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
Jul 6, 2018, 6:29 am
#3616
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You can within the rules once all international segments have been flown.
roberta_h, in your case, I would try tweeting to @Delta or calling from the tarmac when you land.
also remember that you don't need same-fare-bucket availability, you can SDC to any open F seat even if you're ticketed in G and only F is available.
roberta_h, in your case, I would try tweeting to @Delta or calling from the tarmac when you land.
also remember that you don't need same-fare-bucket availability, you can SDC to any open F seat even if you're ticketed in G and only F is available.
Jul 6, 2018, 7:44 am
#3617
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what would be my best strategy for getting on this earlier flight (if there's any hope at all)? i assume i cannot SDC prior to my intl flight from DUB... should i call, use the app, find a desk, or go to the gate when i land? i'm booked up front (Z fare DUB-ATL and F ATL-RSW) but would possibly be willing to sit in Y on this earlier flight
Jul 6, 2018, 8:03 am
#3618
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Move quickly. After you clear customs, there is a service counter for (re)checking luggage. There should be a lane for Sky Priority. Go there with all your stuff and ask nicely if they can confirm you on the earlier flight to RSW. If they say no, offer to sit in economy. They will retag your bags and you'll drop them on the belt. My wife and I did this once coming back from London, connecting in Atlanta.
Best suggestion for the OP is to call/tweet once they land or run to the RSW gate when they get off the plane.
Jul 6, 2018, 8:10 am
#3619
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No customs to clear in ATL since the OP is originating in Dublin which has CBP pre-clearance. All customs checks are completed in DUB and the OP will arrive as a domestic passenger in ATL.
Best suggestion for the OP is to call/tweet once they land or run to the RSW gate when they get off the plane.
Best suggestion for the OP is to call/tweet once they land or run to the RSW gate when they get off the plane.
Go directly to that gate. Ask the gate agent but know you will likely have to involve a Red Coat, so if you see one in the earlier RSW departure terminal, ask if they have a minute to walk with you to the RSW gate
The faster you can do this the better the chances of getting an F seat. Note that GAs are not supposed to process UGs until T-40 so if they've done it earlier, Red Coat can fix that too
If you ask anywhere else in ATL they will probably tell you to call or that it's not possible...the gate is the best place for you
Having said all that - if you have a checked bag that probably won't make the new flight
Jul 6, 2018, 8:18 am
#3620
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I third the suggestion to use the app to find the gate assignment of the earlier flight.
Go directly to that gate. Ask the gate agent but know you will likely have to involve a Red Coat, so if you see one in the earlier RSW departure terminal, ask if they have a minute to walk with you to the RSW gate
The faster you can do this the better the chances of getting an F seat. Note that GAs are not supposed to process UGs until T-40 so if they've done it earlier, Red Coat can fix that too
If you ask anywhere else in ATL they will probably tell you to call or that it's not possible...the gate is the best place for you
Having said all that - if you have a checked bag that probably won't make the new flight
Go directly to that gate. Ask the gate agent but know you will likely have to involve a Red Coat, so if you see one in the earlier RSW departure terminal, ask if they have a minute to walk with you to the RSW gate
The faster you can do this the better the chances of getting an F seat. Note that GAs are not supposed to process UGs until T-40 so if they've done it earlier, Red Coat can fix that too
If you ask anywhere else in ATL they will probably tell you to call or that it's not possible...the gate is the best place for you
Having said all that - if you have a checked bag that probably won't make the new flight
Jul 6, 2018, 3:29 pm
#3622
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<br /><br />Phone agents won't process it, at least if have bags. While no bag matching on domestic flights, the system simply sees the whole reservation as INTL. Thus an agent has to retag your bags before can do SDC. Can be overridden, but it's a pain and no phone agent l believe has ability. Not sure how coming from DUB with preclearance will effect since bags won't get picked up in ATL.
Jul 6, 2018, 3:43 pm
#3623
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I'm flying DTW–LAX–HNL in paid first-class Wednesday. I might try to do a same-day change. Any ideas for possible routings I should see about?
Jul 7, 2018, 6:23 am
#3624
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There should be one or two LAX-HNL on 767 with lay flat seating. Even if there's space MSP/ATL-HNL are now D1, so technically no SDC. The only other widebody is SLC/HNL and it can be a domestic 767 so check before switching, even 739 is better in F than 767 domestic config.
Jul 8, 2018, 7:07 pm
#3625
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There should be one or two LAX-HNL on 767 with lay flat seating. Even if there's space MSP/ATL-HNL are now D1, so technically no SDC. The only other widebody is SLC/HNL and it can be a domestic 767 so check before switching, even 739 is better in F than 767 domestic config.
Jul 8, 2018, 8:38 pm
#3627
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It should be permitted. Assuming all the other conditions are met, if you get resistance you can try pointing out the website language that Canada is included.
Jul 9, 2018, 12:19 am
#3628
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Jul 9, 2018, 11:54 am
#3630
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Are you doing it in the right place? You have to do it within the checkin process. (Search for other flights link) If you click the link on the reservation page to change reservation, that's just the normal rebooking process.