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
Feb 13, 2018, 7:30 pm
#3451
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: DL DM/MM
Posts: 2,272
With the new rules about SDC into D1, I just wanted to make sure that if my RUC clears ahead of time on a D1 flight (e.g., LAX-JFK), then I can do a SDC onto a later (or earlier) flight as long as DL is still selling a J seat. Is that correct? (I've had many problems in the past with DM agents who keep insisting that my original fare class in Y is available.)
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
Last edited by UVAhoo06; Feb 13, 2018 at 10:01 pm
Feb 14, 2018, 5:34 am
#3452
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAX, BOS, and Seat 1A
Programs: DL Plat, VS Gold, UA Plat, VX Gold (RIP), AS MVP 75K, Starriot Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 387
With the new rules about SDC into D1, I just wanted to make sure that if my RUC clears ahead of time on a D1 flight (e.g., LAX-JFK), then I can do a SDC onto a later (or earlier) flight as long as DL is still selling a J seat. Is that correct? (I've had many problems in the past with DM agents who keep insisting that my original fare class in Y is available.)
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
Feb 14, 2018, 5:41 am
#3453
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAX, BOS, and Seat 1A
Programs: DL Plat, VS Gold, UA Plat, VX Gold (RIP), AS MVP 75K, Starriot Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 387
Phone Agents Ultra-Enforcing Routing Rules on SDC?
Has anyone else noticed/experienced that phone agents lately seem to be far more insistent about ensuring proposed SDCs still conform to routing rules than in the past? I frequently fly AAA-CCC in PAG, and have for two years reliably SDC'd to AAA-BBB-CCC (which is only valid routing for full F, not my PAG fare, but does display on DL.dumb). Over 90% success rate. Sometimes I could even SDC to AAA-DDD-CCC with objectively illegal routing but through an airport with better amenities.
The past two months my success rate has plummeted to like 10%. Agents can't do it, they cite routing rules, they call GTS who cite routing rules, or they tell me my request is just stupid (well not literally -- just condescendingly admonishing me for trying to SDC a PAG fare that supposedly only allows for nonstop travel -- as if i actually read the fare rules when purchasing).
Anyone else experience this? Or has my Skymiles account been flagged with some "Frequent SDC, always verify routing" type of warning?
The past two months my success rate has plummeted to like 10%. Agents can't do it, they cite routing rules, they call GTS who cite routing rules, or they tell me my request is just stupid (well not literally -- just condescendingly admonishing me for trying to SDC a PAG fare that supposedly only allows for nonstop travel -- as if i actually read the fare rules when purchasing).
Anyone else experience this? Or has my Skymiles account been flagged with some "Frequent SDC, always verify routing" type of warning?
Feb 14, 2018, 6:36 am
#3454
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,043
You mean like SDC'ing from SFO-LAX to SFO-MSP-LAX, SFO-DTW-LAX, SFO-ATL-LAX, or SFO-JFK-LAX? I can't imagine why agents would think your request is ridiculous. Clearly it's they who are being unreasonable and not you.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28719564-post1.html
Sorry, don't have any sympathy for you.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28719564-post1.html
Sorry, don't have any sympathy for you.
Feb 14, 2018, 7:00 am
#3455
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
With the new rules about SDC into D1, I just wanted to make sure that if my RUC clears ahead of time on a D1 flight (e.g., LAX-JFK), then I can do a SDC onto a later (or earlier) flight as long as DL is still selling a J seat. Is that correct? (I've had many problems in the past with DM agents who keep insisting that my original fare class in Y is available.)
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
Has anyone dealt with any push back recently? Or, has the process been smooth? If it hasn't been easy, what did you do? I politely requested that the DM agent contact Global Ticketing Support (GTS) desk, and he simply talked with a supervisor and gave me the usual line, "You can only SDC if the original class of service is available for your desired flight." When I politely requested that he contact GTS, he simply said that his supervisor had already confirmed what he said, and he left it at that. It's taking everything in me to be patient through all this, but it's getting harder and harder...
I missed the flight I SDC-ed to and Red Coat was looking to rebook me. Only flight left wasn't lie flat, but it sure was nice skipping a 60 person upgrade list directly into 1 of 4 open F seats (I did have to nicely mention to Red Coat I confirmed my UG with a PU591, but she took it from there).
Has anyone else noticed/experienced that phone agents lately seem to be far more insistent about ensuring proposed SDCs still conform to routing rules than in the past? I frequently fly AAA-CCC in PAG, and have for two years reliably SDC'd to AAA-BBB-CCC (which is only valid routing for full F, not my PAG fare, but does display on DL.dumb). Over 90% success rate. Sometimes I could even SDC to AAA-DDD-CCC with objectively illegal routing but through an airport with better amenities.
The past two months my success rate has plummeted to like 10%. Agents can't do it, they cite routing rules, they call GTS who cite routing rules, or they tell me my request is just stupid (well not literally -- just condescendingly admonishing me for trying to SDC a PAG fare that supposedly only allows for nonstop travel -- as if i actually read the fare rules when purchasing).
Anyone else experience this? Or has my Skymiles account been flagged with some "Frequent SDC, always verify routing" type of warning?
The past two months my success rate has plummeted to like 10%. Agents can't do it, they cite routing rules, they call GTS who cite routing rules, or they tell me my request is just stupid (well not literally -- just condescendingly admonishing me for trying to SDC a PAG fare that supposedly only allows for nonstop travel -- as if i actually read the fare rules when purchasing).
Anyone else experience this? Or has my Skymiles account been flagged with some "Frequent SDC, always verify routing" type of warning?
I wouldn't be surprised if either your profile has a note in it about your SDCs, or agents are pushing back because their IT has become smarter/more restrictive, or a combo of both.
I recently chatted online to a US DFW agent about a random award ticket...they called a supervisor to fix it...and that supervisor left a note in my profile, unbeknownst to me, until anothet supervisor used it over the weekend to deny a request I had for her. This was hilarious because she claimed I had disconnected the phone on the previous supervisor from a few months ago, who made the note (when I was chatting them...maybe the agent I was chatting with disconnected on the supervisor? Who knows. Just said OK, gave her a 1, and called back).
HUCA, and next agent (not even supervisor) was able to get me squared away and didn't even mention or reference any note.
Feb 14, 2018, 8:00 am
#3456
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL SkyMiles Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador
Posts: 86
Within the last couple of weeks, I did an SDC of LAX-ATL (which I had previously FCMd from a V fare ) to LAX-SFO-JFK-ATL because there was no space on the LAX-JFK and I wanted to sleep badly. I was prepared for several rounds of HUACA but she had it done practically before I finished saying it. Nine seats later opened up on JFK-LAX-ATL so I called and switched to that no problem several hours later.
Feb 14, 2018, 1:03 pm
#3458
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAX, BOS, and Seat 1A
Programs: DL Plat, VS Gold, UA Plat, VX Gold (RIP), AS MVP 75K, Starriot Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 387
You mean like SDC'ing from SFO-LAX to SFO-MSP-LAX, SFO-DTW-LAX, SFO-ATL-LAX, or SFO-JFK-LAX? I can't imagine why agents would think your request is ridiculous. Clearly it's they who are being unreasonable and not you.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28719564-post1.html
Sorry, don't have any sympathy for you.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28719564-post1.html
Sorry, don't have any sympathy for you.
No, like LAX-SLC-DEN / LAX-DEN. Not unreasonable. I don't appreciate your assumptions.
Feb 14, 2018, 3:59 pm
#3460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
IIRC, it used to say something different like "if you are ticketed in a premium cabin" and I'm a little concerned that the "original ticket" language will be used by DL in the opposite direction, to restrict SDC abilities of tickets upgraded with RUCs or miles. The closest thing I can remember to being definitive was an email from DL that someone posted in this thread.
To be fair, LBJ linked to a post where you were specifically asking about some of those absurd connection points, so while an assumption, it wasn't an unfair one. And going from LAX-SLC-DEN to LAX-DEN isn't an issue with fare routing rules, it's a direct contradiction of the no-connection-to-nonstop SDC rule that has been pretty consistently enforced as long as it's been in place.
Feb 14, 2018, 10:31 pm
#3461
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Within the last couple of weeks, I did an SDC of LAX-ATL (which I had previously FCMd from a V fare ) to LAX-SFO-JFK-ATL because there was no space on the LAX-JFK and I wanted to sleep badly. I was prepared for several rounds of HUACA but she had it done practically before I finished saying it. Nine seats later opened up on JFK-LAX-ATL so I called and switched to that no problem several hours later.
Feb 15, 2018, 4:10 am
#3462
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta
Programs: DL SkyMiles Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador
Posts: 86
Feb 15, 2018, 10:36 pm
#3463
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAX, BOS, and Seat 1A
Programs: DL Plat, VS Gold, UA Plat, VX Gold (RIP), AS MVP 75K, Starriot Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 387
The same-day changes page on DL.com has this language now: "If your original ticket is a First Class ticket, you may move only to other flights with a First Class seat available"
IIRC, it used to say something different like "if you are ticketed in a premium cabin" and I'm a little concerned that the "original ticket" language will be used by DL in the opposite direction, to restrict SDC abilities of tickets upgraded with RUCs or miles. The closest thing I can remember to being definitive was an email from DL that someone posted in this thread.
To be fair, LBJ linked to a post where you were specifically asking about some of those absurd connection points, so while an assumption, it wasn't an unfair one. And going from LAX-SLC-DEN to LAX-DEN isn't an issue with fare routing rules, it's a direct contradiction of the no-connection-to-nonstop SDC rule that has been pretty consistently enforced as long as it's been in place.
IIRC, it used to say something different like "if you are ticketed in a premium cabin" and I'm a little concerned that the "original ticket" language will be used by DL in the opposite direction, to restrict SDC abilities of tickets upgraded with RUCs or miles. The closest thing I can remember to being definitive was an email from DL that someone posted in this thread.
To be fair, LBJ linked to a post where you were specifically asking about some of those absurd connection points, so while an assumption, it wasn't an unfair one. And going from LAX-SLC-DEN to LAX-DEN isn't an issue with fare routing rules, it's a direct contradiction of the no-connection-to-nonstop SDC rule that has been pretty consistently enforced as long as it's been in place.
I know you can't go connection --> nonstop. I'm trying to do LAX-DEN to LAX-SLC-DEN. My apologies for being abundantly unclear.
Feb 25, 2018, 11:56 pm
#3465
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta Diamond (MM), Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 873
RDU is a weird DL connection, but yeah, if a seat is open in F, you can SDC to a "legal" routing.