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Same Day Changes (SDC) and Standby on Air Canada (2019 onwards)

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Old May 17, 2022, 11:28 am
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Last edit by: Adam Smith

Same Day Changes & Standby

Note: This is a long wiki, with over 40 Q&As. If you only see a bit, then find and click on the "Show more" link which can be found at the very end of the last text you see in this wiki window.

Please read the wiki before asking a question, as most common questions are answered here



Table of Contents (note the links below only work on desktop if you have expanded the wiki as described above)


What Are Same Day Change and Standby? Back to top

Q: What are Same Day Change and Standby?
A:
Same Day Changes (often called “SDC”) and Standby (sometimes referred to as “SBY”) involve taking a different flight from the one you were originally booked on without re-booking your itinerary, with no fare difference, and without the change fees normally applicable to your fare (specific SDC/standby fees are charged, as detailed below)
  • Same Day Change is where you immediately confirm a seat on a new flight or flights. As soon as you execute an SDC, your seat on your original flight is gone. You can change to either an earlier or later flight on the same day (see below for details)
  • Standby is when you put yourself on a waitlist for an earlier flight. The standby list is processed after check-in for that flight closes. Until you clear standby on a new flight, you continue to hold a seat on your original flight

Q: So can I use SDC or standby to fly to a different destination? Or fly from a different origin?
A:
No, this just allows you to change flights between the same origin and destination, with limited exceptions for co-terminals (e.g. YYZ/YTZ or LGA/JFK/EWR; see the applicable Routing section)

Q: Are all flights eligible for SDC and standby?
A: It depends on fare and market
. Markets are defined immediately below. For additional information, see the applicable Eligibility & Cost section

Q: What are the “markets”?
A:
  • Domestic (flights within Canada)
  • Transborder (flights between Canada and the US)
  • Sun (flights between Canada and everywhere else in North America)
  • International (everything else)

Q: Does it matter how I booked my ticket?
A:
  • It matters which airline sold your ticket (details in the applicable section)
  • It doesn’t matter how you paid for your ticket (cash vs points vs flight pass credit), although it may impact the cost

Q: Can I do this myself, or do I need an agent at the airport?
A:
In most cases, as long as you’re eligible, you should be able to request standby or SDC via the AC app or website, including paying any required fees. But often it won't work, for no particular reason. If you need an agent to do it, it has to be an AC agent at the airport (someone who has access to DCS, the airport system), not someone at a call centre. The only exception, for those eligible for access, is the Concierge call centre. That also refers to the Aeroplan call centre - Aeroplan cannot help you with SDC/standby, and any airport agent who tells you that you need to talk to Aeroplan is wrong, and you need to push back


Same Day Changes Back to top

Basics Back to top

Q: When can I make the change? Does it have to be on the day of my flight?
A:
SDC should be available online when check-in opens for the flight you’re currently booked on (24 hours in advance of your first flight). You should be able to request an SDC up until check-in for your original flight closes

Q: What flights are available for me to change to?
A:
You can change to any flight on the same operational (roughly 0500-0200) date (subject to available space, which is described below); that includes flights departing more than 24 hours from the one you’re currently booked on. You can’t SDC to a flight for which check-in has closed

Q: Can you give me some examples?
A:
Sure. Click on the spoiler below to expand a few examples
Spoiler
 


Q: What space is needed on the flight I want to change to?
A:
You need positive space in your cabin, and on the flight as a whole. Your fare class is irrelevant. If you are booked in Y, and the flight you want is full in Y but empty in J, you cannot change. If you're booked in J, and the flight you want is J5 but Y-10, you can't change. If you're booked in J, and the flight is J5 Y-4, you can change, even though Y is overbooked, because the flight is not

Q: How do I make this change?
A:
SDC is available through the online check-in function on the AC app or website (as long as it’s working properly). You can request SDC before you start check-in or after you’ve completed it. You should be offered any available itineraries. If a flight isn’t showing up as an option, it’s probably due to lack of available space as described above, or in the case of connecting itineraries, it may not be a legal connection. An agent at the airport can also handle this; this includes Concierges (and, for SEs only, the central Concierge office)

Q: I’ve read through the FAQ and am curious about the technical details
A:
See this excellent post by D582



Eligibility & Costs Back to top

Q: What do same day changes cost, and what’s eligible?
A:
Both answers depend on the market and fare type:
  • Basic: not eligible
  • Standard
    • $150 domestic/transborder; or $100 for a few selected city pairs:
      • Flights between (a) Toronto (YYZ or YTZ) and (b)(i) Montreal or (ii) Ottawa
      • Flights between (a) Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and (b)(i) JFK or (ii) LGA or (iii) Newark airports
      • Flights between any of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
    • $50 Sun
    • $100 international
  • Flex
    • $75 domestic/transborder
    • $50 Sun
    • $100 international
  • Comfort: $0
  • Latitude: $0
  • Premium Economy Lowest
    • $75 for domestic/transborder
    • $100 international
    • ??? Sun (not listed)
  • Premium Economy Flexible: $0
  • Business Class Lowest:
    • $0 for domestic/transborder
      • Note: the app/website want to charge $100 on Aeroplan Business Lowest bookings. The AC website does not make any distinction for Aeroplan tickets, and the fare rules should say SDC is free. You may or may not be able to get an agent to waive the fee, but should be able to get a refund after the fact
    • Sun/international: a fee may apply, but is variable depending on route/fare
  • Business Class Flexible: $0

Some fare rules also waive SDC fees. There are a lot of international Premium Economy Lowest fares that explicitly state SDC is free

Q: Do I have to pay the fee for each segment I change?
A:
No, you pay the fee each time you make a change. You could change all 3 flights on a 2-stop itinerary and pay the fee only once. However, if you make a change, then later decide you’d like to change flights again, you would have to pay another fee, regardless of how many segments you’ve changed each time



Routing Back to top

Q: What am I allowed to change?
A:
You may change the routing, but not the number of connections

Q: Can you give me some examples?
A:
Sure. Click on the spoiler below to expand a few examples
Spoiler
 


Q: The agent I'm dealing with says I can’t change connecting points
A:
Tell them to look at "the ACpedia page for Same-Day Change, under the header of FLAT Same Day Change Fee for Multiple Segments". The policy very explicitly states that you must have same day of departure, same origin, and same final destination

Q: I booked a flight from YYZ to EWR but I want to go to LGA instead, can I do that?
A:
Yes, you can change between co-terminals at your destination

Q: What if I booked a flight EWR to YYZ, can I leave from LGA instead?
A:
No, you can’t change co-terminals at your origin

Q: Can I SDC after I’ve already taken one or more flights, e.g. if I’m flying FCO-YYZ-YYC, can I SDC the YYZ-YYC flight after arriving at YYZ?
A:
Yes, you should be able to do it yourself online, or an agent can do it


SDC & eUpgrades Back to top

Q: I have a confirmed eUpgrade on my original flight. Can I SDC straight in to J on the new flight?
A:
No, you need space in Y to SDC into. When you SDC, you will be back in Y

Q: Will my eUp request carry over to the new flight?
A:
No, once you SDC, you will need to request the eUp again. You should be able to do this online, or an agent can do it

Bookings Involving Partners Back to top

Q: I booked my flight through United, can I do SDC?
A
No, it must be ticketed by Air Canada, meaning the ticket number must start with 014

Q: I booked YYZ-FRA-LHR, with one segment on another airline. Can I change it to YYZ-YUL-LHR?
A:
No you may only change segments operated by AC



Standby Back to top

Basics Back to top

Q: What flights are eligible for standby?
A:
Essentially, Comfort, Latitude, PY Flexible, and Business Flexible always get free standby. Basic is never eligible. Standard, Flex, PY Lowest and Business Lowest are only eligible on certain routes or markets. See the Eligibility & Costs section below

Q: When can I make the change? Does it have to be on the day of my flight?
A:
You should be able to request standby online when check-in opens for the flight you’re currently booked on (24 hours in advance of your first flight). But the standby list is only processed a short time before the flight

Q: So when does the standby list get processed?
A:
The standby list is generally run 5 minutes after check-in closes (i.e. 40 minutes for domestic flights or 55 minutes for international flights)

Q: If I don’t get a seat at T-40/T-55, does that mean I’m out of luck?
A:
No. If there are people who don’t show up for the flight (e.g. misconnections), they will clear more people off the standby list (the plane usually shouldn’t leave with empty seats if there are still people on standby)

Q: I don’t like the idea of waiting that late. Can I get confirmed earlier than that?
A:
That’s what SDC is for. On rare occasions, AC may clear people off the standby list earlier than the times above, but you’re usually not going to get confirmed until after check-in has closed

Q: There’s more than one earlier flight that would work for me. Can I standby for multiple flights?
A:
You can only SBY for one flight at a time, but if you fail to clear on that one, you can request it on a subsequent flight

Q: Do I keep my seat on my original flight?
A:
As soon as you clear standby for a new flight, you lose the space on your original flight. If you don’t clear standby, your original booking remains intact

Q: What if I clear standby but don’t board the earlier flight?
A:
You need to see an agent to try to get re-booked on another flight. You’ve in a difficult position because you’ve given up your original seat then no-showed the new one, so you have no confirmed space on any flight

Q: Can I cancel a standby request?
A:
As long as it hasn’t cleared. Once it clears, as noted above, you’ve lost your original flight, and you’ll need an agent to re-book you on something else. Note that once check-in closes, you will likely need an agent to remove you from the list

Q: I’m booked in a higher cabin than economy (whether originally ticketed or on some kind of upgrade). Can I standby only for a flight in my original cabin?
A:
Nope. If you have a ticket for a higher cabin, you’ll be on standby for space in that cabin and anything lower. That means if your original flight is in J, you could end up in PY or Y

Q: Would I get any compensation for the downgrade?
A:
No, because you chose to take an earlier flight

Q: This sounds kind of different from how I remember it
A:
AC switched to a new reservation system in late 2019, which brought numerous changes. Most were negative – previously you could standby only for the cabin you were booked in, and you didn’t lose your seat on your original flight unless and until you boarded the new flight – but some were positive, e.g. online self-service options

Q: Overall, this sounds kind of crappy. Why would I want to do it?
A:
If getting to your next airport early is important, and especially if you’re already booked in Y, SBY can be worthwhile. If you’re confirmed in a higher cabin, there’s a considerable chance of being downgraded, so it may be less appealing

Q: How do I request standby?
A:
Standby is available through the online check-in function on the AC app or website (as long as it’s working properly). You can only request SBY after you’ve checked in. An agent at the airport can also handle this; this includes Concierges (and, for SEs only, the central Concierge office)


Priority Back to top

Q: What is the priority for standby?
A:
As follows (this is very similar to the priority for eUpgrades):
  1. Cabin: Based on your ticketed cabin (i.e. upgrades don’t count)
    • Note: Paid J will rank ahead of any eUp requests in the J cabin (subject to space available on the flight – if the flight is full overall but oversold in Y/PY, your standby can’t clear, so eUps will clear even though your standby doesn’t). If you have a confirmed upgrade to J, you’ll be on standby for J, but with lower priority than everyone who’s already confirmed on the flight. The same principle should apply to PY
    • For seats in Y, J and PY will rank ahead of those ticketed in Y
  2. Status: VIP > SE 2MM+ with credit card > SE 2MM+ > SE MM with credit card > SE MM > SE with credit card > SE > 75K 2MM+ with credit card, etc. If two passengers are on the PNR, the priority might be based on the highest status, per this post
  3. "Fare": Brand comes first (PF > PL; LT > CO > FL > ST), so a low Comfort fare is higher priority than Flex M. Within a brand, fare class matters. If you bought your ticket through another airline, and you don't have a brand, they infer a brand based on the fare class.
    Fare class hierarchy:
    • PY fares: O > E > A > N
    • Y fares: Y > B > M > U > H > Q > V > W > S > T > L > K > G
  4. Check-in time: As indicated by your sequence number


Eligibility & Costs Back to top

Q: What’s eligible for standby, and how much does it cost?
A:
Eligibility depends on market and route; when eligible, standby is always free
  • Basic: not eligible
  • Standard & Flex
    • Domestic/transborder, only eligible for:
      • Flights between (a) Toronto (YYZ or YTZ) and (b)(i) Montreal or (ii) Ottawa
      • Flights between (a) Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and (b)(i) JFK or (ii) LGA or (iii) Newark airports
      • Flights between any of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
    • Sun & International: not eligible
  • Comfort: always eligible
  • Latitude: always eligible
  • Premium Economy Lowest
    • Domestic/transborder, only eligible for:
      • Flights between (a) Toronto (YYZ or YTZ) and (b)(i) Montreal or (ii) Ottawa
      • Flights between (a) Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and (b)(i) JFK or (ii) LGA or (iii) Newark airports
      • Flights between any of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
    • Sun: eligible
    • International: not eligible
  • Premium Economy Flexible: always eligible
  • Business Class Lowest
    • Domestic/transborder, only eligible for:
      • Flights between (a) Toronto (YYZ or YTZ) and (b)(i) Montreal or (ii) Ottawa
      • Flights between (a) Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and (b)(i) JFK or (ii) LGA or (iii) Newark airports
      • Flights between any of Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver
    • Sun & International: eligible
  • Business Class Flexible: always eligible


Routing Back to top

Q: I booked a connecting itinerary. Can I standby for a non-stop flight?
A:
No, you can only standby for an earlier flight on the same route

Q: What if I want to standby from a non-stop to a connecting itinerary?
A:
No, same as above

Q: If I’m flying YYC-YYZ-YDF, can I standby for both an earlier YYC-YYZ and an earlier YYZ-YDF?
A:
Yes, but you can only request SBY for your next segment at any one time – you can only request for the YYZ-YDF leg once you’ve flown the YYC-YYZ leg

Q: I booked a flight from YYZ to EWR but I want to go to LGA instead, can I do that?
A:
Yes, you can change between co-terminals at your destination

Q: What if I booked a flight EWR to YYZ, can I leave from LGA instead?
A:
No, you can’t change co-terminals at your origin


Bookings Involving Partners Back to top

Q: I booked my flight through United, can I do SBY?
A:
Not through self-serve tools. It must be ticketed by Air Canada, meaning the ticket number must start with 014. There is a chance an agent can make this happen

Q: I booked YYZ-ORD, operated by United, can I stand by for an Air Canada flight?
A:
No, you can only stand by from segments operated by AC

Q: I booked YYZ-ORD, operated by Air Canada, can I stand by for a United flight?
A:
No you can only stand by to segments operated by AC

Q: What if the flight is a codeshare, does that change either of the previous two answers?
A:
No, codeshares are irrelevant
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Same Day Changes (SDC) and Standby on Air Canada (2019 onwards)

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Old Dec 21, 2021, 11:28 pm
  #151  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
As has been previously stated up thread, everyone that encounters this strict SDC rule should write in to customer relations and complain.
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Old Dec 21, 2021, 11:37 pm
  #152  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
Originally Posted by Nitehawk
As has been previously stated up thread, everyone that encounters this strict SDC rule should write in to customer relations and complain.
I hadn’t noticed that. Some do get away with such changes, correct? I plan to try again at the check-in desk and again at the gate.
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Old Dec 21, 2021, 11:41 pm
  #153  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Posts: 2,441
I have personally had success with the concierge. Depends on the agent. It's not really clear what the actual rule is to us customers, unless the tariffs say something I don't know about.
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Old Dec 22, 2021, 12:01 am
  #154  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
Originally Posted by Nitehawk
I have personally had success with the concierge. Depends on the agent. It's not really clear what the actual rule is to us customers, unless the tariffs say something I don't know about.
Good to know. I read the past few pages of this thread and can see that it’s all over the place, so that different agents in different cities are saying different things. No wonder we are confused.
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Old Dec 22, 2021, 3:45 am
  #155  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, hhonors Gold
Posts: 3,428
Originally Posted by TheCanuckian
I hadn’t noticed that. Some do get away with such changes, correct? I plan to try again at the check-in desk and again at the gate.
looks like the nonstop checkin and standby lists are closed. Curious if you had any success? In my past experience the concierges in CDG are top notch and probably more effective than anyone on the phone so hopefully you had success. If nothing else hopefully a customer service complaint will get a definitive answer.
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Old Dec 22, 2021, 3:47 am
  #156  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,506
So in the end the concierge at CDG said he could SDC me from CDG-YUL-YYZ (Latitude fare) but not my daughter (business class lowest rewards fare). He said it’s impossible for him to do anything to change an Aeroplan ticket except when flights are canceled or delayed and that the Aeroplan call center doesn’t open for another few hours. He said there were no Aeroplan business class seats available on the earlier flight, but I could have booked one on the spot, so I know that wasn’t accurate. (Which I would have done, except it was 10x what I originally paid for it). So here we sit, waiting for the later flight. Well and good.
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Old Dec 22, 2021, 4:04 am
  #157  
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Platinum, hhonors Gold
Posts: 3,428
Originally Posted by TheCanuckian
So in the end the concierge at CDG said he could SDC me from CDG-YUL-YYZ (Latitude fare) but not my daughter (business class lowest rewards fare). He said it’s impossible for him to do anything to change an Aeroplan ticket except when flights are canceled or delayed and that the Aeroplan call center doesn’t open for another few hours. He said there were no Aeroplan business class seats available on the earlier flight, but I could have booked one on the spot, so I know that wasn’t accurate. (Which I would have done, except it was 10x what I originally paid for it). So here we sit, waiting for the later flight. Well and good.
glad for some semblance of common sense on the latitude fare, was he able to explain why all his colleagues refused or what the actual rules are? Not surprised on the Aeroplan ticket for lack of flexibility on lowest fare. If you had booked a flex or latitude Aeroplan at time of booking wonder if he’d have been more open.

For the new Aeroplan fares, AE tickets are available for inflated points market prices, what he was looking at was the basic I fare class that is open to all carriers as base redemptions.
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Old Dec 28, 2021, 7:56 pm
  #158  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by zappy312
Anyone know how well the SDC system handles Latitude (Award) tickets where an upgrade has cleared? Is it best to cancel the upgrade via AC reservations (which isn't a smooth process), do the SDC via OLCI (or at the airport) and then re-request the upgrade? Or can I just SDC right from my upgraded flight to the desired one (and keep my upgrade if space is available, otherwise get waitlisted)?

Hi, did you ever find out what happened to your ticket (assuming you flew it)?

I redeemed a Latitude award for YUL-YYZ-IAD departing early afternoon, but my real goal is to SDC to a later YUL-WAS flight so that my buddy YUL-EWR can arrive at the airport together. I don't really care about keeping the eUp, but I doubt this will cause a problem as the underlying fare allows for SDC? Who knows at this point, I'm perplexed that this separate SDC thread (for award tickets) would even exist, was hoping that SDCs would be a simple ordeal altogether

From what I gather reading this thread and the main thread, there's a 0 possibility I could SDC YUL-LGA-WAS (last segment on UA metal) simply because it's a partner [award?], right? Never mind that it could have an AC flight number on it
asovse1 is online now  
Old Dec 28, 2021, 8:21 pm
  #159  
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by asovse1
I redeemed a Latitude award for YUL-YYZ-IAD departing early afternoon, but my real goal is to SDC to a later YUL-WAS flight so that my buddy YUL-EWR can arrive at the airport together. I don't really care about keeping the eUp, but I doubt this will cause a problem as the underlying fare allows for SDC?
Should be fine, but you'll probably have to do it at the airport (or via the concierge if you're SE), which might negate the benefit of switching to a later flight.

Originally Posted by asovse1
Who knows at this point, I'm perplexed that this separate SDC thread (for award tickets) would even exist, was hoping that SDCs would be a simple ordeal altogether
The only potential difference is business lowest. If you're not in business lowest, it should be the same as a paid ticket.

Originally Posted by asovse1
From what I gather reading this thread and the main thread, there's a 0 possibility I could SDC YUL-LGA-WAS (last segment on UA metal) simply because it's a partner [award?], right? Never mind that it could have an AC flight number on it
A reward can never have an AC flight number on a non-AC operated segment.

You can never SDC to or from non-AC metal.
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Old Feb 16, 2022, 12:54 pm
  #160  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, SPG Platinum, Cathay Pacific Gold, club carlson Gold, Le club Accor Platinum
Posts: 186
I was trying to do a same day change for my YVR-YUL-CUN flights to YVR-YYZ-CUN. Business Z class. Both conceirge at the call center as well as at the airport denied my request quoting it has to be the same origin, same destination and same routing. They are quoting it from ACPedia. …
supremekai is offline  
Old Feb 16, 2022, 3:01 pm
  #161  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYJ
Programs: AC SE*MM, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Gold, National EE, Sixt Plat, Hz 5*
Posts: 2,441
I have noticed some text in flight pass terms and conditions that maybe didn't used to be there.

"Only changes to flight departure time can be processed at the airport. Any changes to flight routing must be completed online or in exceptional circumstances by Air Canada Reservations.

...

Ref: CONFPFL"

​​​​​
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Old Feb 16, 2022, 3:04 pm
  #162  
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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Posts: 44,357
Originally Posted by Nitehawk
I have noticed some text in flight pass terms and conditions that maybe didn't used to be there.

"Only changes to flight departure time can be processed at the airport. Any changes to flight routing must be completed online or in exceptional circumstances by Air Canada Reservations.

...

Ref: CONFPFL"

​​​​​
That's in the terms in the email for every FP I've purchased since Jan 15 2016.

Prior to that it was "Any changes made to flight credit bookings must be done online or in exceptional circumstances by Air Canada Reservations", which one could easily infer to mean the same thing about routing changes.
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Old Feb 17, 2022, 6:33 pm
  #163  
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Posts: 44,357
I just had an extremely annoying SDC experience.

A few weeks ago, some friends (all SE or higher) messaged me and asked me if I wanted to go to Dublin for a long weekend. Obviously, I said yes. They sent me a Google Flights link to a mostly AC itinerary.

The entire return was DUB-LHR-YUL-SFO.

That itinerary included YUL-SFO on a 223, but they were all doing it so I figured it might be an acceptable risk, as I could SDC if I wanted to avoid it.

Additionally, the fare rules included this section (emphasis mine):


Code:
FOR TICKETING ON/BEFORE 28FEB22/FOR TRAVEL ON/AFTER
01MAR20 AND ON/BEFORE 28FEB23
IF ALL TRAVEL MUST BE COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT ON
28FEB24.
CHANGES

ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED.
… [lots removed] …
--------------------------------------------------
PAX HOLDING CONFIRMED RESERVATION AND TICKETS ON
AC OPERATED FLIGHTS ONLY MAY CONFIRM EARLIER/LATER
SAME DAY FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE SAME ORIGIN/DEST./STP
POINTS FOR FREE OF CHARGE.
-SEAT INVENTORY MUST BE AVAIL. IN THE CABIN APPLIC
TO THE FARE CHARGED
-CONFIRMED CHANGE MAY ONLY BE MADE AT THE AIRPORT
ON THE DAY OF THE FLT.
-ANY AIRPORT SAME DAY CONFIRMED CHANGES WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO BE ADMIN. BY CALLING THE AC CALL
CENTRE OR BY VISITING THE AC WEBSITE.
-REGULAR FARE RULES APPLY FOR ANY CHANGES WHICH DO
NOT QUALIFY FOR THE AIRPORT SAME DAY CONFIRMED
CHANGE FEE
-SAMEDAY STANBY NOT ALLOWED.

Well, we all decided we wanted to avoid the long-haul narrow-body. As luck would have it, DUB-LHR-YVR-SFO actually arrived earlier and included more wide-body time, so one of the group sent off an email to the concierge to do the SDC.

I didn’t see all the emails, or hear much of the phone calls, but the consistent part that I do have a quote of is:

For a Same Day Confirmed Change, the routing/airports need to stay the same, it only allows for an earlier or later flight. In your situations, that option would not apply.

To process the changes as you are requesting, your check-ins would need to be removed in order to allow for repricing to be done. The reprice would be for Dublin to San Francisco, or to Los Angelos [sic], as applicable. There would be no change fee involved, but there could be fare difference.
We tried through many different concierges and airport agents, and the answer was consistently the same. Routing changes are not permitted for SDC.

The fare rules say origin, destination, and stopover points must remain the same. We were not trying to change those.

My read of this is a clear breach of contract.

But the consequence to SDC is deadly. Why even offer it?
pilot007, Nitehawk, D582 and 4 others like this.
canadiancow is online now  
Old Feb 17, 2022, 10:07 pm
  #164  
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Originally Posted by canadiancow
But the consequence to SDC is deadly. Why even offer it?
Why do they continue to offer the useless new standby?

Seems they grew tired of distinguishing themselves from the main domestic competitor by offering day-of-travel flexibility to those who wanted it (WS is even worse than AC is now - don't get me started).
Adam Smith is offline  
Old Feb 17, 2022, 11:53 pm
  #165  
 
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Lame. So everytime we encounter this we should all write in and voice our displeasure. It seems it's definitely now policy to not allow routing changes on SDC, even if they are trivial and likely don't cost AC anything. I wouldn't expect much from complaining, but may as well let them know and maybe get a discount code.
Nitehawk is offline  


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