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}
Sep 16, 2014, 3:25 pm
#3961
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Sep 16, 2014, 3:56 pm
#3962
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
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A funny thing happen on my way to SDC...
I have been pushing back a return on my flight quite a few times. The original date didn't work, and with SDC, there doesn't seem to be a limit on how often one can do it, so long as the seats/ booking inventory is there.
I SDC'ed onto a flight that was delayed today. I called UA to move to a different flight. They told me that unless I travel today, my seat would be voided.
No prob. After we hung up, I SDC's on my mobile. Got the flight I wanted.
But then I got an email reticketing me on my delayed flight.
I SDC's again to another flight. It stuck.
But then another email reverting me back to the original.
Someone is keeping an eye on this!
No complaints.... Well, not really. I suppose I was "working the system," SDCing so much. But there's nothing that say's I can't do this, right? Just strange that UA is now making changes to my tickets without notification.
I SDC'ed onto a flight that was delayed today. I called UA to move to a different flight. They told me that unless I travel today, my seat would be voided.
No prob. After we hung up, I SDC's on my mobile. Got the flight I wanted.
But then I got an email reticketing me on my delayed flight.
I SDC's again to another flight. It stuck.
But then another email reverting me back to the original.
Someone is keeping an eye on this!
No complaints.... Well, not really. I suppose I was "working the system," SDCing so much. But there's nothing that say's I can't do this, right? Just strange that UA is now making changes to my tickets without notification.
Sep 16, 2014, 4:59 pm
#3963
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
How did it go? Were you able to get the earlier flight? Is it true that the mobile app would not show an earlier flight for SDC and thus you had to call?
Sep 16, 2014, 6:31 pm
#3964
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Just was offered 20 (or so) different SDC options for a two leg flight tomorrow.
Some shorter than what I booked (total miles), some much longer and out of the way / backtracking.
I was able to switch the exact flight I wanted - better schedule, and a slightly higher chance for an upgrade to F based upon available fare buckets.
edit to add: All on line at United.com.
Some shorter than what I booked (total miles), some much longer and out of the way / backtracking.
I was able to switch the exact flight I wanted - better schedule, and a slightly higher chance for an upgrade to F based upon available fare buckets.
edit to add: All on line at United.com.
Last edited by LarkSFO; Sep 16, 2014 at 6:37 pm Reason: edit
Sep 17, 2014, 7:51 pm
#3965
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,431
No luck today
Going to IAH and my fare bucket never opened up on anything to allow me to do SDC. In fact since the flights were so full the fare buckets did not all open up even an hour before departure.
Sep 17, 2014, 9:39 pm
#3966
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
That does happen from time to time. Thankfully most fare buckets do open up quite regularly.
Sep 18, 2014, 12:16 am
#3967
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,342
I have been pushing back a return on my flight quite a few times. The original date didn't work, and with SDC, there doesn't seem to be a limit on how often one can do it, so long as the seats/ booking inventory is there.
I SDC'ed onto a flight that was delayed today. I called UA to move to a different flight. They told me that unless I travel today, my seat would be voided.
No prob. After we hung up, I SDC's on my mobile. Got the flight I wanted.
But then I got an email reticketing me on my delayed flight.
I SDC's again to another flight. It stuck.
But then another email reverting me back to the original.
Someone is keeping an eye on this!
No complaints.... Well, not really. I suppose I was "working the system," SDCing so much. But there's nothing that say's I can't do this, right? Just strange that UA is now making changes to my tickets without notification.
I SDC'ed onto a flight that was delayed today. I called UA to move to a different flight. They told me that unless I travel today, my seat would be voided.
No prob. After we hung up, I SDC's on my mobile. Got the flight I wanted.
But then I got an email reticketing me on my delayed flight.
I SDC's again to another flight. It stuck.
But then another email reverting me back to the original.
Someone is keeping an eye on this!
No complaints.... Well, not really. I suppose I was "working the system," SDCing so much. But there's nothing that say's I can't do this, right? Just strange that UA is now making changes to my tickets without notification.
There are no written rules on how many times you can SDC so technically UA can't deny you if you did it 30 days in a row assuming fare class availability wasn't an issue.
Also, if you successfully SDC'd then you would have had a BP for the new flight. You could have technically traveled on that no problem. And if it beeped at the airport as an invalid BP then you have the agent rebook you on whatever flight you want - still free of charge
Just was offered 20 (or so) different SDC options for a two leg flight tomorrow.
Some shorter than what I booked (total miles), some much longer and out of the way / backtracking.
I was able to switch the exact flight I wanted - better schedule, and a slightly higher chance for an upgrade to F based upon available fare buckets.
edit to add: All on line at United.com.
Some shorter than what I booked (total miles), some much longer and out of the way / backtracking.
I was able to switch the exact flight I wanted - better schedule, and a slightly higher chance for an upgrade to F based upon available fare buckets.
edit to add: All on line at United.com.
-RM
Sep 18, 2014, 12:24 am
#3968
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
Sep 18, 2014, 4:27 am
#3969
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
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And, again, there is no rule that says you cannot SDC for as many days in a row as you would like so what rule would the OP be abusing, in theory?
I'm not trying to be combative but you make a statement, which in theory is correct, but has no basis in rule.
-RM
Sep 18, 2014, 8:06 am
#3970
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 812
My flight leaves tomorrow at 11:10 AM. I want to SDC to a flight that leaves today at 11:25 AM.
Technically within the rules, but seems impossible to do because 15 minutes isn't enough to make the change, get checked in, etc.
If I call the 1K desk at say 9:30 am today, how likely are they to let me SDC an hour before the 24-hour window?
edit: Called, was told no, that I'll have to go for the 4pm this afternoon. Seems like they're getting strict.
Technically within the rules, but seems impossible to do because 15 minutes isn't enough to make the change, get checked in, etc.
If I call the 1K desk at say 9:30 am today, how likely are they to let me SDC an hour before the 24-hour window?
edit: Called, was told no, that I'll have to go for the 4pm this afternoon. Seems like they're getting strict.
Last edited by sincx; Sep 18, 2014 at 8:22 am
Sep 18, 2014, 9:13 am
#3971
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: PC Pl, UA 1K, CC Gl
Posts: 2,235
My flight leaves tomorrow at 11:10 AM. I want to SDC to a flight that leaves today at 11:25 AM.
Technically within the rules, but seems impossible to do because 15 minutes isn't enough to make the change, get checked in, etc.
If I call the 1K desk at say 9:30 am today, how likely are they to let me SDC an hour before the 24-hour window?
edit: Called, was told no, that I'll have to go for the 4pm this afternoon. Seems like they're getting strict.
Technically within the rules, but seems impossible to do because 15 minutes isn't enough to make the change, get checked in, etc.
If I call the 1K desk at say 9:30 am today, how likely are they to let me SDC an hour before the 24-hour window?
edit: Called, was told no, that I'll have to go for the 4pm this afternoon. Seems like they're getting strict.
Last edited by al613; Sep 18, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Sep 18, 2014, 9:44 am
#3972
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
You speak in theory. The OP said they got on their mobile and SDC'd to the flight they wanted. There are no IT ways within United that I can think of that would let them block SDC. But if they had them then SDC would be blocked from being performed, not reversed after you already got a confirmed reservation the flight you want to SDC to (as the OP did, twice).
And, again, there is no rule that says you cannot SDC for as many days in a row as you would like so what rule would the OP be abusing, in theory?
I'm not trying to be combative but you make a statement, which in theory is correct, but has no basis in rule.
-RM
And, again, there is no rule that says you cannot SDC for as many days in a row as you would like so what rule would the OP be abusing, in theory?
I'm not trying to be combative but you make a statement, which in theory is correct, but has no basis in rule.
-RM
I think you are confusing UA's policies with its contractual obligations to passengers. The two are not the same. SDC is a policy, not a contractual obligation.
Sep 18, 2014, 4:54 pm
#3973
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
question about SDC regarding checkin
I know when you checkin on the app it presents you with the option to change your flights. I know as a 1K I won't be charged a fee but once I checkin am I still able to change the flights and am still presented with the options? I want to check in at t-24 for upgrade purposes but am not sure if I have to change my flight time yet.
Sep 18, 2014, 4:59 pm
#3974
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: EUG
Programs: UA Gold; IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 443
Yep, the SDC options still show up, even if you've already checked in. Just go back to the app/website check-in option and pretend like you want to check in again (you can change seats after check-in this way as well, FWIW).
Sep 18, 2014, 5:00 pm
#3975
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,830
I know when you checkin on the app it presents you with the option to change your flights. I know as a 1K I won't be charged a fee but once I checkin am I still able to change the flights and am still presented with the options? I want to check in at t-24 for upgrade purposes but am not sure if I have to change my flight time yet.