SDC on second segment / after landing becoming harder?
Nov 11, 2018, 3:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Earth (non-US)
Programs: NW Gold->CO->UA->DL PM
Posts: 1,335
SDC on second segment / after landing becoming harder?
I haven't done it in a while, but Medallion line certainly seemed reluctant to do it today-- HUCAed once, second person said it was a "policy exceptioon." It can be a powerful benefit, with routing changes.
Nov 11, 2018, 3:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Do you just mean going on standby for an earlier flight as opposed to getting a confirmed seat? Wouldn't that just be predicated on availability?
Unless you're taking a lot of double hops, but I would assume that would be rare unless you're flying to/from very obscure locations. Or is this primarily around international inbounds?
Unless you're taking a lot of double hops, but I would assume that would be rare unless you're flying to/from very obscure locations. Or is this primarily around international inbounds?
Nov 11, 2018, 3:46 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,040
What do you mean by "with routing changes"? Most fares either require non-stop flights or only allow a single connection (if there are no non-stop's). If you are trying to add an additional segment, there's a good chance it's not allowed under the routing rules for your fare.
Nov 11, 2018, 5:46 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Earth (non-US)
Programs: NW Gold->CO->UA->DL PM
Posts: 1,335
What do you mean by "with routing changes"? Most fares either require non-stop flights or only allow a single connection (if there are no non-stop's). If you are trying to add an additional segment, there's a good chance it's not allowed under the routing rules for your fare.
Typically I've done this on international inbounds, for instance, MEX-ATL-(XXX)-SFO could be re-routed through NYC, useful if you wanted to meet someone in the lounge etc. + upgrade when that was a flatbed service.
Nov 11, 2018, 5:49 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Earth (non-US)
Programs: NW Gold->CO->UA->DL PM
Posts: 1,335
Do you just mean going on standby for an earlier flight as opposed to getting a confirmed seat? Wouldn't that just be predicated on availability?
Unless you're taking a lot of double hops, but I would assume that would be rare unless you're flying to/from very obscure locations. Or is this primarily around international inbounds?
Unless you're taking a lot of double hops, but I would assume that would be rare unless you're flying to/from very obscure locations. Or is this primarily around international inbounds?
Nov 11, 2018, 6:34 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,040
The flight is still part of a international itin. While people have had some success on doing SDC on the domestic flight, there's nothing in the SDC rules that requires they allow you to do it. There's definitely no requirement that they give you a crazy routing. I just checked routing rules for SFO-MEX fares on EF and routing through JFK is not valid.
Nov 11, 2018, 7:21 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Earth (non-US)
Programs: NW Gold->CO->UA->DL PM
Posts: 1,335
The flight is still part of a international itin. While people have had some success on doing SDC on the domestic flight, there's nothing in the SDC rules that requires they allow you to do it. There's definitely no requirement that they give you a crazy routing. I just checked routing rules for SFO-MEX fares on EF and routing through JFK is not valid.
Definitely no issues with SDC after landing on inbounds from MEX, though I haven't done it for a while. This may be informal because SDC is not possible until the inbound segment is flow.
I've had @Delta allow rerouting ATL->JFK->SFO on inbound from MEX, though I suspect the fare rules were different then. Not sure that I've seen it as an available MEX->SFO routing recently.
Nov 12, 2018, 6:45 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
I've been experiencing the opposite lately with the DM line. Agents have been really cool with me snagging an earlier flight (confirmed) when connecting in DTW and ATL. I've been buying only F tix as of late so if there's room up front and I can make the second earlier flight they allow me to swap.
I just did it this weekend TPA-ATL-BHM. Originally had a later flight and landed earlier than expected and snagged 1B on the second leg. Last seat up there.
I just did it this weekend TPA-ATL-BHM. Originally had a later flight and landed earlier than expected and snagged 1B on the second leg. Last seat up there.
Nov 12, 2018, 7:13 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
OP: The requirement for the new SDC itin to follow the routing rules of the purchased fare goes back (at least) to the April '13 same fare class/$50 fee implementation. I'm going to trust LBJ on this.
Nov 12, 2018, 8:38 am
#10
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: 100,399
The flight is still part of a international itin. While people have had some success on doing SDC on the domestic flight, there's nothing in the SDC rules that requires they allow you to do it. There's definitely no requirement that they give you a crazy routing. I just checked routing rules for SFO-MEX fares on EF and routing through JFK is not valid.
IIRC the SDC rules do say that you can SDC domestic segments of an international itinerary after all of the international segments have been flown. When I've done this more recently, I've been told that it must be done at the airport (after clearing immigration and customs) rather than by phone. I've had mixed experiences in really being able to do it at the service counter after exiting customs, although sometimes it was worth waiting for a redcoat. With no checked bags, the odds would be better in the SC.
Nov 12, 2018, 9:27 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Here are the rules:
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
They do not permit SDC on an international itinerary, but DL does waive the change fee at the airport once all international segments have been flown. Do this post-CBP but before bag drop so your bags are retagged for your corrected flight.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
They do not permit SDC on an international itinerary, but DL does waive the change fee at the airport once all international segments have been flown. Do this post-CBP but before bag drop so your bags are retagged for your corrected flight.
Nov 12, 2018, 9:44 am
#12
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: 100,399
Here are the rules:
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
They do not permit SDC on an international itinerary, but DL does waive the change fee at the airport once all international segments have been flown. Do this post-CBP but before bag drop so your bags are retagged for your corrected flight.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/change-c...-flight-change
They do not permit SDC on an international itinerary, but DL does waive the change fee at the airport once all international segments have been flown. Do this post-CBP but before bag drop so your bags are retagged for your corrected flight.
The rules aren't very clear. In one place, it says international travel while elsewhere it says that you cannot SDC an international flight (which to me would say that domestic segments on an international itinerary would be OK, even at the beginning of the trip, which was never allowed except if there were IROPs expected).
Where do you see the rule about DL permitting changes (but NOT SDC) without any fees on international tickets at the airport after all international segments have been flown?
Also, was there ever a written rule about DMs allowed to SDC between co-terminal airports? The current rules seem to simply say no.
Where do you see the rule about DL permitting changes (but NOT SDC) without any fees on international tickets at the airport after all international segments have been flown?
Also, was there ever a written rule about DMs allowed to SDC between co-terminal airports? The current rules seem to simply say no.