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}
Nov 23, 2011, 11:45 am
#226
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Dec 1, 2011, 3:30 pm
#228
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Checked in for my Mileage Run on OLCI. The UDU for the first segment cleared a few days ago and the 2nd did not. OLCI let me pick Standby and wait-listed me for F on the first leg and Y on the 2nd.
So, I guess I am on some kind of WL for the airport?
Would it be better if I still call 3 hours before the earlier flight and confirm? Would I have to undo the check in for them to confirm me?
Would the system allow the airport to clear me tonight since I am already on the WL for DM and the flights are pretty empty?
Thanks.
So, I guess I am on some kind of WL for the airport?
Would it be better if I still call 3 hours before the earlier flight and confirm? Would I have to undo the check in for them to confirm me?
Would the system allow the airport to clear me tonight since I am already on the WL for DM and the flights are pretty empty?
Thanks.
Dec 1, 2011, 3:50 pm
#229
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Dec 1, 2011, 5:54 pm
#230
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Location: Seattle WA
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CO-issued award F ticket EWR-XXX-YYY. Would prefer the EWR-YYY nonstop a few hours earlier
Does SDC give me any added potential opportunity to get that nonstop at 24hrs before my currently ticketed departure, or does it require Saver F open?
Does SDC give me any added potential opportunity to get that nonstop at 24hrs before my currently ticketed departure, or does it require Saver F open?
Dec 4, 2011, 11:52 pm
#231
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Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,970
Checked in for my Mileage Run on OLCI. The UDU for the first segment cleared a few days ago and the 2nd did not. OLCI let me pick Standby and wait-listed me for F on the first leg and Y on the 2nd.
So, I guess I am on some kind of WL for the airport?
Would it be better if I still call 3 hours before the earlier flight and confirm? Would I have to undo the check in for them to confirm me?
Would the system allow the airport to clear me tonight since I am already on the WL for DM and the flights are pretty empty?
Thanks.
So, I guess I am on some kind of WL for the airport?
Would it be better if I still call 3 hours before the earlier flight and confirm? Would I have to undo the check in for them to confirm me?
Would the system allow the airport to clear me tonight since I am already on the WL for DM and the flights are pretty empty?
Thanks.
Dec 23, 2011, 9:39 am
#232
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: Lifetime Marriott Plat, UA 1K, Avis First, National Emerald Exec.
Posts: 69
"Same day change" policy on the new UA?
I recently got a hard lesson in not knowing the way UA operates their "same-day" change fee policy for elites. On Continental, one could change any time within 24 hours of the original flight time without a change fee as a Platinum/1K. Apparently on UA, it is only the exact same day of the original flight. Does anyone know if the new UA will adopt the better CO policy?
Dec 23, 2011, 10:24 am
#233
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Nobody knows.
Dec 23, 2011, 10:36 am
#234
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I don't think that's been divulged yet.
UA flights are still operating under the PMUA rules, which are not standardized for SDC yet. On UA, the change can only be made within 3 hours of the new flight. Think given that restriction, there are probably very few situations anyway where it would matter if it had to be on the same day or not.
On the other hand - the name confirmed same day change does kind of insinuate the change would need to be made on the very same day.
UA flights are still operating under the PMUA rules, which are not standardized for SDC yet. On UA, the change can only be made within 3 hours of the new flight. Think given that restriction, there are probably very few situations anyway where it would matter if it had to be on the same day or not.
On the other hand - the name confirmed same day change does kind of insinuate the change would need to be made on the very same day.
Dec 23, 2011, 10:40 am
#235
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I sure hope so. If UA had the CO policy, I'd be happily ensconced in FC on a flight tonight that doesn't get me to my destination at 1 AM!!!! Now the earlier flight is Y0 NF4. Grrrrr.
Dec 23, 2011, 11:26 am
#236
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While CO's SDC window is much wider, UA actually lifts the fare class restriction in that they'll put you on the flight even if your fare bucket is not available (so long as putting you on won't oversell the flight).
So a true best-of-both-worlds approach would use CO's liberal window with UA's liberal booking policy.
That said, the window is the most obvious and known difference, and CO has been quite mum about this. That, combined with the fact that no other carrier has such a wide window, if I had to guess, I would guess they're keeping CO's fare class restrictions with a UA-like window, possibly with a caveat for redeyes to span the "day" if they're within a few hours to accommodate the fact that CO runs post-midnight redeyes.
So a true best-of-both-worlds approach would use CO's liberal window with UA's liberal booking policy.
That said, the window is the most obvious and known difference, and CO has been quite mum about this. That, combined with the fact that no other carrier has such a wide window, if I had to guess, I would guess they're keeping CO's fare class restrictions with a UA-like window, possibly with a caveat for redeyes to span the "day" if they're within a few hours to accommodate the fact that CO runs post-midnight redeyes.
Dec 23, 2011, 11:34 am
#237
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While CO's SDC window is much wider, UA actually lifts the fare class restriction in that they'll put you on the flight even if your fare bucket is not available (so long as putting you on won't oversell the flight).
So a true best-of-both-worlds approach would use CO's liberal window with UA's liberal booking policy.
That said, the window is the most obvious and known difference, and CO has been quite mum about this. That, combined with the fact that no other carrier has such a wide window, if I had to guess, I would guess they're keeping CO's fare class restrictions with a UA-like window, possibly with a caveat for redeyes to span the "day" if they're within a few hours to accommodate the fact that CO runs post-midnight redeyes.
So a true best-of-both-worlds approach would use CO's liberal window with UA's liberal booking policy.
That said, the window is the most obvious and known difference, and CO has been quite mum about this. That, combined with the fact that no other carrier has such a wide window, if I had to guess, I would guess they're keeping CO's fare class restrictions with a UA-like window, possibly with a caveat for redeyes to span the "day" if they're within a few hours to accommodate the fact that CO runs post-midnight redeyes.
Dec 23, 2011, 11:39 am
#238
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Dec 23, 2011, 11:43 am
#239
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Hi Everyone, when it comes to the availability for same-day confirmed changes within 12 hours of departure, it's a question of whether the flight is available (i.e. booked below capacity) rather than fare class. In simplest terms, we'll always offer the confirmed option within 12 hours of departure when the main cabin is booked below actual capacity. In these cases, we'll open up all main cabin fare classes at the 12-hour mark, enabling confirmed same-day changes regardless of fare class. On the other hand, when the main cabin is booked at or above capacity, the flight will be unavailable in most or all main cabin fare classes....
Last edited by Bonehead; Dec 23, 2011 at 11:51 am
Dec 23, 2011, 1:00 pm
#240
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Until there's an announcement or visible activity to suggest otherwise, I think the default assumption should be that they'll retain the PMCO policies already built into their reservation system. Anything else would require changes to the code.
That said, I'm looking forward to the PMCO 24-hour change policy, but do hope that they improve the tuning of their fare buckets to keep some upgrade space open for last-minute changes. Of course it would be nice if they'd allow upper-level Premiers to book into higher fare buckets, too.
That said, I'm looking forward to the PMCO 24-hour change policy, but do hope that they improve the tuning of their fare buckets to keep some upgrade space open for last-minute changes. Of course it would be nice if they'd allow upper-level Premiers to book into higher fare buckets, too.