Feb 27, 2013, 5:45 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This wiki was created to distill SDC (specifically not standby) down to a set of rules in the hopes of benefiting others.
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply almost, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your first originally scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to answer 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: If the answer to both questions is yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
NB: An SDC where the original itinerary (in one direction) has three or more segments cannot be done online.
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = possible using any method
A = possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply almost, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your first originally scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to answer 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: If the answer to both questions is yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
- The departure time of the first segment of the old itinerary and the departure time of the first segment of the new itinerary must both be within 24 hours of the moment that the change is made.
- The ultimate origin and destination airports must remain the same.
- Routing can be changed (addition, deletion, or change of connection points) but the routing rules of the original fare usually apply.
- All remaining unflown segments in single fared itinerary are considered together (i.e., if you're flying WWW-XXX-YYY-ZZZ, you can go to a kiosk at XXX and potentially fly XXX-AAA-ZZZ or XXX-ZZZ direct).
- SDC can be done an unlimited number of times, and can therefore be used to extend a trip indefinitely (pending availability).
- SDC costs $75 for GM's and Silvers - the fees is waived for Golds and up (plus any applicable fare difference, see below). *G's may also get free SDC, although there is no mention of this in the official rules.
- Non-elites on the same PNR benefit from any waived fees for SDC.
- No fare difference is charged so long as there is availability on all of the new segments in the originally ticketed fare class. Fare class availability in all classes often opens up after T-24 and almost always opens up at T-3 unless the plane is very full.
- SDC on bulk tickets, including United Specials, is not permitted.
- SDC is permitted on both domestic and international itineraries.
- The proposed remaining itinerary must be operated by United or United Express, and the ticket number must begin with 016. (see nuances below)
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
- United.com change flight link before checking in, within T-24. (Many have reported recently that this has problems and attempts to collect the full fare difference and $200 change fee.)
- "Search Other Flight Options" button during OLCI. (This has spotty availability, particularly if the change would involve paying an additional fare due to fare bucket non-availability.)
- United mobile app
- Kiosk
- Phone
- Counter/Gate (although reports are that most airport agents are not familiar with the SDC policy and may not allow you to SDC to a valid itinerary--you can try to direct them to look up GG SDC, but they often won't understand that what you're trying to do is permitted by those rules)
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = possible using any method
A = possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
- Violating various non-routing fare rules (day/time, minimum stay, etc.): Y
- Change destination to ultra-close airport (e.g. JFK-> LGA; see the old S*FAR/STANDBY): A
- Change destination to a co-terminal (e.g. JFK -> EWR): N*
- Change destination to an entirely different place: N
- Change itinerary at the beginning to include illegal layovers (> 4 hours): N*
- Change itinerary at the layover point (using kiosk, app, or agent) to create an otherwise illegal layover: Y
- Change itinerary at the beginning to add a layover point not permitted by the routing rules: N*
- Change itinerary at a layover point to add another layover not permitted (either in terms of number of segments or routing rules) by the routing rules: Y
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before or after the original flight: N*
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y (based on one report)
- Combining separately-fared segments to do SDC (e.g. XXX-YYY+YYY-ZZZ -> XXX-ZZZ): A
- Change UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to UA metal: A
- Change from UA metal to UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: N (see post 1813 for one exception)
- Change from UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to a different UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: ??
- Change on a non-UA ticketed segment: N* (with potential dire consequences)
- Change from an upgraded flight into Y on the new flight: A
- Change from a CPU-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: N*
- Change from an instrument-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: A*
- Non-elite on different PNR benefiting from Elite's waived-fee SDC: A
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
Jan 30, 2013 | 9:32 am
#1261
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,934
Not sure if this is available at ua.com (don't think it is). But if you download the app there's a place to change your flights, and it shows you all the available options, and what the cost to change would be. There's even a way to preview the seat maps to see if there are any good seats left.
Jan 30, 2013 | 9:39 am
#1262
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 27,009
Please follow this thread in the UA Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator
Jan 30, 2013 | 5:52 pm
#1263
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 445
Is this how I do SDC on award tix with Later departure?
I'm 1k with 2 O/W Saver award tix DLH - ORD - IAD - SHD on same PNR.
We're ticketed on early am departure, but want to leave in the afternoon -- flights look fairly open all the way through *but* there is no X/XN space available so deposit and rebook is not possible
If saver seats are not released before day of travel, is this the correct procedure?
- call >24 hours before original depart time and get put on standby for later departure
- skip showing up for the first flight
- show up for standby'd departure and hopefully go
questions:
- how does checking bags work if standby may not clear on first leg until gate?
- If we make it on first flight but then standby does not work for leg 2 or 3 what happens? Just continue to go standby on subsequent flight(s) until we make it home, right?
Thanks!!
We're ticketed on early am departure, but want to leave in the afternoon -- flights look fairly open all the way through *but* there is no X/XN space available so deposit and rebook is not possible
If saver seats are not released before day of travel, is this the correct procedure?
- call >24 hours before original depart time and get put on standby for later departure
- skip showing up for the first flight
- show up for standby'd departure and hopefully go
questions:
- how does checking bags work if standby may not clear on first leg until gate?
- If we make it on first flight but then standby does not work for leg 2 or 3 what happens? Just continue to go standby on subsequent flight(s) until we make it home, right?
Thanks!!
Feb 1, 2013 | 12:53 pm
#1264
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, BAEC Gold, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,941
Ins and Outs of SDC/Standby with Award Space?
I guess you can SDC saver award space from one flight to another if the saver booking class comes up for the preferred flight. But how often does that happen within 3 hours of flight time, vs. revenue fare buckets? Can you then cancel the standard award space you've already holding on the preferred flight?
And Scenario 2, when holding saver award space on another flight and trying to go STANDBY (not SDC) on your preferred flight, where are you on the list - at the bottom of your status level but ahead of the next status level for all bookings in M class or below? Will the system even allow you to go saver award standby if you already hold standard award space for that flight?
Thanks.....
And Scenario 2, when holding saver award space on another flight and trying to go STANDBY (not SDC) on your preferred flight, where are you on the list - at the bottom of your status level but ahead of the next status level for all bookings in M class or below? Will the system even allow you to go saver award standby if you already hold standard award space for that flight?
Thanks.....
Feb 1, 2013 | 1:33 pm
#1265
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1P, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,554
does all segments have to be in the 24hr SDC window?
I tried to change my tomorrow's 11am flight to 1pm one. At 1:02pm, I called UA premier line for the change but the agent insisted a $150 change fee even though I'm a 1P and no differences in fare class. The agent was clueless but he reasoned maybe both segments need to be in the 24hr SDC window (the 1pm flight connects to a 3:30pm one). I hanged up, check in online, and saw the 1pm flight with the 3:30pm connection in the " Search Other Flight Options". I made the change, no charge. 
Feb 1, 2013 | 1:39 pm
#1266
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
I tried to change my tomorrow's 11am flight to 1pm one. At 1:02pm, I called UA premier line for the change but the agent insisted a $150 change fee even though I'm a 1P and no differences in fare class. The agent was clueless but he reasoned maybe both segments need to be in the 24hr SDC window (the 1pm flight connects to a 3:30pm one). I hanged up, check in online, and saw the 1pm flight with the 3:30pm connection in the " Search Other Flight Options". I made the change, no charge.
Feb 1, 2013 | 1:42 pm
#1267
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1P, Hyatt Diamond, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,554
Just what I thought. If I go to "change flight" under the reservation, there will be a $150 charge. No charge only if I go to "Search Other Flight Options" during the OLCI. Maybe I should try HUACA next time?
Feb 1, 2013 | 1:44 pm
#1268
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
Free changes for platinum's is a change i love. I almost never fly my scheduled flights.
I have had some difficulty changing a non-stop to a one-stop on line, tho...The search doenst find the non-stop options. Shrug.
I have had some difficulty changing a non-stop to a one-stop on line, tho...The search doenst find the non-stop options. Shrug.
Feb 1, 2013 | 1:46 pm
#1269
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,815
The "Change Flight" link is buggy. I usually call or do what you say with the "Search Other Flight Options" during OLCI.
Feb 3, 2013 | 12:42 pm
#1270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Splitting time between small towns in NorCal and Wydaho
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 21,491
earlier this week i had to book a one way SMF-SBN. the one stop via ORD was twice the price of a two stop via LAX and ORD so I booked the two stop with the idea to SDC onto the one stop if inventory opens up. however due to buggy .bomb, I had to trick it to get the desired itinerary by using multi-destination. will this booking method inhibit my ability to potentially SDC onto the one stop if inventory is open? all three flights are in the same fare class (S) and the layover in LAX is under 90 minutes. thanks in advance.
Feb 3, 2013 | 12:56 pm
#1271
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA Platinum Pro, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Exploralist, Marriot Silver
Posts: 2,068
I'm 1k with 2 O/W Saver award tix DLH - ORD - IAD - SHD on same PNR.
We're ticketed on early am departure, but want to leave in the afternoon -- flights look fairly open all the way through *but* there is no X/XN space available so deposit and rebook is not possible
If saver seats are not released before day of travel, is this the correct procedure?
- call >24 hours before original depart time and get put on standby for later departure
- skip showing up for the first flight
- show up for standby'd departure and hopefully go
questions:
- how does checking bags work if standby may not clear on first leg until gate?
- If we make it on first flight but then standby does not work for leg 2 or 3 what happens? Just continue to go standby on subsequent flight(s) until we make it home, right?
Thanks!!
We're ticketed on early am departure, but want to leave in the afternoon -- flights look fairly open all the way through *but* there is no X/XN space available so deposit and rebook is not possible
If saver seats are not released before day of travel, is this the correct procedure?
- call >24 hours before original depart time and get put on standby for later departure
- skip showing up for the first flight
- show up for standby'd departure and hopefully go
questions:
- how does checking bags work if standby may not clear on first leg until gate?
- If we make it on first flight but then standby does not work for leg 2 or 3 what happens? Just continue to go standby on subsequent flight(s) until we make it home, right?
Thanks!!
As you noted, to SDC into a later flight, the fare class needs to be available, but they generally all open up right before departure if there are any seats left. I've always just had to wait until the last minute.
Feb 3, 2013 | 12:57 pm
#1272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S+, Choice Platinum
Posts: 23,314
earlier this week i had to book a one way SMF-SBN. the one stop via ORD was twice the price of a two stop via LAX and ORD so I booked the two stop with the idea to SDC onto the one stop if inventory opens up. however due to buggy .bomb, I had to trick it to get the desired itinerary by using multi-destination. will this booking method inhibit my ability to potentially SDC onto the one stop if inventory is open? all three flights are in the same fare class (S) and the layover in LAX is under 90 minutes. thanks in advance.
In either case, an agent may be able to help you get what the OLCI system doesn't give you.
Feb 4, 2013 | 9:44 am
#1273
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond, working on OZ Diamond, previously AA EXP, UA 1K, AS MVP75
Posts: 255
What are the chances of me doing SDC many times and delay whole trip by 3 days?
I have a transcon on March 12, same day return, what are the chances of me puching it back to the 14th or 15th just by using same day changes 3 or 4 times for both outbound and back? Anyone ever tried that? It's two one way tickets...Thanks
Feb 4, 2013 | 12:34 pm
#1274
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,290
Non-UA *G, flew SFO-LAS at the end of last month, found I can do free SDC during my OLCI process,
changed my direct flight to SFO-LAX-LAS successfully.
Is this new? Or just for this specified route?
changed my direct flight to SFO-LAX-LAS successfully.
Is this new? Or just for this specified route?
Feb 4, 2013 | 1:09 pm
#1275
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
If you have a cheapo fare, then once you get within 21 days (or whatever the cutoff is) after which you cannot purchase some of those fares, then if there is G, S or L availability, it will probably survive.
I rarely fly my booked flights due to the freedom of free SDC's, and i aspire to try a stunt like this....