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}
Jul 21, 2014, 8:27 pm
#3751
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Hi,
Apologize if this question has been answered previously.
I have enjoyed few SDCs as a 1K on the same route (mostly earlier). Now I might need to make changes to a different city. I have a Y class tix from XXX-XXX-IAH but want to change it to next day from XXX-XXX-ABQ. Dot bomb bombed out on me and I had to call. I was informed that SDC would not work as my final destination will change and I will need to pay extra $350... fare difference and change fee.
Anyone tell me if this is true?
Apologize if this question has been answered previously.
I have enjoyed few SDCs as a 1K on the same route (mostly earlier). Now I might need to make changes to a different city. I have a Y class tix from XXX-XXX-IAH but want to change it to next day from XXX-XXX-ABQ. Dot bomb bombed out on me and I had to call. I was informed that SDC would not work as my final destination will change and I will need to pay extra $350... fare difference and change fee.
Anyone tell me if this is true?
If this worked, I would buy all my tickets from LAX to SFO saying "I can see Paris in my future!"
Jul 21, 2014, 8:34 pm
#3752
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cypress, TX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Hertz Gold 1 Presidence Circle
Posts: 662
Jul 21, 2014, 10:45 pm
#3753
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Nah.
Posts: 13,967
How does SDC work if you've checked luggage? I assume it's not smart enough to reroute luggage but does it even let you switch flights?
Jul 21, 2014, 11:09 pm
#3754
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I'm not sure about international.
Jul 22, 2014, 9:12 am
#3755
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, UA Platinum, Alaksa MVP 75K, Air Berlin Gold, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,389
The kiosks, app, and website have all never offered me the SDC option if I've checked a bag.
Jul 22, 2014, 10:59 am
#3757
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,751
Hi,
Apologize if this question has been answered previously.
I have enjoyed few SDCs as a 1K on the same route (mostly earlier). Now I might need to make changes to a different city. I have a Y class tix from XXX-XXX-IAH but want to change it to next day from XXX-XXX-ABQ. Dot bomb bombed out on me and I had to call. I was informed that SDC would not work as my final destination will change and I will need to pay extra $350... fare difference and change fee.
Anyone tell me if this is true?
Apologize if this question has been answered previously.
I have enjoyed few SDCs as a 1K on the same route (mostly earlier). Now I might need to make changes to a different city. I have a Y class tix from XXX-XXX-IAH but want to change it to next day from XXX-XXX-ABQ. Dot bomb bombed out on me and I had to call. I was informed that SDC would not work as my final destination will change and I will need to pay extra $350... fare difference and change fee.
Anyone tell me if this is true?
Mind you, it gets complicated if your ticket isn't one way.
Jul 22, 2014, 1:01 pm
#3758
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,423
Was looking to change a P fare business class international ticket today. Usually don't have P, so maybe I did somethign wrong but:
it's under 24 hours from first flight.
select change option on .com (not specifying business class or p fare) and am offered flight in economy in U class, with a big fare increase and a a change fee. I'm 1k so shouldn't have the fee.
Am I doing something wrong other than assuming .bomb might work?
it's under 24 hours from first flight.
select change option on .com (not specifying business class or p fare) and am offered flight in economy in U class, with a big fare increase and a a change fee. I'm 1k so shouldn't have the fee.
Am I doing something wrong other than assuming .bomb might work?
Jul 24, 2014, 1:56 pm
#3759
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,506
I haven't been able to locate the "change flight" option on my app recently although I've used it several times in the past. Anyone else having this issue or am I doing something wrong?
Jul 24, 2014, 2:13 pm
#3760
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Nah.
Posts: 13,967
If you don't see that, then the app has determined no applicable availability. There still might be some (check EF, for example) and you can still call to switch in that case.
Jul 24, 2014, 2:38 pm
#3761
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
Its big and it has a picture on it. Threw me off, since i was just looking for a line of text, same as 'view reservation'.
Jul 24, 2014, 2:49 pm
#3762
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,506
Found it-many thanks. I had checked in online and forgot that it was part of "Check In" on the app.
Jul 24, 2014, 5:54 pm
#3763
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Absent upfaring, hypothetical severe storms at ORD on the same day would probably be the easiest way to get a phone agent to bend the rules, right?
Jul 24, 2014, 7:11 pm
#3764
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,751
I guess this wouldn't work if I wanted to change the origin? I have an upcoming XXX-ORD-SFO; as it turns out, YYY-ORD-SFO would be way more convenient. It's a o/w ticket and the second flight wouldn't change.
Absent upfaring, hypothetical severe storms at ORD on the same day would probably be the easiest way to get a phone agent to bend the rules, right?
Absent upfaring, hypothetical severe storms at ORD on the same day would probably be the easiest way to get a phone agent to bend the rules, right?
Jul 25, 2014, 3:28 pm
#3765
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FLL
Programs: United Premier 1K; Alaska MVP 75K; Hilton Honors Diamond; Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 667
I have upcoming travel next week upgraded with a GPU. If I switch to a flight with availability in both my original fare class and in R class, will I need to provide a pin for the GPU? I don't know it because it was done with GPUs from a friend.
