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 18, 2014, 8:42 am
#4111
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Well that's new, and also quite frankly stupid. Isn't it easier for everyone around if a passenger's upgrade clears for him to be able to go reprint his own boarding pass instead of finding an agent? Not to mention IROPs, SDCs or simply checking the seatmap.
Oct 18, 2014, 8:48 am
#4112
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BTW, thanks for the suggestions from a couple of folks on what to do. In future, I'll check the web site on my phone.
Oct 18, 2014, 9:01 am
#4113
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Customer Friendly @:-)
Oct 18, 2014, 3:20 pm
#4114
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I agree, however the kiosks, app and UA website (under SDC) don't show your full potential routings . Many times I have changed flights (under free SDC) outside the routings provided from those sources.
Oct 19, 2014, 4:59 am
#4115
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Multi-pronged approach to SDC routings
I just did this on a ORF-EWR trip. I wanted a layover at ORD to see a client. (I knew the routing broke routing rules but I've found a lot of the routing rules are ignored for SDC. Your status can also play a factor.) The flight I wanted for ORD-EWR was 5.5 hours after arrival at ORD, so it counted as a stay over. Agent said I couldn't do it...she typed a little more and the system allowed it.
Kind persistence is your friend.
Oct 19, 2014, 9:52 am
#4116
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Can you actually do SDC using the United app? I had to call in the last time and luckily got a very helpful 1K agent.
I will try the app for my next trip to SAN when I may want a slightly later flight than the one that I have now. You learn something new everyday
especially on FT ^
I will try the app for my next trip to SAN when I may want a slightly later flight than the one that I have now. You learn something new everyday
especially on FT ^
Oct 19, 2014, 9:56 am
#4117
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Can you actually do SDC using the United app? I had to call in the last time and luckily got a very helpful 1K agent.
I will try the app for my next trip to SAN when I may want a slightly later flight than the one that I have now. You learn something new everyday especially on FT ^
I will try the app for my next trip to SAN when I may want a slightly later flight than the one that I have now. You learn something new everyday
especially on FT ^
Oct 19, 2014, 9:57 am
#4118
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Oct 19, 2014, 9:59 am
#4119
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Oct 19, 2014, 10:01 am
#4120
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Oct 19, 2014, 10:05 am
#4121
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(remember, at T-3.5 hrs all fare classes level out. the exception, i've found, is when the flight is nearly sold out.)
And, don't get greedy.
Oct 19, 2014, 10:42 am
#4122
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It means that if you're booked into a G fare and it's not showing as available at, for example, T-12 hours, it will *likely* open the closer you get to departure time.
(remember, at T-3.5 hrs all fare classes level out. the exception, i've found, is when the flight is nearly sold out.)
And, don't get greedy.
(remember, at T-3.5 hrs all fare classes level out. the exception, i've found, is when the flight is nearly sold out.)
And, don't get greedy.
Oct 19, 2014, 1:01 pm
#4123
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My go-to for SDC is the app. However, if that doesn't give me what I want I use expert mode on UAL.COM to check availability in my fare bucket. If a routing I'm looking for is not shown as available, I check the segments I want and if my buckets are available I'll call. .... Your status can also play a factor.)... Agent said I couldn't do it...she typed a little more and the system allowed it.
Kind persistence is your friend.
Kind persistence is your friend.
OK - I have a slightly different approach - The very first thing I will do is check if any of the airports I will be traveling through are under an exception rule (irregular operations).....
Then I will work out the flights I want to go on (normally I build in flexibility). For me that typically means taking a longer route but with flights that should hit my fare class (fare classes as I'm sure you are aware are very dynamic); also flights that I should be upgraded on. I use a combination of expert flyer, UA expert mode and matrix....
Normally the app or the kiosk doesn’t offer what I want to do so I will typically call or sometimes see a UA agent at the airport. (If the exception rule doesn't apply I will quickly check the fare classes on the flights I want before talking to anyone). I never ask what my options are - Agents are never going to offer anything beyond what you can get on the kiosk or app.
I do use the kiosk or app but only as a last ditch or if I haven't done any prep.
BTW status as you say can play a factor but IME only at GS is it a significant factor. IMO your knowledge of what you can do and your approach towards an Agent(s) is far more important.
Also, the UA computer system often won't allow changes that are within the rules so agents may (if they want to) have to manually force a routing, often after confirming that it is OK with their manager.
Oct 19, 2014, 5:04 pm
#4124
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OK - I have a slightly different approach - The very first thing I will do is check if any of the airports I will be traveling through are under an exception rule (irregular operations).....
Then I will work out the flights I want to go on (normally I build in flexibility). For me that typically means taking a longer route but with flights that should hit my fare class (fare classes as I'm sure you are aware are very dynamic); also flights that I should be upgraded on. I use a combination of expert flyer, UA expert mode and matrix....
Normally the app or the kiosk doesn’t offer what I want to do so I will typically call or sometimes see a UA agent at the airport. (If the exception rule doesn't apply I will quickly check the fare classes on the flights I want before talking to anyone). I never ask what my options are - Agents are never going to offer anything beyond what you can get on the kiosk or app.
I do use the kiosk or app but only as a last ditch or if I haven't done any prep.
BTW status as you say can play a factor but IME only at GS is it a significant factor. IMO your knowledge of what you can do and your approach towards an Agent(s) is far more important.
Also, the UA computer system often won't allow changes that are within the rules so agents may (if they want to) have to manually force a routing, often after confirming that it is OK with their manager.
Then I will work out the flights I want to go on (normally I build in flexibility). For me that typically means taking a longer route but with flights that should hit my fare class (fare classes as I'm sure you are aware are very dynamic); also flights that I should be upgraded on. I use a combination of expert flyer, UA expert mode and matrix....
Normally the app or the kiosk doesn’t offer what I want to do so I will typically call or sometimes see a UA agent at the airport. (If the exception rule doesn't apply I will quickly check the fare classes on the flights I want before talking to anyone). I never ask what my options are - Agents are never going to offer anything beyond what you can get on the kiosk or app.
I do use the kiosk or app but only as a last ditch or if I haven't done any prep.
BTW status as you say can play a factor but IME only at GS is it a significant factor. IMO your knowledge of what you can do and your approach towards an Agent(s) is far more important.
Also, the UA computer system often won't allow changes that are within the rules so agents may (if they want to) have to manually force a routing, often after confirming that it is OK with their manager.
Oct 19, 2014, 7:15 pm
#4125
Join Date: Dec 2012
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OK - I have a slightly different approach - The very first thing I will do is check if any of the airports I will be traveling through are under an exception rule (irregular operations).....
Then I will work out the flights I want to go on (normally I build in flexibility). For me that typically means taking a longer route but with flights that should hit my fare class (fare classes as I'm sure you are aware are very dynamic); also flights that I should be upgraded on. I use a combination of expert flyer, UA expert mode and matrix....
Normally the app or the kiosk doesn’t offer what I want to do so I will typically call or sometimes see a UA agent at the airport. (If the exception rule doesn't apply I will quickly check the fare classes on the flights I want before talking to anyone). I never ask what my options are - Agents are never going to offer anything beyond what you can get on the kiosk or app.
I do use the kiosk or app but only as a last ditch or if I haven't done any prep.
BTW status as you say can play a factor but IME only at GS is it a significant factor. IMO your knowledge of what you can do and your approach towards an Agent(s) is far more important.
Also, the UA computer system often won't allow changes that are within the rules so agents may (if they want to) have to manually force a routing, often after confirming that it is OK with their manager.
Then I will work out the flights I want to go on (normally I build in flexibility). For me that typically means taking a longer route but with flights that should hit my fare class (fare classes as I'm sure you are aware are very dynamic); also flights that I should be upgraded on. I use a combination of expert flyer, UA expert mode and matrix....
Normally the app or the kiosk doesn’t offer what I want to do so I will typically call or sometimes see a UA agent at the airport. (If the exception rule doesn't apply I will quickly check the fare classes on the flights I want before talking to anyone). I never ask what my options are - Agents are never going to offer anything beyond what you can get on the kiosk or app.
I do use the kiosk or app but only as a last ditch or if I haven't done any prep.
BTW status as you say can play a factor but IME only at GS is it a significant factor. IMO your knowledge of what you can do and your approach towards an Agent(s) is far more important.
Also, the UA computer system often won't allow changes that are within the rules so agents may (if they want to) have to manually force a routing, often after confirming that it is OK with their manager.
Yes, IROPS are your friend!!
And, I couldn't agree more with your comment about *your* knowledge and how you approach the agent. I realize too well that they have the power to give or deny what I'm asking for and I act accordingly and respectfully. (i'm southern and my parents raised me right so it comes easily, as my friends tell me. :rolleyes) However, I do try to do things on my own before calling. Just a personal preference.