Feb 27, 2013, 5:45 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This wiki was created to distill SDC (specifically not standby) down to a set of rules in the hopes of benefiting others.
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply almost, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your first originally scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to answer 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: If the answer to both questions is yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
NB: An SDC where the original itinerary (in one direction) has three or more segments cannot be done online.
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = possible using any method
A = possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply almost, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your first originally scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to answer 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: If the answer to both questions is yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
- The departure time of the first segment of the old itinerary and the departure time of the first segment of the new itinerary must both be within 24 hours of the moment that the change is made.
- The ultimate origin and destination airports must remain the same.
- Routing can be changed (addition, deletion, or change of connection points) but the routing rules of the original fare usually apply.
- All remaining unflown segments in single fared itinerary are considered together (i.e., if you're flying WWW-XXX-YYY-ZZZ, you can go to a kiosk at XXX and potentially fly XXX-AAA-ZZZ or XXX-ZZZ direct).
- SDC can be done an unlimited number of times, and can therefore be used to extend a trip indefinitely (pending availability).
- SDC costs $75 for GM's and Silvers - the fees is waived for Golds and up (plus any applicable fare difference, see below). *G's may also get free SDC, although there is no mention of this in the official rules.
- Non-elites on the same PNR benefit from any waived fees for SDC.
- No fare difference is charged so long as there is availability on all of the new segments in the originally ticketed fare class. Fare class availability in all classes often opens up after T-24 and almost always opens up at T-3 unless the plane is very full.
- SDC on bulk tickets, including United Specials, is not permitted.
- SDC is permitted on both domestic and international itineraries.
- The proposed remaining itinerary must be operated by United or United Express®, and the ticket number must begin with 016. (see nuances below)
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
- United.com “change flight” link before checking in, within T-24. (Many have reported recently that this has problems and attempts to collect the full fare difference and $200 change fee.)
- "Search Other Flight Options" button during OLCI. (This has spotty availability, particularly if the change would involve paying an additional fare due to fare bucket non-availability.)
- United mobile app
- Kiosk
- Phone
- Counter/Gate (although reports are that most airport agents are not familiar with the SDC policy and may not allow you to SDC to a valid itinerary--you can try to direct them to look up GG SDC, but they often won't understand that what you're trying to do is permitted by those rules)
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = possible using any method
A = possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
- Violating various non-routing fare rules (day/time, minimum stay, etc.): Y
- Change destination to ultra-close airport (e.g. JFK-> LGA; see the old S*FAR/STANDBY): A
- Change destination to a co-terminal (e.g. JFK -> EWR): N*
- Change destination to an entirely different place: N
- Change itinerary at the beginning to include illegal layovers (> 4 hours): N*
- Change itinerary at the layover point (using kiosk, app, or agent) to create an otherwise illegal layover: Y
- Change itinerary at the beginning to add a layover point not permitted by the routing rules: N*
- Change itinerary at a layover point to add another layover not permitted (either in terms of number of segments or routing rules) by the routing rules: Y
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before or after the original flight: N*
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y (based on one report)
- Combining separately-fared segments to do SDC (e.g. XXX-YYY+YYY-ZZZ -> XXX-ZZZ): A
- Change UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to UA metal: A
- Change from UA metal to UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: N (see post 1813 for one exception)
- Change from UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to a different UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: ??
- Change on a non-UA ticketed segment: N* (with potential dire consequences)
- Change from an upgraded flight into Y on the new flight: A
- Change from a CPU-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: N*
- Change from an instrument-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: A*
- Non-elite on different PNR benefiting from Elite's waived-fee SDC: A
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
Apr 14, 2013, 2:10 am
#1501
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 6_1_3 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/536.26 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0 Mobile/10B329 Safari/8536.25)
The only disincentive to do this is sometimes you'd have to give up a confirmed upgrade especially since it has to be within 24 hours. But SDC sometimes offers extremely good routing for both RDM and stopover. Its a great benefit when used
The only disincentive to do this is sometimes you'd have to give up a confirmed upgrade especially since it has to be within 24 hours. But SDC sometimes offers extremely good routing for both RDM and stopover. Its a great benefit when used
Apr 15, 2013, 4:00 am
#1502
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 880
SDC with bags domestic connection from international
I was thinking of calling 1K line after customs, and taking bags with EWR DEN PHX tags on them to the connecting flight baggage handover point outside customs.
1) Can they print a new tag there (assuming I changed flights on the phone), or do I need to carry the bags upstairs?
2) Remind me where the 1K checkin at EWR is please in terminal C - is it for all flights, or only domestic, or even TLV?
thanks
Apr 15, 2013, 4:46 am
#1503
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,619
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 6_1_3 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/536.26 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0 Mobile/10B329 Safari/8536.25)
The only disincentive to do this is sometimes you'd have to give up a confirmed upgrade especially since it has to be within 24 hours. But SDC sometimes offers extremely good routing for both RDM and stopover. Its a great benefit when used
The only disincentive to do this is sometimes you'd have to give up a confirmed upgrade especially since it has to be within 24 hours. But SDC sometimes offers extremely good routing for both RDM and stopover. Its a great benefit when used
Apr 15, 2013, 5:19 am
#1504
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
What about if I have the bags with me? Arrive from international to EWR, collect bag, see that I can catch an earlier direct light EWR PHX instead of EWR DEN PHX.
I was thinking of calling 1K line after customs, and taking bags with EWR DEN PHX tags on them to the connecting flight baggage handover point outside customs.
1) Can they print a new tag there (assuming I changed flights on the phone), or do I need to carry the bags upstairs?
2) Remind me where the 1K checkin at EWR is please in terminal C - is it for all flights, or only domestic, or even TLV?
thanks
I was thinking of calling 1K line after customs, and taking bags with EWR DEN PHX tags on them to the connecting flight baggage handover point outside customs.
1) Can they print a new tag there (assuming I changed flights on the phone), or do I need to carry the bags upstairs?
2) Remind me where the 1K checkin at EWR is please in terminal C - is it for all flights, or only domestic, or even TLV?
thanks
Apr 15, 2013, 6:26 am
#1505
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Rewards - LTPP
Posts: 4,240
What about if I have the bags with me? Arrive from international to EWR, collect bag, see that I can catch an earlier direct light EWR PHX instead of EWR DEN PHX.
I was thinking of calling 1K line after customs, and taking bags with EWR DEN PHX tags on them to the connecting flight baggage handover point outside customs.
1) Can they print a new tag there (assuming I changed flights on the phone), or do I need to carry the bags upstairs?
2) Remind me where the 1K checkin at EWR is please in terminal C - is it for all flights, or only domestic, or even TLV?
thanks
I was thinking of calling 1K line after customs, and taking bags with EWR DEN PHX tags on them to the connecting flight baggage handover point outside customs.
1) Can they print a new tag there (assuming I changed flights on the phone), or do I need to carry the bags upstairs?
2) Remind me where the 1K checkin at EWR is please in terminal C - is it for all flights, or only domestic, or even TLV?
thanks
Apr 16, 2013, 4:02 pm
#1506
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Eugene, OR, USA
Programs: AS Gold; Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 13
Strange SDC happening
Yesterday Mrs. Expert (Gold) and I (Plat) had a late afternoon flight XXX-ORD-YYY, getting into YYY at midnight. At T-24 I looked online for SDC options to get in earlier, and found a morning XXX-IAH-YYY for no charge. It looked good, but I was curious to see if an agent could do better, so I called in to the Premier desk. The very friendly agent wasn't able to find anything better, so I asked her to book us on the XXX-IAH-YYY. She said she'd be happy to do it, but it would be an extra $225 per person! I declined and said I'd work on it online. I went back to ua.com and, there it was, $225 per person to change... but when I logged out and logged into Mrs. Expert's account, I was able to change our flights for $0. Anyone have any guesses what happened?
Apr 16, 2013, 5:08 pm
#1507
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Yesterday Mrs. Expert (Gold) and I (Plat) had a late afternoon flight XXX-ORD-YYY, getting into YYY at midnight. At T-24 I looked online for SDC options to get in earlier, and found a morning XXX-IAH-YYY for no charge. It looked good, but I was curious to see if an agent could do better, so I called in to the Premier desk. The very friendly agent wasn't able to find anything better, so I asked her to book us on the XXX-IAH-YYY. She said she'd be happy to do it, but it would be an extra $225 per person! I declined and said I'd work on it online. I went back to ua.com and, there it was, $225 per person to change... but when I logged out and logged into Mrs. Expert's account, I was able to change our flights for $0. Anyone have any guesses what happened?
Apr 16, 2013, 11:33 pm
#1508
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SAN
Programs: Current: UA 1K, AA EXP; BA Silver; Former: EK Gold (2004-11), LH SEN (2007-14)
Posts: 275
Very basic SDC question
I have a day return trip on SAN-SFO ticketed for a month out.
If I need to stay the night and take a morning flight the next morning, can I use the free SDC within a 24-hour window (late night return to a next day morning return)?
If not, can I at least standby for a next day return on the same ticket or do I have to re-ticket it?
If necessary, I'll just buy a one-way SFO - SAN for the next day (which costs less than the $150 change fee right now), and discard my return ticket. Can I do this without the ticketing system getting upset that I have 2 return tickets - one late night and one next morning?
Thanks!
If I need to stay the night and take a morning flight the next morning, can I use the free SDC within a 24-hour window (late night return to a next day morning return)?
If not, can I at least standby for a next day return on the same ticket or do I have to re-ticket it?
If necessary, I'll just buy a one-way SFO - SAN for the next day (which costs less than the $150 change fee right now), and discard my return ticket. Can I do this without the ticketing system getting upset that I have 2 return tickets - one late night and one next morning?
Thanks!
Apr 16, 2013, 11:39 pm
#1509
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,732
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ipost-faq.html
Apr 17, 2013, 12:17 am
#1510
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SAN
Programs: Current: UA 1K, AA EXP; BA Silver; Former: EK Gold (2004-11), LH SEN (2007-14)
Posts: 275
Thanks!
So does SDC not apply if the same fare class is not available?
My situation is that I have a 1-day trip, but a friend/relative are also in SFO that evening and I'd like to spend the evening with them and can fly back any time the next day. So I figured I'd be okay since there are some 6-8 flights back and I can take any of them.
But I am guessing that it's unlikely that super low fare classes are available so close to departure. So should I give up on this idea if it won't work if the same bucket is not available?
So does SDC not apply if the same fare class is not available?
My situation is that I have a 1-day trip, but a friend/relative are also in SFO that evening and I'd like to spend the evening with them and can fly back any time the next day. So I figured I'd be okay since there are some 6-8 flights back and I can take any of them.
But I am guessing that it's unlikely that super low fare classes are available so close to departure. So should I give up on this idea if it won't work if the same bucket is not available?
Apr 17, 2013, 12:34 am
#1511
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,732
to keep it free, that's true. See the wikipost at the top of this thread.
Actually close to f;ight the lower fare classes do tend to open up (for changes) -- but it varies when this happens
Actually close to f;ight the lower fare classes do tend to open up (for changes) -- but it varies when this happens
Apr 17, 2013, 8:16 am
#1512
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Eugene, OR, USA
Programs: AS Gold; Marriott Titanium; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 13
Apr 18, 2013, 9:06 am
#1513
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I just went in to checkin for my flight tomorrow (ORD-MSY) and even though I don't plan on changing pulled up the options to do a SDC. The only option, strangely, was the exact same flight TODAY, that is, the 24 hours earlier one.
Turns out today's flight is delayed due to weather in Chicago. Though you certainly couldn't plan on it, it looks like this is a missing item from the Wikipost:
Change to a flight exactly 24h before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y
Turns out today's flight is delayed due to weather in Chicago. Though you certainly couldn't plan on it, it looks like this is a missing item from the Wikipost:
Change to a flight exactly 24h before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y
Apr 18, 2013, 11:13 am
#1514
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,192
I just went in to checkin for my flight tomorrow (ORD-MSY) and even though I don't plan on changing pulled up the options to do a SDC. The only option, strangely, was the exact same flight TODAY, that is, the 24 hours earlier one.
Turns out today's flight is delayed due to weather in Chicago. Though you certainly couldn't plan on it, it looks like this is a missing item from the Wikipost:
Change to a flight exactly 24h before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y
Turns out today's flight is delayed due to weather in Chicago. Though you certainly couldn't plan on it, it looks like this is a missing item from the Wikipost:
Change to a flight exactly 24h before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y
Apr 19, 2013, 12:42 pm
#1515
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SF, CA, US
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA MM Gold, HHonors Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Plat, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 1,235
Can I SDC on a US Airways ticket? All UA metal.
