Jun 12, 2015, 7:09 pm
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
May 31, 2021, 3:52 am
#4381
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: 27,047
That's not what I was told earlier this week. The agent refused to make the change for me at T-24 (plus a small epsilon) before the first flight and made me wait to call back. Fortunately space was still available when I tried again at T-24 (plus a big epsilon) before the second flight.
Were you possibly booked on a broken fare?
May 31, 2021, 12:28 pm
#4382
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,417
No broken fare, although I was going from a connection under four hours to a connection just over four hours.
Jun 1, 2021, 5:23 pm
#4383
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Ideally the agent would have done it anyway, but I wouldn't be especially surprised if the system threw an error and they (properly) asked you to call back later.
The only real problem with this right now is the hold times and timing your call so that you're actually speaking with an agent just after T-24 of whatever flight.
Jun 4, 2021, 7:35 am
#4384
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: DL DM MM, Hyatt LT Globalist, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,141
Was there a better way to do this: Flying LIR-ATL-CVG, our international segment arrived very early allowing plenty of time to connect to an earlier ATL-CVG flight. After collecting bags we made this request at the transfer/re-check desk across from bag drop. I asked the agent for new bag tags for the earlier flight and he told me it was not necessary because the original tags 'were recoded' and that the bags would be on the same earlier flight as us. The bags were not loaded on our flight and were sent on the later flight. Baggage services is sticking to the 'voluntary separation' line and won't deliver the bags even though the agent at ATL made no mention of voluntary separation or that we would need to pick up bags at the final destination. Putting aside the lack of disclosure/explanation, would it have been possible to obtain new tags at ATL for the earlier flight to avoid the unintended 'voluntary separation'? Anything else I should have done differently?
Jun 4, 2021, 8:36 am
#4385
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
That may have resulted in your ticket technically changing from a through fare to a broken fare; in fact I'd say it's likely since SDC only applies to domestic flights (outside of the domestic legs of a returning int'l itinerary).
Ideally the agent would have done it anyway, but I wouldn't be especially surprised if the system threw an error and they (properly) asked you to call back later.
The only real problem with this right now is the hold times and timing your call so that you're actually speaking with an agent just after T-24 of whatever flight.
Ideally the agent would have done it anyway, but I wouldn't be especially surprised if the system threw an error and they (properly) asked you to call back later.
The only real problem with this right now is the hold times and timing your call so that you're actually speaking with an agent just after T-24 of whatever flight.
Jun 4, 2021, 9:28 am
#4386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Was there a better way to do this: Flying LIR-ATL-CVG, our international segment arrived very early allowing plenty of time to connect to an earlier ATL-CVG flight. After collecting bags we made this request at the transfer/re-check desk across from bag drop. I asked the agent for new bag tags for the earlier flight and he told me it was not necessary because the original tags 'were recoded' and that the bags would be on the same earlier flight as us. The bags were not loaded on our flight and were sent on the later flight. Baggage services is sticking to the 'voluntary separation' line and won't deliver the bags even though the agent at ATL made no mention of voluntary separation or that we would need to pick up bags at the final destination. Putting aside the lack of disclosure/explanation, would it have been possible to obtain new tags at ATL for the earlier flight to avoid the unintended 'voluntary separation'? Anything else I should have done differently?
-RM
Jun 4, 2021, 9:49 am
#4387
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Sometimes, especially during IROPs, an airline agent will let you change to a new flight even though it's too late to check bags for the new flight just as it's sometimes possible (at least in the past) to check in after the checked bag deadline and have your bag tagged as late. If the reason is IROPs, especially if it's the carrier's fault, I would expect the bag to be delivered for free, but not if you were simply late or if it's a voluntary change. Still, the agent should have explained this before marking the bag as voluntarily separated from the passenger and let the customer choose whether to change the flight or not. Sometimes it's no big deal to wait for the bag if it arrives on the next flight or to return to the airport for it, but this can be a major inconvenience for the passenger depending on circumstances.
Jun 4, 2021, 10:30 am
#4388
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: DL DM MM, Hyatt LT Globalist, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,141
I figured as much. Lesson learned. Next time maybe I'll just pull the tags as soon as the luggage comes off the belt.
At ATL, if I enter the connecting passenger process, is there an option to exit into a non-sterile area after claiming luggage (for the purpose of checking in at the regular check in counter)?
At ATL, if I enter the connecting passenger process, is there an option to exit into a non-sterile area after claiming luggage (for the purpose of checking in at the regular check in counter)?
Yes, you should have insisted they print new bag tags. And if the agent refused then you could have ripped off the existing bag tags which would have forced them to re-tag them. Or, a less aggressive approach would be to get your flight changed at the desk and then walk your bags back up to 'normal' check-in and have them tagged there. But, at the end of the day, you needed to be more insistent. Relying on the baggage scanners to properly route your bags when they are physically tagged for a different flight is asking for trouble IME.
-RM
-RM
Jun 4, 2021, 7:01 pm
#4390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
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You technically need ticket reissued not just reservation upgraded.
Jun 4, 2021, 8:33 pm
#4391
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: RDU
Programs: Hhonors Gold, DL PM
Posts: 359
Urgh. Yes was reissued. Does anyone know of a particular place where one can point the agent to the correct policy on this?
Jun 6, 2021, 9:23 am
#4393
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
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Posts: 27,047
Jun 10, 2021, 9:34 am
#4394
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MCO
Posts: 3,030
Interesting routing choices. Many years ago I needed to go MCO-FCO. The quickest routing was MCO-JFK-FCO. However, I was a couple miles short of PM, so I routed MCO-ATL-GSP-ATL-CVG-JFK-FCO. I was surprised it was the same price (give or take a couple bucks for taxes) as the shortest routing.
Jun 11, 2021, 9:41 am
#4395
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SFO/DTW
Programs: DL PM 0.5MM, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Gold, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold, Avis PC, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,988
Seems like many new agents are working recently. Booked C+ award and currently trying to SDC, but 2 agents have told me that there is an additional collection. Is this a recent policy change?
EDIT - never mind. Singapore was able to rebook me via SDC. DL collected the additional mileage, but agent was able to refund that additional charge.
EDIT - never mind. Singapore was able to rebook me via SDC. DL collected the additional mileage, but agent was able to refund that additional charge.