selling seats on the flight.
cabins, including Delta One, First and Business Class, you may make
a same-day confirmed change as long as a seat is available in the
premium cabin, regardless of whether your exact booking class is
available. This includes paid upgrade, mileage upgrade, and Global and
Regional Upgrade Certificates. Also, if the aircraft does not support a
First/Business/Delta One cabin you are still eligible to change to the
flight as long we are still selling seats on the flight.
Dec 16, 2015, 5:39 pm
#2185
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM. 1MM
Posts: 2,045
I might catch hell for this but her goes.
Let's say I book JFK-XXX-PHX in First class.
And 24 hours I SDC if there is seat availability to JFK-LAX-PHX. Will delta allow that? I know I can go from JFK-PHX direct to JFK-LAX-PHX without too much trouble but i've never tried SDC from connection flight to connection flight in F with the Delta One service on JFK-LAX.
Thanks
Let's say I book JFK-XXX-PHX in First class.
And 24 hours I SDC if there is seat availability to JFK-LAX-PHX. Will delta allow that? I know I can go from JFK-PHX direct to JFK-LAX-PHX without too much trouble but i've never tried SDC from connection flight to connection flight in F with the Delta One service on JFK-LAX.
Thanks
Dec 16, 2015, 6:19 pm
#2186
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Yep, did this in mid-September. Was on XXX-ATL-LAX in discount F both legs. Switched onto XXX-JFK-LAX where XXX-JFK was a single-cabin aircraft.
Agent didn't question it and worked it out with me very quickly. Don't remember if it required a reissue, as she said I'd get an email shortly, and we hung up.
I'm a DM, so I'm sure that helped make it easier.
Agent didn't question it and worked it out with me very quickly. Don't remember if it required a reissue, as she said I'd get an email shortly, and we hung up.
I'm a DM, so I'm sure that helped make it easier.
A supervisor wasn't needed to make the change. It probably helped that I told the agent that he would have to price the change manually (kind of sad that I know more about how SDC works than most agents).
Last edited by KDCAflyer; Dec 16, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Dec 16, 2015, 6:23 pm
#2187
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
I might catch hell for this but her goes.
Let's say I book JFK-XXX-PHX in First class.
And 24 hours I SDC if there is seat availability to JFK-LAX-PHX. Will delta allow that? I know I can go from JFK-PHX direct to JFK-LAX-PHX without too much trouble but i've never tried SDC from connection flight to connection flight in F with the Delta One service on JFK-LAX.
Thanks
Let's say I book JFK-XXX-PHX in First class.
And 24 hours I SDC if there is seat availability to JFK-LAX-PHX. Will delta allow that? I know I can go from JFK-PHX direct to JFK-LAX-PHX without too much trouble but i've never tried SDC from connection flight to connection flight in F with the Delta One service on JFK-LAX.
Thanks
Dec 16, 2015, 6:57 pm
#2188
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: SPG, DL
Posts: 307
Sitting on JFK-SFO as I write this. SDC from ATL-SLC-SFO to ATL-JFK-SFO. The latter is not published, search it and it won't come up. I had flight numbers, told agent, she responded "ok so connecting through JKF instead of SLC, no problem" was on new flights within 5 minutes.
They honor the rule as written in my experience--any other premium cabin seat you can get (except connection to direct, which I tried first).
Dec 16, 2015, 7:01 pm
#2189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
nice ... sorry, bubbashow
Dec 16, 2015, 7:08 pm
#2190
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Doesn't matter if the fare is published in my experience.
Sitting on JFK-SFO as I write this. SDC from ATL-SLC-SFO to ATL-JFK-SFO. The latter is not published, search it and it won't come up. I had flight numbers, told agent, she responded "ok so connecting through JKF instead of SLC, no problem" was on new flights within 5 minutes.
They honor the rule as written in my experience--any other premium cabin seat you can get (except connection to direct, which I tried first).
Sitting on JFK-SFO as I write this. SDC from ATL-SLC-SFO to ATL-JFK-SFO. The latter is not published, search it and it won't come up. I had flight numbers, told agent, she responded "ok so connecting through JKF instead of SLC, no problem" was on new flights within 5 minutes.
They honor the rule as written in my experience--any other premium cabin seat you can get (except connection to direct, which I tried first).