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}
Oct 14, 2013 | 1:00 pm
#2596
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
That sucks, a lot. I would complain.
To my knowledge, you can't do it via the app or online -- it needs to be at the physical airport, with a human or on a kiosk.
For future reference, there is a list of kiosk locations here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ions-info.html
To my knowledge, you can't do it via the app or online -- it needs to be at the physical airport, with a human or on a kiosk.
For future reference, there is a list of kiosk locations here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ions-info.html
Can't be bothered to complain after the fact as I doubt anything would be done, if I'd spotted a supervisor whilst at IAD I would have mentioned it.
Oct 14, 2013 | 1:21 pm
#2597
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Having run from the A to C gates I clearly hadn't been paying enough attention to my surrounding as I spotted a set of kiosks as I was walking back to A. Really annoying as it was during the storms on Thursday night and led to me having a 2 hr delay.
Can't be bothered to complain after the fact as I doubt anything would be done, if I'd spotted a supervisor whilst at IAD I would have mentioned it.
Can't be bothered to complain after the fact as I doubt anything would be done, if I'd spotted a supervisor whilst at IAD I would have mentioned it.
Since it was during IRROPS, you might have been able to get a phone agent to force you on, as long as Y>0. But I know it's all spilled milk now.
Oct 14, 2013 | 1:23 pm
#2598
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
Oct 14, 2013 | 3:21 pm
#2599
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YYZ/HKG
Programs: Whatever fleeces my wallet the least
Posts: 178
Adding a data point...
I managed an SDC on a bulk fare ticket on a TPAC from HKG earlier this month via a counter agent who was willing to change my connecting point and onto a flight that was less loaded (though original flight wasn't full either).
So it appears that SDC on bulk fares are possible at the airport, although I don't know whether every agent will do it...
I managed an SDC on a bulk fare ticket on a TPAC from HKG earlier this month via a counter agent who was willing to change my connecting point and onto a flight that was less loaded (though original flight wasn't full either).
So it appears that SDC on bulk fares are possible at the airport, although I don't know whether every agent will do it...
Oct 14, 2013 | 3:54 pm
#2600
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 72,946
Due to irrops agent agents have a high degree of ticket change capability.
Oct 14, 2013 | 8:32 pm
#2601
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: AA EXP, UA Gold/MM, DL Plat/2MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil
Posts: 4,678
SDCs when only one UA flight/day?
I just called UA to inquire about changing my flights from BKK to one day later. The agent simply recommended that I call in with this request 2 hours before my current departure and request the change to the following day as an SDC without charge. She acknowledged this was technically more than 24 hours in advance of my desired new flights, but that agents would bend the rules in such a case.
Does anyone have recent experience with SDCs where there is only one UA flight per day?
Does anyone have recent experience with SDCs where there is only one UA flight per day?
Oct 14, 2013 | 8:39 pm
#2602
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I just called UA to inquire about changing my flights from BKK to one day later. The agent simply recommended that I call in with this request 2 hours before my current departure and request the change to the following day as an SDC without charge. She acknowledged this was technically more than 24 hours in advance of my desired new flights, but that agents would bend the rules in such a case.
Does anyone have recent experience with SDCs where there is only one UA flight per day?
Does anyone have recent experience with SDCs where there is only one UA flight per day?
Oct 14, 2013 | 8:44 pm
#2603
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP; UA 1MM & PP; Marriott AMB; Hyatt Globalist; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 61,994
UA operates one flight a day NRT-BKK.
OP, please tell us what happens, definitely interested to hear if that works.
OP, please tell us what happens, definitely interested to hear if that works.
Oct 15, 2013 | 1:53 pm
#2604
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tampa
Programs: A3
Posts: 111
My experience today seems to confirm that *G get SDC for free, but nobody at UA seems to understand the details. I also have an example of how not to do an SDC for Star Gold flyers.
Last night I logged on to my no status MileagePlus account and then brought up the record for an SDC. Both my wife and I are A3 *G. The website priced the change at $75 each, but failed after I entered a credit card number. After 2 failures I was offered a call back. He asked me what price the web quoted. I said $75 and he told me he would get the charge in for $75 each and that the flight change was already done.
At the airport this morning it took the agent 30 minutes. He made 2 calls to support and finally gave up. The ticket online shows the changed flight and no extra charges over the base fare. My credit card shows temporary authorizations of $150 last night and $150 4 times today. My guess (and hope) is none of these charges will "stick" since there are no extra charges reflected in the reservation.
My advice is for *G flyers is not to log in before attempting an SDC.
Last night I logged on to my no status MileagePlus account and then brought up the record for an SDC. Both my wife and I are A3 *G. The website priced the change at $75 each, but failed after I entered a credit card number. After 2 failures I was offered a call back. He asked me what price the web quoted. I said $75 and he told me he would get the charge in for $75 each and that the flight change was already done.
At the airport this morning it took the agent 30 minutes. He made 2 calls to support and finally gave up. The ticket online shows the changed flight and no extra charges over the base fare. My credit card shows temporary authorizations of $150 last night and $150 4 times today. My guess (and hope) is none of these charges will "stick" since there are no extra charges reflected in the reservation.
My advice is for *G flyers is not to log in before attempting an SDC.
Oct 15, 2013 | 1:57 pm
#2605
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,130
I can see the rationale for not giving a generous 24 hour SDC out to everyone. I do think they should loosen up the standby policy at the airport. If nothing else it can take some pressure off later flights.
Oct 15, 2013 | 2:09 pm
#2606
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
You should not get SDC for free unless you have UA gold status. You may occasionally get lucky with an agent on the phone or at the airport, but don't plan on it.
I can see the rationale for not giving a generous 24 hour SDC out to everyone. I do think they should loosen up the standby policy at the airport. If nothing else it can take some pressure off later flights.
I can see the rationale for not giving a generous 24 hour SDC out to everyone. I do think they should loosen up the standby policy at the airport. If nothing else it can take some pressure off later flights.
I regularly "SDC" on US despite having no status with them directly (UA 1K), usually I have to ask a couple of different people to get the right answer though.
Oct 15, 2013 | 2:24 pm
#2607
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tampa
Programs: A3
Posts: 111
I don't think I got lucky. More than 1 agent tried to charge me but none seem to have succeeded. Others have reported the same thing - the UA system does not charge *G for SDC. My only problem was signing on to UA first before doing an SDC.
Oct 15, 2013 | 2:29 pm
#2608
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I'm very confused.
How did you try to do the sdc online? With the change flights tool?
There's no reason that logging in should make any difference, and I don't understand why you think it did.
How did you try to do the sdc online? With the change flights tool?
There's no reason that logging in should make any difference, and I don't understand why you think it did.
Oct 15, 2013 | 2:47 pm
#2609
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Tampa
Programs: A3
Posts: 111
I logged in as a MileagePlus member with no status which means SDC costs $75. If I did not log in, the system would not even attempt to charge me based on:
WikiPost "*G's may also get free SDC"
several posts in this thread
my experience that several United agents could not actually charge me even though they tried.
Oct 15, 2013 | 2:52 pm
#2610
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
The change flights tool no longer works. You need to use the OLCI tool. Being logged in has nothing to do with anything.