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}
Apr 29, 2014, 1:42 pm
#3466
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,401
Not in theory. What method were you using? You commenced travel on the entire new itinerary more than 24 hours from the time if the change?
No oversell or wx issues. Actually saw this on the outbound (step ticket) but didn't have time to investigate. Will be interesting.
Apr 29, 2014, 3:10 pm
#3468
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Seattle
Programs: United Airlines Premier, Starwood Gold Preferred Guest, Hyatt Gold Passport, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 356
I'm supposed to fly A-B-C-D-A (destination is C, for about 6 hours). The connecting time at B is about 1.5 hour, but I need more time for a meeting there. There's another later B-C flight that would still leave enough time for the C-D-A portion. My understanding is that the site/app/kiosk won't help me with this since there are three segments left to be flown. Am I better off just showing up late for the B-C flight or do I call the Premier (I'm a 1K) desk as soon as I hit the ground on B? I'm also upgraded (CPU) on B-C but I don't really care much for it, it's only a 60-minute flight, but not sure if this will mean any extra complication.
Apr 29, 2014, 3:32 pm
#3469
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 4,045
on sunday i was able to SDC SFO-DEN to SFO-PSP-DEN.
ended up being a moot point since PSP-DEN was so badly delayed i switched back to a n/s to DEN.
ended up being a moot point since PSP-DEN was so badly delayed i switched back to a n/s to DEN.
Apr 29, 2014, 3:46 pm
#3470
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,676
I'm supposed to fly A-B-C-D-A (destination is C, for about 6 hours). The connecting time at B is about 1.5 hour, but I need more time for a meeting there. There's another later B-C flight that would still leave enough time for the C-D-A portion. My understanding is that the site/app/kiosk won't help me with this since there are three segments left to be flown. Am I better off just showing up late for the B-C flight or do I call the Premier (I'm a 1K) desk as soon as I hit the ground on B? I'm also upgraded (CPU) on B-C but I don't really care much for it, it's only a 60-minute flight, but not sure if this will mean any extra complication.
i wouldn't recommend just showing up late to your originally ticketed B-C flight. that's not going to end well for you.
Apr 29, 2014, 3:54 pm
#3471
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Seattle
Programs: United Airlines Premier, Starwood Gold Preferred Guest, Hyatt Gold Passport, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 356
1K line should be able to move you from your currently ticketed B-C flight to a later B-C flight using the SDC policy presuming your fare class is available on the later flight. you will most likely lose your upgrade on B-C and you run the risk of losing downline upgrades for C-D-A even if those flights do not change at all. see WIKI above for more details.
i wouldn't recommend just showing up late to your originally ticketed B-C flight. that's not going to end well for you.
i wouldn't recommend just showing up late to your originally ticketed B-C flight. that's not going to end well for you.
Apr 29, 2014, 4:08 pm
#3472
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,884
1K line should be able to move you from your currently ticketed B-C flight to a later B-C flight using the SDC policy presuming your fare class is available on the later flight. you will most likely lose your upgrade on B-C and you run the risk of losing downline upgrades for C-D-A even if those flights do not change at all. see WIKI above for more details.
i wouldn't recommend just showing up late to your originally ticketed B-C flight. that's not going to end well for you.
i wouldn't recommend just showing up late to your originally ticketed B-C flight. that's not going to end well for you.
Apr 29, 2014, 4:11 pm
#3473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,207
Apr 29, 2014, 5:44 pm
#3474
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,401
Also saw it on the outbound the previous week.
I saw it 2 years ago as well, right after the merger.
Eh, if it's not interesting to the keepers of this thread, I'll just keep the data to myself. :-:
Apr 29, 2014, 5:46 pm
#3475
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Mind sharing the specific(-ish) details of the fights?
Maybe this is a weird incarnation of the midnight bug?
Apr 29, 2014, 5:55 pm
#3476
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,401
This morning, I went back in the same way. It showed me flight change options with radio buttons for today, tomorrow, Thurs. I chose Thurs, and made the change.
But now when I try to put in name / locator, it just says 'your flight is over 24 hours from now' (which is true). So I guess we'll have to see what happens when I get within 24 hours again -- will it give me flight change options for the next 2 days? or just the 24 hours like usual? (actually it was more than 48 hours -- really 2 full calendar days + current day).
As I think about it, all 3 times I've seen this, I had some sort of irrops / protection. 2 years ago, I was rebooked in Y. On the outbound of this trip (separate ticket) I was rebooked in Y. On this trip, I had an auto-protection show up in my locator in Y. (made the flight, so it's just sitting there)
Apr 29, 2014, 6:10 pm
#3477
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,709
So, it's odd. At the moment, I can't replicate it. Yesterday, I was flying home and wanted to put a stopover at my final connection point. Actually logged into united.com from an A320 in the air (painfully slow -- I'm too cheap to pay for wifi!). I was able to change to a Weds flight. Pretty sure I dropped the locator into the OLCI 'other check-in options' box -- name and locator. It presented radio buttons for 3 days -- yesterday, today and tomorrow. I clicked tomorrow, and it showed me options for Weds. I took one.
This morning, I went back in the same way. It showed me flight change options with radio buttons for today, tomorrow, Thurs. I chose Thurs, and made the change.
But now when I try to put in name / locator, it just says 'your flight is over 24 hours from now' (which is true). So I guess we'll have to see what happens when I get within 24 hours again -- will it give me flight change options for the next 2 days? or just the 24 hours like usual? (actually it was more than 48 hours -- really 2 full calendar days + current day).
As I think about it, all 3 times I've seen this, I had some sort of irrops / protection. 2 years ago, I was rebooked in Y. On the outbound of this trip (separate ticket) I was rebooked in Y. On this trip, I had an auto-protection show up in my locator in Y. (made the flight, so it's just sitting there)
This morning, I went back in the same way. It showed me flight change options with radio buttons for today, tomorrow, Thurs. I chose Thurs, and made the change.
But now when I try to put in name / locator, it just says 'your flight is over 24 hours from now' (which is true). So I guess we'll have to see what happens when I get within 24 hours again -- will it give me flight change options for the next 2 days? or just the 24 hours like usual? (actually it was more than 48 hours -- really 2 full calendar days + current day).
As I think about it, all 3 times I've seen this, I had some sort of irrops / protection. 2 years ago, I was rebooked in Y. On the outbound of this trip (separate ticket) I was rebooked in Y. On this trip, I had an auto-protection show up in my locator in Y. (made the flight, so it's just sitting there)
Apr 29, 2014, 6:37 pm
#3478
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
A call for reports: When do the SDC options for an onward itinerary become available? At boarding? Takeoff? Landing?
Ah yes, this is the new-ish IRROPS handling interface, I think. It lets you do essentially whatever you want, and is amazing.
So, it's odd. At the moment, I can't replicate it. Yesterday, I was flying home and wanted to put a stopover at my final connection point. Actually logged into united.com from an A320 in the air (painfully slow -- I'm too cheap to pay for wifi!). I was able to change to a Weds flight. Pretty sure I dropped the locator into the OLCI 'other check-in options' box -- name and locator. It presented radio buttons for 3 days -- yesterday, today and tomorrow. I clicked tomorrow, and it showed me options for Weds. I took one.
This morning, I went back in the same way. It showed me flight change options with radio buttons for today, tomorrow, Thurs. I chose Thurs, and made the change.
But now when I try to put in name / locator, it just says 'your flight is over 24 hours from now' (which is true). So I guess we'll have to see what happens when I get within 24 hours again -- will it give me flight change options for the next 2 days? or just the 24 hours like usual? (actually it was more than 48 hours -- really 2 full calendar days + current day).
As I think about it, all 3 times I've seen this, I had some sort of irrops / protection. 2 years ago, I was rebooked in Y. On the outbound of this trip (separate ticket) I was rebooked in Y. On this trip, I had an auto-protection show up in my locator in Y. (made the flight, so it's just sitting there)
This morning, I went back in the same way. It showed me flight change options with radio buttons for today, tomorrow, Thurs. I chose Thurs, and made the change.
But now when I try to put in name / locator, it just says 'your flight is over 24 hours from now' (which is true). So I guess we'll have to see what happens when I get within 24 hours again -- will it give me flight change options for the next 2 days? or just the 24 hours like usual? (actually it was more than 48 hours -- really 2 full calendar days + current day).
As I think about it, all 3 times I've seen this, I had some sort of irrops / protection. 2 years ago, I was rebooked in Y. On the outbound of this trip (separate ticket) I was rebooked in Y. On this trip, I had an auto-protection show up in my locator in Y. (made the flight, so it's just sitting there)
Apr 29, 2014, 8:08 pm
#3479
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,207
Apr 29, 2014, 8:21 pm
#3480
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
IME, it's some point after the flight you're on is closed out but well before landing, as I've been able to SDC over wifi (or have friends SDC me while I'm in the air). It's not immediately after door closure and pushback--it might be tied to when the flight itself departs (i.e. takes off), or it could just be a simple timer (~20 minutes after the flight is closed or something).
Ooh! That's basically what DL does...and it's awesome. Will hope to have a chance to play around with the UA version.
Ooh! That's basically what DL does...and it's awesome. Will hope to have a chance to play around with the UA version.