Last edit by: audidudi
This wiki covers basic info and common FAQs. For full terms and conditions, see the relevant DL web page: Same Day Travel Changes
Same-Day Confirmed
To request an SDC, you can
Online SDC does not seem to present all the options available to you, especially when you are SDCing a GAP fare and there is no inventory in your fare bucket. Calling in is best. People have had success with Twitter but that may depend on how "involved" the SDC is.
You can SDC starting 24 hours before your initial departure. You can SDC to any flight leaving the same calendar day. There is a $75 fee for SDC ($50 for tickets issued before March 15th, 2017), waived for GM and higher. This fee, and the waiver, applies for each person, although for GM+ traveling with companion the companion fee is sometimes waived.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (main cabin)?
A. Yes (whether revenue or award ticket). Note there is sometimes inventory in a fare bucket even though it may not be offered for sale on the web site. SDC on V or N (low award) fare is not unheard of.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (Comfort+)?
If booked into W (not WU) there only needs to be an available seat in Comfort+ regardless of fare class.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (First/Business/DeltaOne)?
Q. What about SDC with RUC/GUC/mileage upgrades (that have already cleared)?
As of November 2017:
It is unclear how this affects SDC if you are confirmed in RY/OY.
Q. I have a premium cabin fare, can I SDC to an itinerary with a single-cabin aircraft?
Written reply received from Delta, Dec. 2015:
Q. What about Medallion complimentary upgrades?
A. These do *not* count as premium cabin fares even if you already cleared. The main cabin rules for SDC regarding fare inventory will apply, and if it goes through you will SDC into a main cabin seat (but you are eligible to be upgraded again -- make sure you appear on the upgrade list on your new itinerary)
Q. Can I change the routing/connections?
A. You cannot SDC from a connecting itinerary to a non-stop itinerary. In all other cases the answer is unclear. The SDC rules do not explicitly prohibit routing changes. However ticket fare rules usually contain a clause that additions/changes to connections must be permitted by the fare rules. These are apparently in conflict, and practically speaking it depends on the agent/supervisor you speak with. Some refuse, some allow anything reasonable.
Q. Can I change the origin/destination?
A. Technically no, but there is an unwritten rule that DMs can make co-terminal changes. (There are some unintuitive gaps in what DL considers co-terminal, e.g. DAL and DFW do not count.)
Q. How are SDC flights credited?
A. You will earn MQMs for the route you actually fly.
Q. Can I SDC onto a red-eye later the same day, that connects to a flight the following morning?
A. Yes (though the agent may need to process it manually)
Q. I have a red-eye flight or a flight leaving shortly after midnight; can I SDC to a flight the next day/day before?
A. Officially, no. In practice, some people have reported success (with no real pattern to status). Can't hurt to ask.
Q. Can I SDC on an international itinerary?
A. Officially, no. In practice, you can SDC remaining domestic flights after all international flights have been flown; if you have onward checked bags it is best to do this before you re-check them. There are non-zero reports of SDC of domestic flights before connecting to an international flight but this should not be counted on.
Q. Can I SDC an Alaska Airlines codeshare?
Same-Day Standby
"Same-day standby is only offered if same-day confirmed is not available."
"You can use the same-day standby option for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection flights."
SDS can be requested 24 hours before your initial departure. GM+ can SDS to any flight departing the same calendar day; others can only SDS for an earlier flight. No routing changes are permitted.
SDS costs$75 ($50 for tickets issued before 15 MAR 2017) but only if you clear the standby list (waived for GM+) SDS is now free for all passengers as of August 4th, 2021
Upgrades are not preserved -- if you already cleared the upgrade on your original flight you must still standby for the main cabin.
Q. Is it possible to get upgraded after a standby?
A. Almost always no, whether because it is explicitly forbidden or because the standby list is processed after the UG list and it is rare for any F seats to be leftover after that happens. So, maybe sometimes?
Same-Day Standby Upgrades
"The same-day standby upgrade option allows you to upgrade your flight for a small fee, provided space is available and your ticket is eligible. This option applies to specific flights and routings [...]"
This is not the same as upgrading after successfully standing by for a main cabin seat (see above).
SDSU fee chart (may be out of date):
All flights within and between the Domestic 48 States and Alaska
All flights to and from Hawaii
All eligible other flights
Same-Day Confirmed
To request an SDC, you can
- Use the Same Day Change function on the Today screen in the Delta app (recommended, but with some peculiarities -- may not show all routings, and if changing to an earlier or later flight will only show the option within 24 hours of the target flight)
- Click the "Change" button during OLCI (after you click "Check in" on the first screen)
- Call a phone agent (recommended if app does not work)
- Use Delta's chat functions via the app (hit or miss)
Online SDC does not seem to present all the options available to you, especially when you are SDCing a GAP fare and there is no inventory in your fare bucket. Calling in is best. People have had success with Twitter but that may depend on how "involved" the SDC is.
You can SDC starting 24 hours before your initial departure. You can SDC to any flight leaving the same calendar day. There is a $75 fee for SDC ($50 for tickets issued before March 15th, 2017), waived for GM and higher. This fee, and the waiver, applies for each person, although for GM+ traveling with companion the companion fee is sometimes waived.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (main cabin)?
A. Yes (whether revenue or award ticket). Note there is sometimes inventory in a fare bucket even though it may not be offered for sale on the web site. SDC on V or N (low award) fare is not unheard of.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (Comfort+)?
If booked into W (not WU) there only needs to be an available seat in Comfort+ regardless of fare class.
Q. Does the same fare class need to be available (First/Business/DeltaOne)?
Q. What about SDC with RUC/GUC/mileage upgrades (that have already cleared)?
As of November 2017:
* If your original ticket is a Delta OneTM ticket, you may move to any other flight with a premium cabin seat available
* If your original ticket is a First Class ticket, you may move only to other flights with a First Class seat available; you may not move to a flight with a Delta One experience, even if seats are available.
* If your original ticket is a First Class ticket, you may move only to other flights with a First Class seat available; you may not move to a flight with a Delta One experience, even if seats are available.
Q. I have a premium cabin fare, can I SDC to an itinerary with a single-cabin aircraft?
Written reply received from Delta, Dec. 2015:
f the aircraft does not support a First/Business/Delta One cabin you are still eligible to change to the flight as long we are still selling seats on the flight.
Q. What about Medallion complimentary upgrades?
A. These do *not* count as premium cabin fares even if you already cleared. The main cabin rules for SDC regarding fare inventory will apply, and if it goes through you will SDC into a main cabin seat (but you are eligible to be upgraded again -- make sure you appear on the upgrade list on your new itinerary)
Q. Can I change the routing/connections?
A. You cannot SDC from a connecting itinerary to a non-stop itinerary. In all other cases the answer is unclear. The SDC rules do not explicitly prohibit routing changes. However ticket fare rules usually contain a clause that additions/changes to connections must be permitted by the fare rules. These are apparently in conflict, and practically speaking it depends on the agent/supervisor you speak with. Some refuse, some allow anything reasonable.
Q. Can I change the origin/destination?
A. Technically no, but there is an unwritten rule that DMs can make co-terminal changes. (There are some unintuitive gaps in what DL considers co-terminal, e.g. DAL and DFW do not count.)
Q. How are SDC flights credited?
A. You will earn MQMs for the route you actually fly.
Q. Can I SDC onto a red-eye later the same day, that connects to a flight the following morning?
A. Yes (though the agent may need to process it manually)
Q. I have a red-eye flight or a flight leaving shortly after midnight; can I SDC to a flight the next day/day before?
A. Officially, no. In practice, some people have reported success (with no real pattern to status). Can't hurt to ask.
Q. Can I SDC on an international itinerary?
A. Officially, no. In practice, you can SDC remaining domestic flights after all international flights have been flown; if you have onward checked bags it is best to do this before you re-check them. There are non-zero reports of SDC of domestic flights before connecting to an international flight but this should not be counted on.
Q. Can I SDC an Alaska Airlines codeshare?
"Same-day standby is only offered if same-day confirmed is not available."
"You can use the same-day standby option for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Delta and Delta Connection flights."
SDS can be requested 24 hours before your initial departure. GM+ can SDS to any flight departing the same calendar day; others can only SDS for an earlier flight. No routing changes are permitted.
SDS costs
Upgrades are not preserved -- if you already cleared the upgrade on your original flight you must still standby for the main cabin.
Q. Is it possible to get upgraded after a standby?
A. Almost always no, whether because it is explicitly forbidden or because the standby list is processed after the UG list and it is rare for any F seats to be leftover after that happens. So, maybe sometimes?
Same-Day Standby Upgrades
"The same-day standby upgrade option allows you to upgrade your flight for a small fee, provided space is available and your ticket is eligible. This option applies to specific flights and routings [...]"
This is not the same as upgrading after successfully standing by for a main cabin seat (see above).
SDSU fee chart (may be out of date):
All flights within and between the Domestic 48 States and Alaska
Code:
Traveling Y/B/M Fares S/H/Q/K/L Fares U/T/X/V Fares 0 to 500 miles $49 $119 $169 501 to 1,000 miles $79 $149 $199 1,001 to 1,500 miles $99 $209 $259 1,501 to 2,000 miles $149 $249 $319 2,001 to 3,000 miles $239 $269 $359 3,001 miles and up $329 $369 $399
Code:
Traveling Y/B/M Fares S/H/Q/K/L Fares U/T/X/V Fares 2,001 to 3,000 miles $239 $269 $359 3,001 miles and up $329 $369 $399
Code:
Traveling Y / B / M / H / Q / K Fares 0 to 500 miles $50 501 to 1,000 miles $75 1,001 to 1,500 miles $100 1,501 to 2,000 miles $150 2,001 to 3,000 miles $225 3,001 miles and up $350
Same-day confirmed and same-day standby options
#2896
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
but OP could consider something like JFK-RDU-ATL-DCA. Dunno what dates you're looking at but it's $190 on 2/12 for 1547 MQMs. There might be better options, could also try posting a request to this thread
#2897
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: 21,375
I know OP is talking about JFK-DCA, so this is only peripherally relevant, but five or six years ago when DL was flying nonstops BOS<-->DCA, ATL was a valid connection that didn't break the fare (it may still be ok to/from BWI)
#2898
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, CDG, NCE
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 2,634
Yes, although whether $30 is worth 250 MQMs (12cpm) and confirmed F in a CR9 for a short flight is debatable
BTW you mentioned "worth a stab on the day of"-- if you accept an offer at check-in, those do NOT give you bonus MQMs. So if you are planning on buying coach and deciding later, do the buy-up beforehand. just realized you meant the SDC is worth a stab (yep, can't really hurt to ask)
BTW you mentioned "worth a stab on the day of"
Now we're talking!
#2899
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: LGA
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Marriott Plat Prem., Hilton Gold, National Exec Elite.
Posts: 2,533
did they change the routing rules, or did my account get flagged - last year I could add stops in SEA/LAX/SFO even Honolulu and other crazy connections while doing short east coast flights in F; and now they are forcing me to stick by the published routings.
#2900
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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Posts: 10,745
There's some story about flying too close to the sun...
#2901
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,050
It's always been the rule. However I find in general if you feed them the flight numbers they'll give you what you want.
#2902
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,277
SDC for C+ [Questions]
Hi All,
I'm thinking of purchasing a W ticket but before I do so, I was wondering what the rules are around doing a SDC change from one flight to the next. As long as there is a W seat open, am I able to do a SDC? This is particularly complicated because, from what I hear, even though W maybe the class of service, I'm afraid that the ticket will have a different underlying coach-class code (e.g., V, X, T, K, etc.).
Also, if there's no space in C+, can I accept the downgrade and sit in the main cabin as long as there's an available seat?
I'd appreciate whatever insight you all might be able to provide.
Thanks, fellow FTers!
I'm thinking of purchasing a W ticket but before I do so, I was wondering what the rules are around doing a SDC change from one flight to the next. As long as there is a W seat open, am I able to do a SDC? This is particularly complicated because, from what I hear, even though W maybe the class of service, I'm afraid that the ticket will have a different underlying coach-class code (e.g., V, X, T, K, etc.).
Also, if there's no space in C+, can I accept the downgrade and sit in the main cabin as long as there's an available seat?
I'd appreciate whatever insight you all might be able to provide.
Thanks, fellow FTers!
#2903
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,947
There's a lengthy thread with a wiki
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...y-options.html
Acccording to the rules, W should be able to SDC into W. Given the clusterf around C+ though I don't blame you for lack of confidence. There seem to be some successful reports though:
DL page: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...l-changes.html
It also says "If there is not a seat available in Delta Comfort+, you may be eligible to Same Day Confirm in a Main Cabin seat in some circumstances." without specifying what those circumstances are.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...y-options.html
Acccording to the rules, W should be able to SDC into W. Given the clusterf around C+ though I don't blame you for lack of confidence. There seem to be some successful reports though:
Correct. C+ fares allows to move to other flights as long as W is available, no need for the underlying fare. However if no W is available, then technically you need the underlying fare class. However, in practice I've never had an issue moving even if no W was available on the new flight.
It also says "If there is not a seat available in Delta Comfort+, you may be eligible to Same Day Confirm in a Main Cabin seat in some circumstances." without specifying what those circumstances are.
#2904
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 45° North
Programs: DL DM MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 10,196
Here are the C+ rules from Delta.com
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...l-changes.html
Somewhat vague, but your two scenarios should be possible.
If you are traveling in Delta Comfort+ on a W fare, you may make a same-day confirmed change as long as a seat is available in Delta Comfort+. If there is not a seat available in Delta Comfort+, you may be eligible to Same Day Confirm in a Main Cabin seat in some circumstances
Somewhat vague, but your two scenarios should be possible.
#2905
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,277
Here are the C+ rules from Delta.com
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...l-changes.html
Somewhat vague, but your two scenarios should be possible.
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...l-changes.html
Somewhat vague, but your two scenarios should be possible.
#2906
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,050
Quite simple. If W is available then you can SDC. If not then you can SDC to a flight into main cabin. While technically requiring same underlying fare class since W became a fare class agents have just SDC to another flight as long as there was a seat for sale.
#2907
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,277
I can SDC as long as there is a C+ seat available. If there isn't a C+ seat for sale (i.e., W class), then I would be permitted to SDC if the underlying fare class is available. In other words, if I purchase a W ticket (with an underlying fare class of X) and if no C+ seats are available and DL is only selling seats in K+ fares, for example, then I would *NOT* be allowed to SDC, even if I'm willing to accept the downgrade.
If I weren't a frequent flyer, I wouldn't even know (a) what an underlying fare class is, or (b) what the underlying fare class for my ticket is.
(I would've thought that W would trump Y. Even in the DL accrual chart, visually speaking, it looks like W is above Y and B in terms of hierarchy.)
Last edited by UVAhoo06; Feb 9, 2017 at 7:37 pm
#2908
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,441
Delta's Fare Basis Code Structure
Last edited by mnbp; Feb 9, 2017 at 8:13 pm
#2909
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,277
DL sells "branded [coach] fares" that book into W. There are no domestic W fares.
Delta's Fare Basis Code Structure
Delta's Fare Basis Code Structure
If anything, I think most customers would be...amateurs?
#2910
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but HOW does one request same-day confirmed, same-day standby, or same-day upgrade? Can you do it on the DL App at T-24, or do you have to call reservations or see a ticket agent? It would be useful if the answer was added to the Wiki.