How does SDC work?
 

Hi all,

I sort of know what SDC is, but I am unsure how it works. Can you add it to your reservation at the time of check-in online? Since I have no status, I realize it's gonna cost me $50. If I SDC to a later flight, in case I miss my connection in JFK, will I lose my seat on the flight I am originally booked onto?
I am booked on a 3 PM flight, the next one is at 7.30 pm. My plan would be to add SDC to my reservation for the 7.30pm flight, but only in case I would miss my 3 pm flight.
If someone could explain the fine details, I would really appreciate it. Thanks a lot

Cindy

How does SDC work?
 

In that case, call to see if SDC is available if you think you'll miss your 3pm flight. Keep in mind depending on your fare class SDC may be highly unlikely. You also mentioned a connection - you'd need to have space available there too.

If you're first flying into JFK and you miss your connecting flight because the first flight (on the same ticket) is late, you'll be rebooked onto the next available flight for free. No SDC or fee is needed.

Well, my second flight is on another ticket. Since I am a returning ESTA I think 2hrs20 should be enough in JFK. But if flight comes in late, you never know... I was hoping that SDC could help me out there. My class fare is Z, so I have no idea what I can and can not do. Thanks

Cindy

"I know you don't need to help me, but I've screwed up and I'm hoping you can". Show both tickets...I would imagine 99 out of 100 employees will.

Love your line, gotta remember that one.
I booked two tickets on purpose (upgrades us to F as a surprise for mom's B-Day), but I probably shouldn't have. IN normal circumstances, making my flight won't be a problem, so I don't know why I am nervous about missing it. I always feel the need to worry about something.
I'll keep any eye on my flight a couple of days prior to my TATL. If it's constantly late arriving in JFK, I'll probably pay the 400 for me and mom and change to a later flight.
Again, thanks for the great line. And if you add puppy dog eyes to that, it's probably even better.

cindy

post of the day :D

when DL still hubbed at DFW (in the old pre-TSA days of paper tickets and phone reservations), I occasionally booked SEA-DFW-ATL arriving ~1220pm and departing ~415pm; this was long enough to get to and from a 130-til-3 meeting about a 25-min drive from the airport ... on two occasions the plan failed (full disclosure, one was semi-intentional because the "meeting" was a retirement ceremony) and I didn't get back to DFW until ~430 ... "415pm?!?! I could have SWORN the agent on the phone said 450pm!" and "Rats, I forgot to reset my watch when I left Seattle!" both got me on the next DFW-ATL

Love it! I am not sure the watch will work for me, since we are 6 hours ahead... But being friendly and polite can sometimes get you a long way. Thanks for sharing.

Cindy

Why would you pay $400 when you can SDC at the airport (JFK) *IF* you miss the second flight?

What's the flight? Normally Z is deep discount business class, not domestic FC.

So I just have to do it at JFK? Thanks for that, since I am totally SDC clueless. But can I ask for SDC when my original flight has already left? Don't know if I can do it in BRU....

Yes, it's Z, which says business class on my reservation, but plane only has first, which adds even more to my confusion.

Cindy

Pretty sure you can't SDC once you miss your original flight. SDC is either available or not (the C stands for confirmed). If there's no availability, they won't move you later. You can ask for standby if there's no availability. However, only DL Gold's or higher can standby on later flights.

Thank you for clearing that up. I'll just keep an eye on my incoming JFK to BRU flight prior to leaving and if I have too, pay the fee for the later flight. It's gonna cost more than SDC, but at least I'll have a confirmed seat on the plane.

Cindy

we're talking about an afternoon JFK-SJU flight; SDC is available when OLCI opens at T-24 hrs from departure ... OP will still be in BRU, it'll be ~12 hrs before she's scheduled to depart for JFK

more significantly, her flights are on two separate tix, so she doesn't have to complete the TATL segment before she can SDC to the later JFK-SJU

With SDC you get a confirmed seat. As the post above yours says, C = confirmed.

People are doing a horrible job of explaining this to you. I'm sorry.

It sounds like you have 2 flights: BRU-JFK and JFK-XXX on separate tickets but all in first/business (premium cabin). You are concerned that the ~2 hours between landing in and departing JFK won't be enough time, and you'll miss JFK-XXX. There is a later JFK-XXX which you can get on, which would normally happen automatically if it was the same ticket, but it's separate tickets so you are worried.

Your SDC options are very simple. You have a seat in the premium cabin JFK-XXX, which means that at ANY TIME t-24 from your ORIGINAL flight, you can call in and CONFIRM a seat change to any other JFK-XXX flight leaving the same day as the original. Because you have no status, this will cost you $50 (per ticket). Note that a premium cabin seat must be available on the flight you want to change to, this is the ONLY requirement, and generally even if there isn't a premium seat, they will offer you coach.

So, sounds like there is a 3pm and 6pm JFK-XXX. If you want to change to the later one, call delta at 3pm (time at location of departure) the day before departure, and change to the 6pm. You can make this change any time during that 24 hour window, but NOT after the 3pm flight departs. So, I'd do it in BRU, not waiting to land in JFK.

To explain SDC even a little more, it is the process of calling within 24 hours of a flight and changing to another flight that leaves the same day. Your change is confirmed when you call, as opposed to being standby at the gate, so you know you have a seat. There are fare class restrictions for economy fares, but F fares are more flexible.

That was in ATL's response, but I thought a general description might help.

We should also point out to the OP that when SDC is done, the seat on the original flight is lost. You might be able to SDC again back to the original (earlier in this case) flight, but there might not be space.

And here is the delta.com info on same day changes:

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...l-changes.html

Thank you so much for staking time to write such a clear explanation. I really get the concept of SDC now and how to call for it. So basically, I can wait until I am waiting for my BRU-JFK flight. If it's on time, no worries. If I see it's gonna be delayed, I call from Brussels.
On a side note, only JFK-SJu is in premium cabin, not BRU-JFK, just C+ there. :)
Thank you so much.

Thanks for that, really appreciate it.

Ah, okay. I thought it was gonna be the case, but I wasn't sure. Thanks for your help.

Cindy

Thanks for the link. Delta was the first place I looked, but the explanations aren't, how shall I put this, very detailed. FT truly is the best place to get great info :D

Cindy

With both tickets on Delta, you can also just call in, explain the situation, and ask them if you'll be protected in case of a delay. That won't cost anything (though there's no guarantee they'll do anything, either).

Contacted Delta Assist, and they were very prompt to reply. They told me to see the airport agent in Brussels, a thing I always do, no kiosks there. I was told they can make a note in the reservation to show that I am traveling on another Delta ticket.
If I am delayed in BRU, I'll do SDC and won't have to stress the entire flight :)
TY.

Cindy

if you're significantly delayed, the BRU agent can probably rebook you w/o SDC fees (although you would have to pay the change fee on your mom's ticket if she's meeting up with you at JFK)