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}
Nov 12, 2017, 2:25 pm
#2941
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
Personally I try to avoid Vegas. It’s kind of cool to visit occasionally but I find most of the shows and food overpriced, and I have terrible luck at the poker table… I think I’d find a lot more to do in Houston
Nov 13, 2017, 12:33 pm
#2942
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 734
UA SDC success. domestic vs international
With Premier gold status, my requests for domestic SDC have been very good lately, for requests on both earlier flights and later flights, all after check-in time. SFO-EWR, SJC-ORD, etc. There's always been some options. I'm almost always flying economy.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Nov 13, 2017, 2:21 pm
#2943
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
With Premier gold status, my requests for domestic SDC have been very good lately, for requests on both earlier flights and later flights, all after check-in time. SFO-EWR, SJC-ORD, etc. There's always been some options. I'm almost always flying economy.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Domestically there's always tons of opportunities. So in conclusion I find there's much less on international routes
Nov 13, 2017, 2:24 pm
#2944
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
ORD @ 11:40
EWR @ 9:25
Non-stop SFO 9:10 -- not unusual for this is be solidly booked
So assuming you are on the IAD/ORD connection, only the EWR is earlier. That then will involve a p.t.s. flight to SFO
If you presently have any non-UA operated flights, you need to talk to a phone agent.
Nov 13, 2017, 2:28 pm
#2945
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
Thanks!
Nov 15, 2017, 10:01 pm
#2946
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
With Premier gold status, my requests for domestic SDC have been very good lately, for requests on both earlier flights and later flights, all after check-in time. SFO-EWR, SJC-ORD, etc. There's always been some options. I'm almost always flying economy.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Could anyone please chime in on the success rate for international SDC? Is it more or less easy compared to domestic?
I'm booked for SFO-xxx-CDG soon. I would like to depart a lot earlier in the day, if I can. There appears to be many possible flight connections.
Thanks.
Nov 16, 2017, 3:03 pm
#2947
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: SQ QPPS, *A Gold, EK Skywards Gold
Posts: 673
SFO-HNL Same Day change
Hi
I am a 1K member. My family and I are booked SFO-KOA-HNL on Nov 22. Would prefer to take the non-stop SFO-HNL in the afternoon instead. The ticket is issued on UA stock, however the KOA-HNL is a UA codeshare operated by Hawaiian. Am I eligible for a same day change in this scenario?
I am a 1K member. My family and I are booked SFO-KOA-HNL on Nov 22. Would prefer to take the non-stop SFO-HNL in the afternoon instead. The ticket is issued on UA stock, however the KOA-HNL is a UA codeshare operated by Hawaiian. Am I eligible for a same day change in this scenario?
Nov 16, 2017, 5:11 pm
#2948
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
No. Only way you'd get it is if some delay on SFO-KOA makes KOA-HNL impossible, or HA preemptively cancels/delays KOA-HNL, in which case an agent can push you across to SFO-HNL without too much trouble.
If you are extremely lucky, app might offer you SDC to SFO-HNL, and if it's on 016 stock it'll probably be able to confirm the change. But that's far outside official policy.
If you are extremely lucky, app might offer you SDC to SFO-HNL, and if it's on 016 stock it'll probably be able to confirm the change. But that's far outside official policy.
Nov 16, 2017, 6:38 pm
#2949
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 880
Despite Wiki, not clear to me:
1K MEL-LAX in W->R confirmed with GPU, long layover 6 hrs and LAX-IAH nonstop W->R confirmed.
If I try to SDC to an earlier flight before departure from MEL for the LAX-IAH, then will I be able to use R space if available? Otherwise just join the CPU upgrade list and hope?
thanks
1K MEL-LAX in W->R confirmed with GPU, long layover 6 hrs and LAX-IAH nonstop W->R confirmed.
If I try to SDC to an earlier flight before departure from MEL for the LAX-IAH, then will I be able to use R space if available? Otherwise just join the CPU upgrade list and hope?
thanks
Nov 16, 2017, 6:44 pm
#2950
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,424
Nov 16, 2017, 10:11 pm
#2951
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, AA EXP, United 1K
Posts: 472
SDC options that seem to change the bookin class
I am currently booked in Q class on a p.s. flight within 24 hours. When I look at options to change flights on united.com it is offering me options to change for $0 to a bunch of flights and oddly, united.com says it will book into H class (and it also seems to say the fare is now refundable). If I make the change and then change back to my original flight will I likely be in H class and not Q? Also, I have an RPU applied and wondering if I SDC whether it will stick with the reservation. If it doesn't, would I have luck calling the 1K desk to get them to re-apply even though it is within 24 hours?
Nov 16, 2017, 10:17 pm
#2952
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
I am currently booked in Q class on a p.s. flight within 24 hours. When I look at options to change flights on united.com it is offering me options to change for $0 to a bunch of flights and oddly, united.com says it will book into H class (and it also seems to say the fare is now refundable). If I make the change and then change back to my original flight will I likely be in H class and not Q? Also, I have an RPU applied and wondering if I SDC whether it will stick with the reservation. If it doesn't, would I have luck calling the 1K desk to get them to re-apply even though it is within 24 hours?
Nov 17, 2017, 10:05 am
#2953
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA 1K (Million Miler). AA Gold (lifetime 1 Million). TK Elite Gold
Posts: 895
SDC on UA metal ticketed on NH
1k with routing EWR-NRT/HND-KUL. I would like to do SDC to arrive into HND instead of into NRT. Could I do a SDC to EWR-SFO-HND on UA metal even ticketed on 205 stock? Thanks
Nov 17, 2017, 10:59 am
#2954
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
No, and you shouldn't try, as UA can't reissue a 205 ticket and NH won't know anything about SDC. United.com might appear to allow it, but it won't ticket and you'll end up with a mismatched reservation, hoping that there are still seats available on the original routing for a UA rep to put you back onto.
Nov 17, 2017, 11:51 am
#2955
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA 1K (Million Miler). AA Gold (lifetime 1 Million). TK Elite Gold
Posts: 895
No, and you shouldn't try, as UA can't reissue a 205 ticket and NH won't know anything about SDC. United.com might appear to allow it, but it won't ticket and you'll end up with a mismatched reservation, hoping that there are still seats available on the original routing for a UA rep to put you back onto.
Noted. And I do thank you for your very many helpful and informative replies to others' queies.