Jan 4, 2015, 2:01 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This wiki was created to distill SDC (and related 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, 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 currently 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: 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):
Please note that the United.com change flight link before checking in within T-24, is broken. The website may not show all available options and will often attempt to collect the change fee rather than the SDC fee (if any).
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 = officially permitted and possible using any method
A = not permitted but perhaps 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.
Note -- as of 11/27/2017: A datapoint indicates that UA may have updated its GG rule regarding leveling out to state the following:
Standby
You may stand by if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. In these cases, the same-day change fee will apply, but will not be charged unless you are assigned a seat on your alternate flight. Changes in routing are not allowed when standing by. Standby may be requested on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport. Once you are added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
Instead of paying a same-day change discounted fee, can I stand by for my desired flight for free?
No. The only time you may standby for free is when the fare does not have any penalties for making changes, or when standing by involuntarily due to a flight irregularity.
Can I pay the same-day change discount fee with cash?
Cash will only be accepted by a United airport representative when the change is available to be confirmed, not for standby travel.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply, 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 currently 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: 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.
- Only applies to UA/UX operated flights, domestic or international. Changing from a non-UA operated to UA operated may be possible.
- 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 Members and Silvers - the fee 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. Once in-route, fees for an earlier connecting flight may be waived per GG SDC Line 118.
- 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.
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 mobile app
- Kiosk
- Phone
- On united.com, right now only the "Search Other Flight Options" button during On-Line Check-In (OLCI) works. This has spotty availability, particularly if the change would involve paying an additional fare due to fare bucket non-availability.
- 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)
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 = officially permitted and possible using any method
A = not permitted but perhaps 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 (see the old S*FAR/STANDBY): A
- Change destination to a co-terminal: 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: Y
- Change from a GPU-upgraded flight into J/F 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
- Change at origin airport after tendering a checked bag: N
- Change at layover airport when a bag has been checked: N
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.
Note -- as of 11/27/2017: A datapoint indicates that UA may have updated its GG rule regarding leveling out to state the following:
Code:
EVERYDAY AWARD AND REVENUE BUCKETS ARE TO LEVEL OUT WITHIN 2H OF DEPARTURE
You may stand by if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. In these cases, the same-day change fee will apply, but will not be charged unless you are assigned a seat on your alternate flight. Changes in routing are not allowed when standing by. Standby may be requested on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport. Once you are added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
Instead of paying a same-day change discounted fee, can I stand by for my desired flight for free?
No. The only time you may standby for free is when the fare does not have any penalties for making changes, or when standing by involuntarily due to a flight irregularity.
Can I pay the same-day change discount fee with cash?
Cash will only be accepted by a United airport representative when the change is available to be confirmed, not for standby travel.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}
Jan 4, 2023 | 7:37 am
#7276
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,389
AC award on UA metal allows same-day standby in UA app. Does anybody know if it also work on TK issued awards?
Jan 4, 2023 | 8:17 pm
#7277
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG & SGN
Programs: MB Titanium and its associated airline matches
Posts: 1,034
Anyone know which FF# I should use to get higher standby priority?
My United MP number, with Silver status, or my AC*G status?
If I had to guess, it's that UA treats its home elites better than foreign *G
My United MP number, with Silver status, or my AC*G status?
If I had to guess, it's that UA treats its home elites better than foreign *G
Jan 12, 2023 | 12:14 pm
#7279
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: California
Programs: Free agent, UA Platinum, BA Bronze, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 399
Flying SFO-YVR-HND on 016 stock. I'm a little worried about the connection time in YVR, so would like to change to an earlier flight (there are UA and AC options). Existing flight is UA marketed with a UA flight number, but AC operated. Will I be able to SDC to an earlier AC or UA flight if there's space in F, or is this not allowed because it's an AC metal flight?
Jan 12, 2023 | 4:29 pm
#7280
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,566
Flying SFO-YVR-HND on 016 stock. I'm a little worried about the connection time in YVR, so would like to change to an earlier flight (there are UA and AC options). Existing flight is UA marketed with a UA flight number, but AC operated. Will I be able to SDC to an earlier AC or UA flight if there's space in F, or is this not allowed because it's an AC metal flight?
Jan 13, 2023 | 7:53 am
#7281
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 991
I have an United 016 award ticket EWR - LHR - BOM - CCU. EWR-LHR is on UA and the rest on AI. Am I allowed to do SDC to EWR-DEL nonstop on UA, connecting to DEL-CCU on AI? Thanks
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:15 am
#7282
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,566
SDC, as we know it? No. However, there are no fees for award changes, so if you find award availability from EWR to CCU via DEL, you should be able to do a regular change for no fee. Any difference in miles will be charged, however.
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:20 am
#7283
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 991
Thanks. I will stick to the original routing then. The other option is twice the amount of miles.
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:29 am
#7284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,566
If it were an all-UA operated itinerary, SDC would likely be an option, but would still depend upon fare class inventory. The DEL-CCU segment is the problem here.
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:42 am
#7285
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ORD
Posts: 991
Either SDC or a regular change would require inventory in your current fare bucket (X/XN for economy, I/IN for business, I'm guessing) to process anyway. When I say you'd have to pay any difference in miles -- UA has been adding between ~2500 and ~4000 miles to prices for close-in bookings. So if inventory opens in your fare bucket, you'll be able to change to it, whether today, the day of travel, or anytime in between -- but you may need to pay this relatively small number of additional miles for the privilege.
If it were an all-UA operated itinerary, SDC would likely be an option, but would still depend upon fare class inventory. The DEL-CCU segment is the problem here.
If it were an all-UA operated itinerary, SDC would likely be an option, but would still depend upon fare class inventory. The DEL-CCU segment is the problem here.
Jan 13, 2023 | 5:30 pm
#7286
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: UA, DL, LH, Marriott, Amex
Posts: 554
Hello all, quick question on confirmed flight changes / "same day" changes. Say I have a flight departing Sunday at 5pm. If I want to change to a flight the day before, Saturday, at 10pm (less than 24-hrs earlier), would that be covered as a "free" change"? The premier benefits says 24-hrs but the footnote says "same day" and I am not sure which is correct in practice.
Is it best to do this at the airport?
Is it best to do this at the airport?
Jan 13, 2023 | 5:35 pm
#7287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,566
Hello all, quick question on confirmed flight changes / "same day" changes. Say I have a flight departing Sunday at 5pm. If I want to change to a flight the day before, Saturday, at 10pm (less than 24-hrs earlier), would that be covered as a "free" change"? The premier benefits says 24-hrs but the footnote says "same day" and I am not sure which is correct in practice.
Is it best to do this at the airport?
Is it best to do this at the airport?
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:29 pm
#7288
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold 1.2MM (BIS), AA LT Plat (SUBs, BD/Bask), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 4,557
Have there been changes to UA SDC procedures recently?
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times. I recall reading that within 24 hours (of flight times) all booking classes even out or zero out.
Trying to do a SDC for tomorrows SLC-IAH-LGA itinerary to one of two SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries because SLC-DEN-LGA is 2 hours less flight time than SLC-IAH-DEN. One DEN connection would allow me to depart at the same time and arrive 2 hours earlier, the other would allow me to depart 2 hours later and arrive at the same time. LT Gold, both SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries are showing plenty of available seats.
Full desktop website errored out twice. Mobile app showed significant additional fares. Just spoke to a UA phone agent and her supervisor, both told me that since there is no T class availability in the flights Id like to change to I would have to pay $196 or $133 to make the change.
Im pretty old, Medicare eligible for 2 years, really hope Im not remembering this incorrectly. Thank you.
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times. I recall reading that within 24 hours (of flight times) all booking classes even out or zero out.
Trying to do a SDC for tomorrows SLC-IAH-LGA itinerary to one of two SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries because SLC-DEN-LGA is 2 hours less flight time than SLC-IAH-DEN. One DEN connection would allow me to depart at the same time and arrive 2 hours earlier, the other would allow me to depart 2 hours later and arrive at the same time. LT Gold, both SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries are showing plenty of available seats.
Full desktop website errored out twice. Mobile app showed significant additional fares. Just spoke to a UA phone agent and her supervisor, both told me that since there is no T class availability in the flights Id like to change to I would have to pay $196 or $133 to make the change.
Im pretty old, Medicare eligible for 2 years, really hope Im not remembering this incorrectly. Thank you.
Jan 13, 2023 | 8:40 pm
#7289
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,344
Have there been changes to UA SDC procedures recently?
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times. I recall reading that within 24 hours (of flight times) all booking classes even out or zero out.
Trying to do a SDC for tomorrows SLC-IAH-LGA itinerary to one of two SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries because SLC-DEN-LGA is 2 hours less flight time than SLC-IAH-DEN. One DEN connection would allow me to depart at the same time and arrive 2 hours earlier, the other would allow me to depart 2 hours later and arrive at the same time. LT Gold, both SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries are showing plenty of available seats.
Full desktop website errored out twice. Mobile app showed significant additional fares. Just spoke to a UA phone agent and her supervisor, both told me that since there is no T class availability in the flights Id like to change to I would have to pay $196 or $133 to make the change.
Im pretty old, Medicare eligible for 2 years, really hope Im not remembering this incorrectly. Thank you.
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times. I recall reading that within 24 hours (of flight times) all booking classes even out or zero out.
Trying to do a SDC for tomorrows SLC-IAH-LGA itinerary to one of two SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries because SLC-DEN-LGA is 2 hours less flight time than SLC-IAH-DEN. One DEN connection would allow me to depart at the same time and arrive 2 hours earlier, the other would allow me to depart 2 hours later and arrive at the same time. LT Gold, both SLC-DEN-LGA itineraries are showing plenty of available seats.
Full desktop website errored out twice. Mobile app showed significant additional fares. Just spoke to a UA phone agent and her supervisor, both told me that since there is no T class availability in the flights Id like to change to I would have to pay $196 or $133 to make the change.
Im pretty old, Medicare eligible for 2 years, really hope Im not remembering this incorrectly. Thank you.
Jan 14, 2023 | 12:27 am
#7290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,566
Have there been changes to UA SDC procedures recently?
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times.
Im certain that Ive changed to earlier or later flights the same day, same origin and destination, sometimes different connecting cities, occasionally the night before ticketed morning flights, without additional charge, including when the change is to a different booking class, MANY times.
Full desktop website errored out twice. Mobile app showed significant additional fares. Just spoke to a UA phone agent and her supervisor, both told me that since there is no T class availability in the flights Id like to change to I would have to pay $196 or $133 to make the change.
* since I started flying UA regularly around the time of the CO merger, about a decade ago. I cant speak to policies before that.