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
Mar 21, 2024, 8:37 am
#4846
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,859
In all my years of DL flying I’ve never done an SDC.
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
Mar 21, 2024, 8:43 am
#4847
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: 18,946
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
Only main cabin SDC requires there to be inventory in the same bucket that you booked.
Mar 21, 2024, 8:45 am
#4848
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,051
In all my years of DL flying I’ve never done an SDC.
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
That said the app SDC function used to be good but has been less reliable for the past year or two in my experience, so it may be worth calling to be safe. Agents should be familiar with the rule you can SDC to any open first class seat, but if you get any pushback on that, probably best to HUCA.
Mar 21, 2024, 8:55 am
#4849
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Flying ECP-ATL-SEA-ANC in the morning. It’s the return portion of a paid F ticket. The return flights are C inventory. Out of curiosity I clicked Same Day Change in the app just now and there are several options, including a much more desirable/better timed ECP-ATL-MSP-ANC that I considered at booking, but the cost at booking was considerably higher. The app is supposedly offering “confirmed” F option for this. It looks like all those flights are J inventory, so not sure how I would be eligible since I’m in C, unless I’m missing something. Hesitant to make the change and risk getting booted to main or something. Haven’t checked the full website yet. Any thoughts?
If the app is displaying confirmed, I wouldn't worry too much about it going wrong. The issues are usually with it not showing all the choices it should. Just double check it shows First on all segments before and after the change.
Mar 21, 2024, 9:06 am
#4850
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
As long as there is available J space, you are eligible to SDC into it. As mentioned, SDC on a paid (including instrument upgrade) F ticket is last-seat.
If the app is displaying confirmed, I wouldn't worry too much about it going wrong. The issues are usually with it not showing all the choices it should. Just double check it shows First on all segments before and after the change.
If the app is displaying confirmed, I wouldn't worry too much about it going wrong. The issues are usually with it not showing all the choices it should. Just double check it shows First on all segments before and after the change.
Mar 21, 2024, 9:44 am
#4851
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,859
Thanks all for the replies! I went online to the main website and cross checked the SDC options there with the app. All were the same, with all segments in F. I then proceeded to make the change (on website, not app). Success! New flights show up and seats selected in F. Yes, 2/3 are bulkheads, but I’ll take them. One is on an even Neo flight so good for meal selection.
Went back to checkin on app and got a generic “try again later” message. My first thought was a ticket issue as I noticed the ticket never was reissued and is the original. However I attempted checkin on the website and it worked. Went back to the app, refreshed, and boarding passes appeared. So I’m guessing it was revalidated instead of reissued?
Thanks again for the quick replies. This allows me to leave ECP 1.5 hrs later tomorrow (great for sleep opportunity) and arrive home to ANC 1 hour earlier. So a win win both ways.
Last question: is it normal for a ticket to be revalidated in an SDC situation? Or should it be reissued? Just learning for future reference.
Went back to checkin on app and got a generic “try again later” message. My first thought was a ticket issue as I noticed the ticket never was reissued and is the original. However I attempted checkin on the website and it worked. Went back to the app, refreshed, and boarding passes appeared. So I’m guessing it was revalidated instead of reissued?
Thanks again for the quick replies. This allows me to leave ECP 1.5 hrs later tomorrow (great for sleep opportunity) and arrive home to ANC 1 hour earlier. So a win win both ways.
Last question: is it normal for a ticket to be revalidated in an SDC situation? Or should it be reissued? Just learning for future reference.
Mar 21, 2024, 10:35 am
#4852
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
Thanks all for the replies! I went online to the main website and cross checked the SDC options there with the app. All were the same, with all segments in F. I then proceeded to make the change (on website, not app). Success! New flights show up and seats selected in F. Yes, 2/3 are bulkheads, but I’ll take them. One is on an even Neo flight so good for meal selection.
Went back to checkin on app and got a generic “try again later” message. My first thought was a ticket issue as I noticed the ticket never was reissued and is the original. However I attempted checkin on the website and it worked. Went back to the app, refreshed, and boarding passes appeared. So I’m guessing it was revalidated instead of reissued?
Thanks again for the quick replies. This allows me to leave ECP 1.5 hrs later tomorrow (great for sleep opportunity) and arrive home to ANC 1 hour earlier. So a win win both ways.
Last question: is it normal for a ticket to be revalidated in an SDC situation? Or should it be reissued? Just learning for future reference.
Went back to checkin on app and got a generic “try again later” message. My first thought was a ticket issue as I noticed the ticket never was reissued and is the original. However I attempted checkin on the website and it worked. Went back to the app, refreshed, and boarding passes appeared. So I’m guessing it was revalidated instead of reissued?
Thanks again for the quick replies. This allows me to leave ECP 1.5 hrs later tomorrow (great for sleep opportunity) and arrive home to ANC 1 hour earlier. So a win win both ways.
Last question: is it normal for a ticket to be revalidated in an SDC situation? Or should it be reissued? Just learning for future reference.
Mar 25, 2024, 11:39 pm
#4853
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 552
I had something very strange happen. On the Delta site, it was only showing standby's for me but the flight I wanted was available as SDC on the app. What usually happens is that they want to charge me more money/miles to do the SDC on the app and I end up going through their website to get it done but not this time. Wow.
Apr 25, 2024, 9:57 pm
#4854
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Flying AAA-BBB-CCC tomorrow in Y and too low on UG list to make it unless I burn an RUC.
I wanted to use my current ticket plus two ecredits and cash to purchase F ticket later in the day but that flight is AAA-CCC.
Can I book that ticket and then SDC back into my original flights AAA-BBB-CCC in F?
I wanted to use my current ticket plus two ecredits and cash to purchase F ticket later in the day but that flight is AAA-CCC.
Can I book that ticket and then SDC back into my original flights AAA-BBB-CCC in F?
Apr 25, 2024, 10:09 pm
#4855
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Delta Platinum; Hilton Diamond; Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,118
Flying AAA-BBB-CCC tomorrow in Y and too low on UG list to make it unless I burn an RUC.
I wanted to use my current ticket plus two ecredits and cash to purchase F ticket later in the day but that flight is AAA-CCC.
Can I book that ticket and then SDC back into my original flights AAA-BBB-CCC in F?
I wanted to use my current ticket plus two ecredits and cash to purchase F ticket later in the day but that flight is AAA-CCC.
Can I book that ticket and then SDC back into my original flights AAA-BBB-CCC in F?
Apr 25, 2024, 10:23 pm
#4856
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Apr 26, 2024, 6:03 am
#4857
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: 18,946
You can do this, but I believe it's still the case that, by default, the self service system will only offer options that also have a connection, so you may have to call in. And even in that case, you may get an agent that initially refuses because you are going from a non-stop to a connection -- the rules only forbid the opposite (you cannot SDC from a connection to a non-stop) but it's sort of a reflex. Either way, IIRC they are going to need to have to handle it manually though.