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}
Feb 24, 2015, 12:08 pm
#166
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
However for paid first the ticket may not have change fees, and if it does, I would not be surprised, if space is available (a big if), that the fee would be waived.
{rereading the ticket is international business with domestic F leg, so there are likely a published change fees }
Feb 25, 2015, 1:41 am
#167
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: MUC
Posts: 159
per ticket fee
However for paid first the ticket may not have change fees, and if it does, I would not be surprised, if space is available (a big if), that the fee would be waived.
{rereading the ticket is international business with domestic F leg, so there are likely a published change fees }
However for paid first the ticket may not have change fees, and if it does, I would not be surprised, if space is available (a big if), that the fee would be waived.
{rereading the ticket is international business with domestic F leg, so there are likely a published change fees }
Feb 25, 2015, 5:28 pm
#168
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold
Posts: 609
is same day change/standby possible for a UA metal flight but Air canada codeshare? I'm going YVR-DEN-LAX and would prefer the direct
apologize if this is answered already. the flight loads on my united account as if it's a normal UA flight, but I don't know if the AC code will throw the whole thing off. It does say i am eligible for the CPUs at least?
apologize if this is answered already. the flight loads on my united account as if it's a normal UA flight, but I don't know if the AC code will throw the whole thing off. It does say i am eligible for the CPUs at least?
Last edited by bbmatt; Feb 25, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Feb 25, 2015, 7:15 pm
#169
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Garden Mess
Programs: CO Gold
Posts: 54
Not sure I'm in the right thread but searched and can't find answer.
Is there a fee to standby for an earlier flight, same day? I'm not changing airports. Just want to switch from 8am LAX-EWR to a 6am LAX-EWR. It's a K fare and I'm a lowly silver.
When checking-in online, there is no option for earlier flight.
I called United and they said only option was to pay $75 dollars even for standby. I tried telling her that my flight has 3 open seats and the 6am has over 50. Made no difference.
If I show up to gate for 6am flight will they put me on standby list or I still have to pay?
Thanks for the help.
Is there a fee to standby for an earlier flight, same day? I'm not changing airports. Just want to switch from 8am LAX-EWR to a 6am LAX-EWR. It's a K fare and I'm a lowly silver.
When checking-in online, there is no option for earlier flight.
I called United and they said only option was to pay $75 dollars even for standby. I tried telling her that my flight has 3 open seats and the 6am has over 50. Made no difference.
If I show up to gate for 6am flight will they put me on standby list or I still have to pay?
Thanks for the help.
Feb 25, 2015, 8:54 pm
#170
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Is there a chance of no fee, perhaps but the policy is to charge a fee. So given no fee difference, better to do SDC (although that requires your original fare class fare inventory to be available, Standby does not) and have a better choice of seats.
See the thread wiki for more.
Feb 26, 2015, 7:01 am
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
is same day change/standby possible for a UA metal flight but Air canada codeshare? I'm going YVR-DEN-LAX and would prefer the direct
apologize if this is answered already. the flight loads on my united account as if it's a normal UA flight, but I don't know if the AC code will throw the whole thing off. It does say i am eligible for the CPUs at least?
apologize if this is answered already. the flight loads on my united account as if it's a normal UA flight, but I don't know if the AC code will throw the whole thing off. It does say i am eligible for the CPUs at least?
IIRC, code shares on UAs website still show with the marketing carrier flight number (I.e. AC XXXX, not UA YYY), with the marketing carrier fare class also, but everything else should pretty much look the same. As always, same fare class (based on UA fare class of the ticket) needs to be available for options to show on the website/app, but calling in can potentially allow you to book into a higher fare class (both SDC fee, if applicable and fare class difference will apply).
Is there a chance of no fee, perhaps but the policy is to charge a fee. So given no fee difference, better to do SDC (although that requires your original fare class fare inventory to be available, Standby does not) and have a better choice of seats.
See the thread wiki for more.
See the thread wiki for more.
Mar 1, 2015, 7:58 am
#172
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA 1K (Million Miler). AA Gold (lifetime 1 Million). TK Elite Gold
Posts: 895
SDC and routing changes
Has anything changed with SDC and routing changes?
I will be flying nonstop EWR-NRT and would like to change this to an itinerary as follows: EWR-IAH-SFO-NRT. Is this allowed and would I need to call the 1K desk to change? Do accrued lifetime miles change on a voluntary change as I am proposing (i.e. original mileage vs. "new itinerary" mileage)?
On the return from SIN-EWR, could a SDC be routed over HKG-SFO-IAH-EWR rather than on a the current SIN-NRT-EWR? Can the UA transfer desk at Changi make such a routing change?
Thanks, all.
I will be flying nonstop EWR-NRT and would like to change this to an itinerary as follows: EWR-IAH-SFO-NRT. Is this allowed and would I need to call the 1K desk to change? Do accrued lifetime miles change on a voluntary change as I am proposing (i.e. original mileage vs. "new itinerary" mileage)?
On the return from SIN-EWR, could a SDC be routed over HKG-SFO-IAH-EWR rather than on a the current SIN-NRT-EWR? Can the UA transfer desk at Changi make such a routing change?
Thanks, all.
Mar 1, 2015, 8:12 am
#173
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MP Gold, 1MM, Global Entry
Posts: 470
SDC rules allow additional connections but the big IF is whether your fare class is available on the desired flight day and time. You may not see such an option online or the app so calling in is best. Check online ahead of time and see if your fare class is available (expert mode) then tell the agent you are looking to take some longer connecting legs for additional miles, feeding them the option you want. You will earn PQM and lifetime credit miles based on miles flown for voluntary changes, whether it is more or less than original itinerary miles. (If during IRROPS UA reroutes you on shorter legs than what you purchased then you can request ORC mileage credit, but not on voluntary changes). Any UA desk should be able to do this, but the skill and experience of agents can vary, as can their willingness to assist.
Wiki on SDC 2015
Wiki on SDC 2015
Mar 1, 2015, 8:18 am
#174
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA 1K (Million Miler). AA Gold (lifetime 1 Million). TK Elite Gold
Posts: 895
SDC rules allow additional connections but the big IF is whether your fare class is available on the desired flight day and time. You may not see such an option online or the app so calling in is best. Check online ahead of time and see if your fare class is available (expert mode) then tell the agent you are looking to take some longer connecting legs for additional miles, feeding them the option you want. You will earn PQM and lifetime credit miles based on miles flown for voluntary changes, whether it is more or less than original itinerary miles. (If during IRROPS UA reroutes you on shorter legs than what you purchased then you can request ORC mileage credit, but not on voluntary changes). Any UA desk should be able to do this, but the skill and experience of agents can vary, as can their willingness to assist.
Mar 1, 2015, 8:29 am
#175
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MP Gold, 1MM, Global Entry
Posts: 470
I think your are out of luck. 
You could consider paying to increase your fare to W on flights where you could use a GPU, but if that is out of the question, then that particular benefit is naturally of less value to you. While you can't sell or barter such instruments, you could be Santa and offer to free upgrade some FT'ers (or friends/family/coworkers who do travel in such patterns, especially with RPU's) before they expire. Although even that is hard with R not opening up on more and more routes...
You could consider paying to increase your fare to W on flights where you could use a GPU, but if that is out of the question, then that particular benefit is naturally of less value to you. While you can't sell or barter such instruments, you could be Santa and offer to free upgrade some FT'ers (or friends/family/coworkers who do travel in such patterns, especially with RPU's) before they expire. Although even that is hard with R not opening up on more and more routes...
Mar 1, 2015, 6:31 pm
#176
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
Standby a flight 24 hours prior
How can we do SDC for a flight that departs 24 hours prior to the original reservation? Is it possible to change the flight that departs 24 hours prior to the original reservation? For example, have a reservation for a flight at 6:30am on Monday. Is it possible to change the flight to the one that departs at 6:30 am on Sunday without change fees? If we must pay for the change fees, will the change fees be counted toward PQD?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 1, 2015 at 7:34 pm Reason: moved into existing thread; this is covered in the wiki
Mar 1, 2015, 7:12 pm
#177
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Mar 1, 2015, 7:26 pm
#178
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Singapore
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1MM/1k
Posts: 477
I read the wiki "Change itinerary at the beginning to include illegal layovers (> 4 hours): N*"; but I wonder if the answer could be different if flights beyond the layover point are not UA.
I have an award ticket (not issued by UA) BOI-LAX-ICN, with the first segment on UA and second on OZ. How likely that I can SDC the first flight to create a 30-hour layover at LAX?
Update with more info if that matters: The original booking has BOI-LAX leaving 8:25pm and LAX-ICN leaving at 00:20, with a 2-hr layover at LAX. BOI-LAX flight cancelled and I'm re-booked (likely by UA) on an earlier flight leaving BOI at 3:45pm. If I'd hope to take the BOI flight one day earlier, do I have a chance? Do I have a better chance calling UA now arguing about the cancellation, or do I have a better chance calling one day before departure and arguing SDC?
I have an award ticket (not issued by UA) BOI-LAX-ICN, with the first segment on UA and second on OZ. How likely that I can SDC the first flight to create a 30-hour layover at LAX?
Update with more info if that matters: The original booking has BOI-LAX leaving 8:25pm and LAX-ICN leaving at 00:20, with a 2-hr layover at LAX. BOI-LAX flight cancelled and I'm re-booked (likely by UA) on an earlier flight leaving BOI at 3:45pm. If I'd hope to take the BOI flight one day earlier, do I have a chance? Do I have a better chance calling UA now arguing about the cancellation, or do I have a better chance calling one day before departure and arguing SDC?
Last edited by kkg; Mar 1, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Mar 1, 2015, 7:50 pm
#179
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
I read the wiki "Change itinerary at the beginning to include illegal layovers (> 4 hours): N*"; but I wonder if the answer could be different if flights beyond the layover point are not UA.
I have an award ticket (not issued by UA) BOI-LAX-ICN, with the first segment on UA and second on OZ. How likely that I can SDC the first flight to create a 30-hour layover at LAX?
Update with more info if that matters: The original booking has BOI-LAX leaving 8:25pm and LAX-ICN leaving at 00:20, with a 2-hr layover at LAX. BOI-LAX flight cancelled and I'm re-booked (likely by UA) on an earlier flight leaving BOI at 3:45pm. If I'd hope to take the BOI flight one day earlier, do I have a chance? Do I have a better chance calling UA now arguing about the cancellation, or do I have a better chance calling one day before departure and arguing SDC?
I have an award ticket (not issued by UA) BOI-LAX-ICN, with the first segment on UA and second on OZ. How likely that I can SDC the first flight to create a 30-hour layover at LAX?
Update with more info if that matters: The original booking has BOI-LAX leaving 8:25pm and LAX-ICN leaving at 00:20, with a 2-hr layover at LAX. BOI-LAX flight cancelled and I'm re-booked (likely by UA) on an earlier flight leaving BOI at 3:45pm. If I'd hope to take the BOI flight one day earlier, do I have a chance? Do I have a better chance calling UA now arguing about the cancellation, or do I have a better chance calling one day before departure and arguing SDC?
Mar 3, 2015, 12:47 am
#180
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
SDC rules allow additional connections but the big IF is whether your fare class is available on the desired flight day and time. You may not see such an option online or the app so calling in is best. Check online ahead of time and see if your fare class is available...
That was also my experience recently. Full flight (left with 4 open seats). I was ticketed A-B-C and wanted on the direct A-C. only fares showing online were Y (i was flying K). Gate agent had no problem getting me on the flight, and in E+ (which also didn't show available online to me, even as she did it). worth noting: in the UA lounge (NRT) they were not able to do anything. To which i said, 'thanks for trying' and walked to the gate. I've always had better luck with gate agents. Though they're usually not in a good mood (which i get- full flight, deadline, etc), they usually know their job and get things done.
To me, this was a wonderful perk from my new Plat status. When I booked the flight, i wanted the non-stop but the fare was MUCH higher. So I ticketed with the connection and, due to SDC, got the non-stop I'd wanted for no extra fee. Got back 5 hours earlier than scheduled allowing me to get some stuff done. It was nice to get tangible value to make the cost/labour of reaching Plat feel worthwhile.