Originally Posted by
humdinger
Hi all -
I've been reading this forum for a while and have seen people talk about SDCs (which I assume are Same Day flight Changes), and I'm hoping to start a discussion on rules and strategies for using them. I cannot find much information on Alaska's website and have never used them myself, so I only have questions, and no answers. FWIW, I'm MVP75K.
If this is more appropriate for the "general questions" thread, I apologize. I just was guessing that there are others in the same boat as me who may have follow-up questions.
Rules Questions:
1) If you do a SDC, does it need to have the same routing? For example, if I'm flying LAX-DCA, could I do a SDC that goes LAX-SEA-DCA (or vice versa - can I do a SDC that turns a 1-stop flight into a direct?)
2) Can specific airports (but not markets) changes. For example, if I'm flying SEA-LAX, could I SDC to SEA-BUR?
3) If the answer to (2) is 'yes', what airports constitutes a market? SEA/PAE? LAX/BUR/ONT? DCA/IAD? JFK/EWR? Others?
Strategy Questions:
A) Why would you do an SDC? I can think of a few reason (personal schedule changed, an indirect flight was a lot cheaper but now you can switch for free to a direct flight), but I'm sure there are others.
B) Is it possible to do an SDC explicitly to get upgraded? I'm not sure how this would work, but it strikes me as plausible.
C) Would you get miles for the new routing? For example, if I SDC from DCA-LAX to DCA-SEA-LAX, would I the extra miles that the longer routing accrues?
Really, I welcome all thoughts/experiences/stories. I fly a fair amount and have never used this "benefit" of status, so I feel like it's something I should intelligently put into my bag of tricks.
Thanks all!
-HD
1) Yes, you will need to keep the same routing. AS used to be lenient about this.
2+3) AS doesn't allow SDC between co-terminals, except for these: SFO/OAK/SJC AND LAX/SNA/BUR/ONT AND PAE/SEA. And, you can't use this to change a direct flight to include a connecting flight. For example, SJC-SNA has no direct flights. If you want to change a SFO-SNA ticket into SJC-SNA you will be denied, but you could change it into SJC-LAX or SFO-LAX.
A) Fits better with one's schedule
B) Sure. If you are on a flight with FC sold out, but you see another flight with FC empty you could SDC to that flight. Though, technically this resets your "time of booking" to be when you execute the SDC. Since the UG list is: Elite Status, Fare Class, Time of Booking -- you'll need to carefully weigh if this is worth it depending on the load factor between the two flights.
C) Yes, you would earn the miles for the new routing.
Here's the link to the SDC change:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...flight-changes.
Here's the fare rule section for SDC's from a SFO-SNA ticket,
Advanced Reservation/Ticketing: RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS ARE REQUIRED AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE. WAITLIST NOT PERMITTED. TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED BY 1159PM 1 DAY AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE OR AT LEAST 3 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. NOTE - EXCEPTION - FOR TICKETS ISSUED AT ALASKAAIR.COM / ALASKA AIRLINES RESERVATIONS OR TICKET COUNTER TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED AT TIME OF RESERVATION. . NOTE - STANDBY NOT PERMITTED. . EXCEPTION - GOLD-LEVEL MILEAGE PLAN MEMBERS / CUSTOMERS CONFIRMED IN F/J/Y CLASS / PLUS ANY PASSENGER TRAVELING BETWEEN SEATTLE AND PORTLAND / BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND FAIRBANKS/ OR BETWEEN SEATTLE AND SPOKANE SHUTTLE MARKETS MAY STANDBY WITHOUT CHARGE AS AS NOTED BELOW. CUSTOMERS NOT QUALIFYING FOR FREE STANDBY MAY USE THE SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE. . //STANDBY CONDITIONS FOR ELIGIBLE PASSENGERS// . A. PASSENGERS MUST BE HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS FOR FLIGHTS OPERATED BY BY ALASKA AIRLINES / HORIZON AIR INCLUDING FLIGHTS OPERATED ON BEHALF OF ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND DUTCH HARBOR / SKYWEST. . B. STANDBY IS PERMITTED FOR EARLIER / LATER SAME DAY FLIGHT OPERATED BY ALASKA AIRLINES / HORIZON AIR INCLUDING FLIGHTS OPERATED ON BEHALF OF ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND DUTCH HARBOR / SKYWEST . C. PASSENGERS BOOKED ON RED-EYE FLIGHTS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 4AM MAY STANDBY THE CALENDAR DAY PRIOR. . D.STANDBY AVAILABLE ONLY FOR IDENTICAL ROUTINGS - SAME ORIGIN/ DESTINATION/ CONNECTION/ THRU CITY. CHANGES BETWEEN CO-TERMINALS ARE PROHIBITED. . E. STANDBY MAY BE REQUESTED VIA WEB CHECK-IN/ AIRPORT KIOSK / OR AN AGENT AT THE AIRPORT. . NOTE - SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE . ALL CUSTOMERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE SUBJECT TO SEAT AVAILABILITY IN THE TICKETED CABIN AT THE TIME OF THE REQUEST. . CHARGE USD 25.00 FOR SAME DAY CONFIRMED CHANGES FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN SEATTLE AND PORTLAND / BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND FAIRBANKS/ OR BETWEEN SEATTLE AND SPOKANE SHUTTLE MARKETS AND FOR TRAVEL WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CHARGE USD 50.00 FOR ALL OTHER SAME DAY CONFIRMED CHANGES. . THE CHARGE IS WAIVED FOR GOLD LEVEL MILEAGE PLAN MEMBERS AND CUSTOMERS CONFIRMED IN F/J/Y CLASS. . //SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE CONDITIONS// A. PASSENGERS MUST BE HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS FOR FLIGHTS OPERATED BY ALASKA AIRLINES / HORIZON AIR INCLUDING FLIGHTS OPERATED ON BEHALF OF ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND DUTCH HARBOR / SKYWEST. . B. PERMITTED FOR EARLIER/LATER SAME DAY FLIGHT OPERATED BY ALASKA AIRLINES/HORIZON AIR INCLUDING FLIGHTS OPERATED ON BEHALF OF ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN ANCHORAGE AND DUTCH HARBOR / SKYWEST. . C.CUSTOMERS MAY REQUEST A SAME DAY CONFIRMED CHANGE DURING THE CHECK-IN WINDOW OF THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT FOR FLIGHTS DEPARTING ON THE SAME CALENDAR DAY AS THE ORIGINAL DEPARTURE. . D. SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR IDENTICAL ROUTINGS -SAME ORIGIN / DESTINATION/ CONNECTION / THRU CITY IF APPLICABLE . CHANGES BETWEEN CO-TERMINALS ARE ALLOWED FOR SFO/OAK/SJC AND LAX/SNA/BUR/ONT AND PAE/SEA. . E. SAME DAY CONFIRMED FLIGHT CHANGE MAY BE REQUESTED VIA RESERVATIONS/WEB CHECK-IN / AIRPORT KIOSK/ OR WITH AN AGENT AT THE AIRPORT.