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
May 25, 2016, 9:21 pm
#2491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Posts: 10,745
May 25, 2016, 9:26 pm
#2492
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,413
The rule should be that there's no change fee when you upfare on the same flights, not that by upfaring you avoid the normal fees that apply to change to different flights, even on the same day.
It sounds like your original fare class is available on the new flights, but as a FO you pay the $50 SDC fee. Then with a paid W ticket the SDC fee for FOs is waived, with thee fare difference only being $14 between your current fare and the cheapest W fare on the new flight. This is possible if the new flight is pretty empty, but it still seems strange. It could be a good agent who points out these possibilities.
Still, I suspect that the OP's ticket hasn't been reissued properly. Trying to do this at the airport could take lots of time to fix.
It sounds like your original fare class is available on the new flights, but as a FO you pay the $50 SDC fee. Then with a paid W ticket the SDC fee for FOs is waived, with thee fare difference only being $14 between your current fare and the cheapest W fare on the new flight. This is possible if the new flight is pretty empty, but it still seems strange. It could be a good agent who points out these possibilities.
Still, I suspect that the OP's ticket hasn't been reissued properly. Trying to do this at the airport could take lots of time to fix.
May 25, 2016, 9:29 pm
#2493
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, HH DM, National Exec Elite, SPG, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 60
Well, DL actually responded to me on twitter (!) but said there wasn't anything they could do over the internet due to needing credit card information and I would just have to wait until I get someone on the phone.
May 25, 2016, 9:37 pm
#2494
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: 100,413
Ouch. I'm surprised that they can't just use the credit card information in your profile, especially for such a small charge.
May 26, 2016, 12:21 am
#2495
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: 18,928
My flights today, after an SDC, posted with no MQMs or RDMs earned and reason code N, "Activity is not eligible for mileage credit". Phone agent checked w/SkyMiles support and said that referred to my original exchanged ticket and that I would see a new posting within 24-48 hours with the new post-SDC flights.
This almost makes sense, except I haven't seen that happen before -- has anyone else?
The other reason I'm skeptical is after we hung up I took a closer look and the zero-credit flights are in fact my post-SDC flights including the reissued ticket number
I wonder if this is an artifact of them graciously telling me they were making an exception by letting me SDC BWI-JFK-SFO onto BWI-JFK-SFO
I wrote in via the web site and mentioned both this as well as the incorrectly-doubled credit I mentioned in the other thread, stating what I thought the correct amount of MQMs should be for all 4 segments. Can't wait to see what the DL random number generator will bring me...
Aside: if the new fare code basis structure has been in place since September is it so unrealistic to expect agents to know about it? Every phone agent I've spoken with and every support person contacted by those phone agents has started their reply with "well you bought a coach fare" ...
This almost makes sense, except I haven't seen that happen before -- has anyone else?
The other reason I'm skeptical is after we hung up I took a closer look and the zero-credit flights are in fact my post-SDC flights including the reissued ticket number
I wonder if this is an artifact of them graciously telling me they were making an exception by letting me SDC BWI-JFK-SFO onto BWI-JFK-SFO
I wrote in via the web site and mentioned both this as well as the incorrectly-doubled credit I mentioned in the other thread, stating what I thought the correct amount of MQMs should be for all 4 segments. Can't wait to see what the DL random number generator will bring me...
Aside: if the new fare code basis structure has been in place since September is it so unrealistic to expect agents to know about it? Every phone agent I've spoken with and every support person contacted by those phone agents has started their reply with "well you bought a coach fare" ...
May 26, 2016, 7:27 am
#2496
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL GM 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,117
Why would they need your credit card? Are they saying you really should have paid the $50?
May 26, 2016, 7:52 am
#2497
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 1,089
May 26, 2016, 11:23 am
#2498
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, HH DM, National Exec Elite, SPG, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 60
Actually, when I finally got to a DL CS person on the phone (after an hour and 45 minutes on hold), they didn't ask me for my credit card information at all. Pretty sure the DL person was the same person who attempted to do the SDC in the first place. She had to put me on hold multiple times while she checked with other departments. I made her stay on the phone with me until I confirmed I could view a boarding pass (which took another 15 minutes). Just a shame that it couldn't be resolved over twitter.
May 27, 2016, 4:38 pm
#2499
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: 18,928
Not sure which site update changed the SDC/SDS UI, but I usually call in* for SDC so maybe it's been like this for a while:
*and ended up having to for tomorrow's flights as well -- I'm on a (U) fare and when all the SDC options in this dialog wanted ~$200+ add-collect, I did a one-way test booking and they were selling U fares straight up. Phone agent said her system wanted her to charge me too but she got ticketing support to put it through manually.
*and ended up having to for tomorrow's flights as well -- I'm on a (U) fare and when all the SDC options in this dialog wanted ~$200+ add-collect, I did a one-way test booking and they were selling U fares straight up. Phone agent said her system wanted her to charge me too but she got ticketing support to put it through manually.
May 27, 2016, 6:03 pm
#2500
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: 100,413
Could these numbers be the difference between the U fare you have and the cheapest U fare now available for sale? I know that there can easily be much larger differences than $200 in P fares.
May 27, 2016, 6:29 pm
#2501
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: 18,928
Hmm, good point, that's entirely plausible. Next time I'll click on one of the SDC options and see if it figures it out on the next screen.
May 27, 2016, 6:56 pm
#2502
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Posts: 21,371
I saw something equally wacky a couple months ago when I tried online SDC around T-20 hrs for a mid-morning DCA-DTW-SEA trip: I found no-cost options starting that same afternoon, but the the next day's evening flight that I actually wanted (DCA-JFK-SEA; an old 24F 757 on the TCON) showed an additional fare of $400-some ... called in and made the change with no problem; as best the PM agent and I could figure, the system was looking at a 24-hour window
Jun 6, 2016, 9:20 am
#2504
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Once you've cleared an upgrade using a cert, the ticket becomes a regular premium fare as far as SDC is concerned. Some agents aren't trained, and think that upgrade inventory must be available on the flight you're changing to, but they are incorrect. HUCA. Don't waste time asking for a supervisor, just wait until you get someone from MSP or SLC.
Jun 6, 2016, 2:30 pm
#2505
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 35
Limits of Same Day Change?
Are there actual limits to the same day change policy? For example, if my original flight was from JFK to ORD non-stop could i change to JFK to LAX to ORD. Guess I am just curious as to what the limits are from Delta's perspective if any. Thanks