Same Day Confirmed Change (SDC)
Mar 24, 2019, 9:06 pm
#196
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,288
If you are traveling only with carry-on's just head to the gate of the flight you want and get on the standby list. If checking bags, budget time for all of that...
Mar 24, 2019, 9:31 pm
#197
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I'll second this - its a shuttle route so there is no SDC charge that day. No guarantee you'll get it though.
If you are traveling only with carry-on's just head to the gate of the flight you want and get on the standby list. If checking bags, budget time for all of that...
If you are traveling only with carry-on's just head to the gate of the flight you want and get on the standby list. If checking bags, budget time for all of that...
SDCs are still $25 unless on a full fare ticket (which a $59 ticket certainly is not) The fee is waived for gold or higher. And you can only stand by if the flight you want to SDC to is full, and I don't believe you can even do that if you don't qualify for a free SDC (through status or full fare)
I still think that booking the cheap late ticket is the right move. It's still a good deal, even with the fee.
Mar 24, 2019, 10:04 pm
#198
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,288
I don't think this is quite right.
SDCs are still $25 unless on a full fare ticket (which a $59 ticket certainly is not) The fee is waived for gold or higher. And you can only stand by if the flight you want to SDC to is full, and I don't believe you can even do that if you don't qualify for a free SDC (through status or full fare)
I still think that booking the cheap late ticket is the right move. It's still a good deal, even with the fee.
SDCs are still $25 unless on a full fare ticket (which a $59 ticket certainly is not) The fee is waived for gold or higher. And you can only stand by if the flight you want to SDC to is full, and I don't believe you can even do that if you don't qualify for a free SDC (through status or full fare)
I still think that booking the cheap late ticket is the right move. It's still a good deal, even with the fee.
Mar 24, 2019, 10:33 pm
#199
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 168
I don't think this is quite right.
SDCs are still $25 unless on a full fare ticket (which a $59 ticket certainly is not) The fee is waived for gold or higher. And you can only stand by if the flight you want to SDC to is full, and I don't believe you can even do that if you don't qualify for a free SDC (through status or full fare)
I still think that booking the cheap late ticket is the right move. It's still a good deal, even with the fee.
SDCs are still $25 unless on a full fare ticket (which a $59 ticket certainly is not) The fee is waived for gold or higher. And you can only stand by if the flight you want to SDC to is full, and I don't believe you can even do that if you don't qualify for a free SDC (through status or full fare)
I still think that booking the cheap late ticket is the right move. It's still a good deal, even with the fee.
Mar 25, 2019, 1:06 pm
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,356
there will be FAR fewer hassles with requesting to stand by for an earlier flight than with throwing yourself on the mercy of a gate agent after having missed (especially deliberately) your scheduled departure
Mar 25, 2019, 1:41 pm
#202
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Mar 25, 2019, 2:40 pm
#203
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,288
@VegasGambler - yeah I mixed the two up in my head (confirmed vs stand-by). But the fee-free standby for shuttle routes is a nice benefit for all travelers.
Mar 25, 2019, 5:20 pm
#204
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 57
Thank you so much, everyone -— lots of food for thought.
My initial rationale for booking the earliest flight is so that I could confirm my new flight the earliest. As I understand it, you can initiate the change 24 hours before the departure, but to any flight on the same calendar day of the departure. So if I opted to book the earliest flight, I'd be able to confirm a reasonably timed afternoon flight at 6.50am the day before for $25, which I'd be happy to pay. I'd be going HBO and would leave at least 3 hours to clear immigration, and in the worst case scenario of being delayed and stuck in immigration for hours, I could SDC again.
But do you reckon there's a reasonably good chance that if I end up booking the very last evening flight, I'll still be able to get onto an afternoon flight for free on standby without too much hassle, given the frequency of departures between PDX and SEA? I was worried all the reasonable afternoon departures would sell out / be SDC-ed to if I waited until after i landed and cleared immigration, hence my original plan.
Thanks again!
My initial rationale for booking the earliest flight is so that I could confirm my new flight the earliest. As I understand it, you can initiate the change 24 hours before the departure, but to any flight on the same calendar day of the departure. So if I opted to book the earliest flight, I'd be able to confirm a reasonably timed afternoon flight at 6.50am the day before for $25, which I'd be happy to pay. I'd be going HBO and would leave at least 3 hours to clear immigration, and in the worst case scenario of being delayed and stuck in immigration for hours, I could SDC again.
But do you reckon there's a reasonably good chance that if I end up booking the very last evening flight, I'll still be able to get onto an afternoon flight for free on standby without too much hassle, given the frequency of departures between PDX and SEA? I was worried all the reasonable afternoon departures would sell out / be SDC-ed to if I waited until after i landed and cleared immigration, hence my original plan.
Thanks again!
Mar 25, 2019, 5:27 pm
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Thank you so much, everyone -— lots of food for thought.
My initial rationale for booking the earliest flight is so that I could confirm my new flight the earliest. As I understand it, you can initiate the change 24 hours before the departure, but to any flight on the same calendar day of the departure. So if I opted to book the earliest flight, I'd be able to confirm a reasonably timed afternoon flight at 6.50am the day before for $25, which I'd be happy to pay. I'd be going HBO and would leave at least 3 hours to clear immigration, and in the worst case scenario of being delayed and stuck in immigration for hours, I could SDC again.
But do you reckon there's a reasonably good chance that if I end up booking the very last evening flight, I'll still be able to get onto an afternoon flight for free on standby without too much hassle, given the frequency of departures between PDX and SEA? I was worried all the reasonable afternoon departures would sell out / be SDC-ed to if I waited until after i landed and cleared immigration, hence my original plan.
Thanks again!
My initial rationale for booking the earliest flight is so that I could confirm my new flight the earliest. As I understand it, you can initiate the change 24 hours before the departure, but to any flight on the same calendar day of the departure. So if I opted to book the earliest flight, I'd be able to confirm a reasonably timed afternoon flight at 6.50am the day before for $25, which I'd be happy to pay. I'd be going HBO and would leave at least 3 hours to clear immigration, and in the worst case scenario of being delayed and stuck in immigration for hours, I could SDC again.
But do you reckon there's a reasonably good chance that if I end up booking the very last evening flight, I'll still be able to get onto an afternoon flight for free on standby without too much hassle, given the frequency of departures between PDX and SEA? I was worried all the reasonable afternoon departures would sell out / be SDC-ed to if I waited until after i landed and cleared immigration, hence my original plan.
Thanks again!
The good thing about standby is that you avoid the fee. The bad thing is that you are behind everyone who SDCs (since they will have confirmed space).
If the last flight of the day was the same price as the first one, I'd get that. Then, keep an eye on inventory (do you have an EF subscription? This is a place where it can pay off). If it looks like the flight you want might end up being full, SDC and pay the fee (it's probably worth $25 for the confirmed seat) If it looks like it won't sell out and you will probably clear as standby, you can stand by and save yourself $25. It's really hard to predict these things in advance -- it's much easier to look at the inventory the day of the flight.
Mar 26, 2019, 3:23 am
#206
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 57
Note that you only have to pay for the first SDC. Once you SDC, your booking code is Y, which allows for free SDCs (you don't earn the mileage bonus for Y, but you can SDC again for free)
The good thing about standby is that you avoid the fee. The bad thing is that you are behind everyone who SDCs (since they will have confirmed space).
If the last flight of the day was the same price as the first one, I'd get that. Then, keep an eye on inventory (do you have an EF subscription? This is a place where it can pay off). If it looks like the flight you want might end up being full, SDC and pay the fee (it's probably worth $25 for the confirmed seat) If it looks like it won't sell out and you will probably clear as standby, you can stand by and save yourself $25. It's really hard to predict these things in advance -- it's much easier to look at the inventory the day of the flight.
The good thing about standby is that you avoid the fee. The bad thing is that you are behind everyone who SDCs (since they will have confirmed space).
If the last flight of the day was the same price as the first one, I'd get that. Then, keep an eye on inventory (do you have an EF subscription? This is a place where it can pay off). If it looks like the flight you want might end up being full, SDC and pay the fee (it's probably worth $25 for the confirmed seat) If it looks like it won't sell out and you will probably clear as standby, you can stand by and save yourself $25. It's really hard to predict these things in advance -- it's much easier to look at the inventory the day of the flight.
Apr 8, 2019, 10:03 am
#208
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: AS 100k, DL PM, New Sagaya
Posts: 1,288
There have been mixed reports about calling in and requesting it. Some have had success. I had an agent even say the policy was changing. But I am suspect of that and think it might have been a one off thing. Bottom line is it’s worth trying but don’t plan on it.
Apr 15, 2019, 12:12 am
#209
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Flying DXB-SFO-LAX on an Alaska award EK/AS. Within 24 hrs of the flight and all other criteria met, but support desk says it’s not possible to do SDC on SFO-LAX cuz there’s an intl partner segment. Is that true? trying on app doesn’t work either.
