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 9, 2014, 7:13 am
#4246
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Hamburg
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Titanium, Hertz - President's Circle
Posts: 155
Agent is not correct. One can SDC into a higher fare class by paying the upfare and SDC fee (if applicable). This can not be done at the kiosk/app/online though - an agent has to do it. So there is another SDC option, assuming there is availability on the flight somewhere.
Standby is also an option, but was correctly stated that this has to be done at the airport.
Standby is also an option, but was correctly stated that this has to be done at the airport.
Nov 9, 2014, 8:25 am
#4247
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
ETA: was looking at the wrong connecting flight - even as separate segments BDL-EWR is currently only shoing U+.
Last edited by daslax; Nov 9, 2014 at 8:34 am
Nov 9, 2014, 8:31 am
#4248
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Currently booked ORD-EWR 7a tomorrow morning, trying to get on any PM flight today. Nothing in my fare class is available, so I'd like to get on the standby list and do it prior to the 3-hour period when the fare classes open up. No change flight options are showing up on web or app so I called UA and agent said unless there is confirmable space with SDC, the only option for s/b is at the airport. Is this accurate - anything else I can do?
You just need to wait for T-3.
Nov 9, 2014, 8:38 am
#4249
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
So far this morning I'm noticing that all flights with any availability (some were as high as 8's in higher booking classes) are dwindling down to 1 or 0 well before the 3 hour mark. Looks like it will likely be a hanging out by the gate day.
Nov 9, 2014, 8:44 am
#4250
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Hamburg
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Titanium, Hertz - President's Circle
Posts: 155
When I do SDC I search for any flight(s) the day of travel from XXX-YYY. I've never had an agent deny SDC to a multi-segment when all segments have my bucket available. I've done this many times just to get more miles. eg: ORF-EWR changed to ORF-ORD-EWR then LGA.
Nov 9, 2014, 12:33 pm
#4251
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Agent is not correct. One can SDC into a higher fare class by paying the upfare and SDC fee (if applicable). This can not be done at the kiosk/app/online though - an agent has to do it. So there is another SDC option, assuming there is availability on the flight somewhere.
Standby is also an option, but was correctly stated that this has to be done at the airport.
Standby is also an option, but was correctly stated that this has to be done at the airport.
Or "Change Flight"?
Nov 9, 2014, 1:30 pm
#4253
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
Agree most people are referring to the 100% free version when they talk about SDC. But it is good to know you can still SDC even if your original fare bucket is not available.
Nov 9, 2014, 4:12 pm
#4254
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I did this last month, had to upfare to a W from a T in order to change my HNL-SFO return. The upfare was about $110, but no change fee.
Agree most people are referring to the 100% free version when they talk about SDC. But it is good to know you can still SDC even if your original fare bucket is not available.
Agree most people are referring to the 100% free version when they talk about SDC. But it is good to know you can still SDC even if your original fare bucket is not available.
Nov 9, 2014, 4:18 pm
#4255
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
Yes. The upfare was exactly equivalent to what I saw when I priced out "Change Flights" on .com. I knew going into the call that I would have to upfare and what it was going to cost. The flight was extremely full, thus the limited fare bucket availability. I was happy just to get the seat (and not pay a $200 change fee).
Nov 9, 2014, 8:45 pm
#4256
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
Currently booked ORD-EWR 7a tomorrow morning, trying to get on any PM flight today. Nothing in my fare class is available, so I'd like to get on the standby list and do it prior to the 3-hour period when the fare classes open up. No change flight options are showing up on web or app so I called UA and agent said unless there is confirmable space with SDC, the only option for s/b is at the airport. Is this accurate - anything else I can do?
Arrived at ORD just before noon and had a variety of interactions with varying levels of competence/willingness to help.
1K check-in: very helpful. Let them know that I wanted to standby starting with the 12:50p ORD-EWR flight. Checked other options, immediately put me on standby, told me I was 2nd on the list but it was overbooked by 3 and it didn't look like there would be any misconnects.
ORD-EWR gate: not helpful. While waiting at the pre-check line, checked inventory and noticed that there was confirmable space ORD-ABE-EWR. Went to the gate as it was getting close to departure. Agent told me I would have to go to customer service if I wanted to try to get on another flight. I was concerned about leaving in case my standby cleared but they told me I might as well go as they were taking volunteers and was unlikely to clear.
Customer service on the B concourse: Clueless. Would normally not even stop here, but there was no line and agents available. Told the agent I wanted to confirm ORD-ABE-EWR, he didn't understand and thought I wanted to go to ABE instead of EWR and called to get help. I interrupted as he was explaining the situation and told him I still wanted to end my trip in EWR, but even after clarifying he was advised that I would have to buy an entirely new ticket since my flight was tomorrow. Did not bother arguing the matter, thanked him and went to United Club.
United Club: very polite and helpful, but not knowledgable about the policy. Explained what I wanted to do, but was told that Same Day Confirmed meant they could only make changes on literally the same day (although she didn't seem too sure of herself). I politely said I was pretty sure it was 24 hours and I was already on the standby list for another flight. She leaned over to the agent next to her and said, "he's a 1K with a flight tomorrow and wants to change to a connecting flight today - can we do that?" Response: as long as the same booking code is available, yes. We're off to the races! She then advises that it's only a 25 minute layover in ABE and am I sure I want to do that - I tell her it's a tiny airport, the "flight" is actually a bus and I'm pretty sure they would hold for connections. She doesn't believe the whole bus thing until she checks aircraft type: "well would you look at that... and they even gave you a seat assignment on the bus!" She thanks me for teaching her some new things.
Truth be told, I've always wanted to take the ABE-EWR bus and it worked out well: more comfortable than most domestic UA seats, we left 20 minutes early, arrived ~40 minutes early, had a "row" to myself... all in all a good experience!
Nov 9, 2014, 9:23 pm
#4257
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
So here's how it went down...
Arrived at ORD just before noon and had a variety of interactions with varying levels of competence/willingness to help.
1K check-in: very helpful. Let them know that I wanted to standby starting with the 12:50p ORD-EWR flight. Checked other options, immediately put me on standby, told me I was 2nd on the list but it was overbooked by 3 and it didn't look like there would be any misconnects.
ORD-EWR gate: not helpful. While waiting at the pre-check line, checked inventory and noticed that there was confirmable space ORD-ABE-EWR. Went to the gate as it was getting close to departure. Agent told me I would have to go to customer service if I wanted to try to get on another flight. I was concerned about leaving in case my standby cleared but they told me I might as well go as they were taking volunteers and was unlikely to clear.
Customer service on the B concourse: Clueless. Would normally not even stop here, but there was no line and agents available. Told the agent I wanted to confirm ORD-ABE-EWR, he didn't understand and thought I wanted to go to ABE instead of EWR and called to get help. I interrupted as he was explaining the situation and told him I still wanted to end my trip in EWR, but even after clarifying he was advised that I would have to buy an entirely new ticket since my flight was tomorrow. Did not bother arguing the matter, thanked him and went to United Club.
United Club: very polite and helpful, but not knowledgable about the policy. Explained what I wanted to do, but was told that Same Day Confirmed meant they could only make changes on literally the same day (although she didn't seem too sure of herself). I politely said I was pretty sure it was 24 hours and I was already on the standby list for another flight. She leaned over to the agent next to her and said, "he's a 1K with a flight tomorrow and wants to change to a connecting flight today - can we do that?" Response: as long as the same booking code is available, yes. We're off to the races! She then advises that it's only a 25 minute layover in ABE and am I sure I want to do that - I tell her it's a tiny airport, the "flight" is actually a bus and I'm pretty sure they would hold for connections. She doesn't believe the whole bus thing until she checks aircraft type: "well would you look at that... and they even gave you a seat assignment on the bus!" She thanks me for teaching her some new things.
Truth be told, I've always wanted to take the ABE-EWR bus and it worked out well: more comfortable than most domestic UA seats, we left 20 minutes early, arrived ~40 minutes early, had a "row" to myself... all in all a good experience!
Arrived at ORD just before noon and had a variety of interactions with varying levels of competence/willingness to help.
1K check-in: very helpful. Let them know that I wanted to standby starting with the 12:50p ORD-EWR flight. Checked other options, immediately put me on standby, told me I was 2nd on the list but it was overbooked by 3 and it didn't look like there would be any misconnects.
ORD-EWR gate: not helpful. While waiting at the pre-check line, checked inventory and noticed that there was confirmable space ORD-ABE-EWR. Went to the gate as it was getting close to departure. Agent told me I would have to go to customer service if I wanted to try to get on another flight. I was concerned about leaving in case my standby cleared but they told me I might as well go as they were taking volunteers and was unlikely to clear.
Customer service on the B concourse: Clueless. Would normally not even stop here, but there was no line and agents available. Told the agent I wanted to confirm ORD-ABE-EWR, he didn't understand and thought I wanted to go to ABE instead of EWR and called to get help. I interrupted as he was explaining the situation and told him I still wanted to end my trip in EWR, but even after clarifying he was advised that I would have to buy an entirely new ticket since my flight was tomorrow. Did not bother arguing the matter, thanked him and went to United Club.
United Club: very polite and helpful, but not knowledgable about the policy. Explained what I wanted to do, but was told that Same Day Confirmed meant they could only make changes on literally the same day (although she didn't seem too sure of herself). I politely said I was pretty sure it was 24 hours and I was already on the standby list for another flight. She leaned over to the agent next to her and said, "he's a 1K with a flight tomorrow and wants to change to a connecting flight today - can we do that?" Response: as long as the same booking code is available, yes. We're off to the races! She then advises that it's only a 25 minute layover in ABE and am I sure I want to do that - I tell her it's a tiny airport, the "flight" is actually a bus and I'm pretty sure they would hold for connections. She doesn't believe the whole bus thing until she checks aircraft type: "well would you look at that... and they even gave you a seat assignment on the bus!" She thanks me for teaching her some new things.
Truth be told, I've always wanted to take the ABE-EWR bus and it worked out well: more comfortable than most domestic UA seats, we left 20 minutes early, arrived ~40 minutes early, had a "row" to myself... all in all a good experience!
But, in the end, you made it work!
Nov 9, 2014, 10:39 pm
#4258
Join Date: May 2008
Location: worldwide
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 286
What happened to the same day change flight options when i check in?
i used to be able to change flight options when i checked in now nothing. have to call in everytime?
doesnt United want to save money all the time? why do they want to waste time with the phone agents?
I did it 3 three over the phone now and it has been same fare class and within 24 hrs and agent no problem but cant do it online like before..
doesnt United want to save money all the time? why do they want to waste time with the phone agents?
I did it 3 three over the phone now and it has been same fare class and within 24 hrs and agent no problem but cant do it online like before..
Nov 9, 2014, 11:38 pm
#4259
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
i used to be able to change flight options when i checked in now nothing. have to call in everytime?
doesnt United want to save money all the time? why do they want to waste time with the phone agents?
I did it 3 three over the phone now and it has been same fare class and within 24 hrs and agent no problem but cant do it online like before..
doesnt United want to save money all the time? why do they want to waste time with the phone agents?
I did it 3 three over the phone now and it has been same fare class and within 24 hrs and agent no problem but cant do it online like before..
Has anything else changed on your side? (computer, browser, logged in / not logged in?)
Nov 10, 2014, 5:09 am
#4260
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
Unfortunately, no other option... it's always my preference to avoid agents, but in this case was not offered change options in the app and trying to change the itinerary online would not piece the segments together properly without upcharging.