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}
Jul 7, 2018, 10:05 pm
#4051
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
1. So I can see if I SDC I will not pay a fee (as 1K), but I am confused as to whether I have to pay a fare difference.
2. If I SDC and take a connection and then do not take the last leg is that an issue? I actually want to go to another destination, and thinking of taking a non United flight for the last leg. In looking at the Wiki it does not seem I can SDC to a different city. In my case the flight is to LAX but I want to go to SAN. The LAX flight arrives later than i would like for getting home to SAN so if I SDC to an earlier flight I can go to a different United hub and then catch a flight from there.
TIA
2. If I SDC and take a connection and then do not take the last leg is that an issue? I actually want to go to another destination, and thinking of taking a non United flight for the last leg. In looking at the Wiki it does not seem I can SDC to a different city. In my case the flight is to LAX but I want to go to SAN. The LAX flight arrives later than i would like for getting home to SAN so if I SDC to an earlier flight I can go to a different United hub and then catch a flight from there.
TIA
Last edited by Aussienarelle; Jul 7, 2018 at 10:12 pm
Jul 7, 2018, 10:16 pm
#4052
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
No Show / Skipping / or Flying United Airlines Flight Segment(s) Out of Order?
Jul 7, 2018, 11:43 pm
#4053
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
I have had the exact same problem many times. I simply check both the app and the website. If a $0 SDC is available on either medium, I've never had a problem confirming it.
Jul 8, 2018, 8:20 am
#4054
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
Data point for SDC with multiple pax on PNR that was split.
Non status daughter & wife were traveling with me on a RT ticket. All on same PNR originally, which ended up being split 3 ways on the outbound for RPU & CPU reasons.
3 PNR's on the return and wanted to SDC all of us to the earlier flight. Obviously App & Website wanted to charge them each $75 to change, so had to call in.
Phone rep wanted to charge the SDC fees for them, but I pushed back and said we all were on the same PNR originally and they were my family/companions. Almost HUCA'd, but gave the rep a chance to get it right. She put me on hold for 5 minutes and came back with everything done. Must have called in a supervisor.
Moral of the story. Know the rules & be firm but persistent when you call in.
Non status daughter & wife were traveling with me on a RT ticket. All on same PNR originally, which ended up being split 3 ways on the outbound for RPU & CPU reasons.
3 PNR's on the return and wanted to SDC all of us to the earlier flight. Obviously App & Website wanted to charge them each $75 to change, so had to call in.
Phone rep wanted to charge the SDC fees for them, but I pushed back and said we all were on the same PNR originally and they were my family/companions. Almost HUCA'd, but gave the rep a chance to get it right. She put me on hold for 5 minutes and came back with everything done. Must have called in a supervisor.
Moral of the story. Know the rules & be firm but persistent when you call in.
Jul 8, 2018, 8:51 am
#4055
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
Data point for SDC with multiple pax on PNR that was split.
Non status daughter & wife were traveling with me on a RT ticket. All on same PNR originally, which ended up being split 3 ways on the outbound for RPU & CPU reasons.
3 PNR's on the return and wanted to SDC all of us to the earlier flight. Obviously App & Website wanted to charge them each $75 to change, so had to call in.
Phone rep wanted to charge the SDC fees for them, but I pushed back and said we all were on the same PNR originally and they were my family/companions. Almost HUCA'd, but gave the rep a chance to get it right. She put me on hold for 5 minutes and came back with everything done. Must have called in a supervisor.
Moral of the story. Know the rules & be firm but persistent when you call in.
Non status daughter & wife were traveling with me on a RT ticket. All on same PNR originally, which ended up being split 3 ways on the outbound for RPU & CPU reasons.
3 PNR's on the return and wanted to SDC all of us to the earlier flight. Obviously App & Website wanted to charge them each $75 to change, so had to call in.
Phone rep wanted to charge the SDC fees for them, but I pushed back and said we all were on the same PNR originally and they were my family/companions. Almost HUCA'd, but gave the rep a chance to get it right. She put me on hold for 5 minutes and came back with everything done. Must have called in a supervisor.
Moral of the story. Know the rules & be firm but persistent when you call in.
Last year post-Harvey I thought SDC was impossible for my FLL-ORD-LAX. With IAH canceled for days, EWR and IAD were filled up. But then UA decided to add an extra FLL-SFO to take care of those going through IAH to points further west. The extra section was not well-advertised in time, and had excellent CPU. I SDCd at the counter and was immediately upgraded, but the PQD came back shrunk! (Not that I cared due to card spend exemption.)
Now I have a cheap $600 LAX-HNL-GUM-HKG and back for late summer. I know I can SDC LAX-HNL/HNL-LAX to go through SFO or DEN/IAH (losing CPU). But is there any chance of the system allowing ORD-HKG/HKG-ORD or EWR-HKG/HKG-EWR? (I'm chasing PQM, so obviously avoiding SFO-HKG/HKG-SFO unless there are wild LAX-SFO-LAX options.)
Jul 8, 2018, 9:02 am
#4056
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
On the way back, it’s possible that when you got to GUM, you might be offered GUM-NRT-LAX on the app. I consider it unlikely that you’d be offered any options at all by the app at HKG, and an agent is more likely to look for things like HKG-SFO-LAX. It’s also possible that any number of weird routings might pop up once you get to HNL. On the way out, I wouldn’t be surprised if the app never offers you anything.
Jul 8, 2018, 9:27 am
#4057
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,911
On the way back, it’s possible that when you got to GUM, you might be offered GUM-NRT-LAX on the app. I consider it unlikely that you’d be offered any options at all by the app at HKG, and an agent is more likely to look for things like HKG-SFO-LAX. It’s also possible that any number of weird routings might pop up once you get to HNL. On the way out, I wouldn’t be surprised if the app never offers you anything.
From HNL, if I were looking for some lie-flat time, it'd be a HNL-SFO vs LAX. Currently HNL-LAX F is mostly booked while SFO is empty, except it will be a Sunday and first LAX is 8 am (that's 3 hours in the UC).
Jul 8, 2018, 1:25 pm
#4058
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 611
I had an M fare which was causing issues (described above). The agent after overriding the system said what probably happened was that my corporate booking had some extra characters after the M, something like M/A185 which she said was probably a discount offered through my corporate travel agency. If that were true, shouldn't only the overriding class "M" count for the SDC qualification, regardless if there was some sort of fare discount through the travel agency? The agent said she wasn't even sure if technically the SDC should have been allowed.
Jul 8, 2018, 2:08 pm
#4059
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
I had an M fare which was causing issues (described above). The agent after overriding the system said what probably happened was that my corporate booking had some extra characters after the M, something like M/A185 which she said was probably a discount offered through my corporate travel agency. If that were true, shouldn't only the overriding class "M" count for the SDC qualification, regardless if there was some sort of fare discount through the travel agency? The agent said she wasn't even sure if technically the SDC should have been allowed.
Jul 8, 2018, 2:08 pm
#4060
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
Depends on the corporate / agency agreement. Some consolidator fares do not allow changes of any kind. Without researching the phone agent was taking a chance this agreement might (even if unlikely) have had some sort of restriction. The app is your friend in these cases as it tends to overlook these potential limitations.
Jul 8, 2018, 5:18 pm
#4061
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Thanks for the assessment. On return, I'd be looking for HKG-ORD/EWR the day after (commitment during the day). On the original itin, the eastbound GUM connection will be so short that I pretty much cannot check any bag in order to SDC. But through NRT there'd be a few waiting hours either at GUM or NRT. I wonder if I could SDC on wifi before reaching GUM.
Without a checked bag, you’d be able to see SDC options from the next station as soon as your coupon is lifted (marked used). Typically, with UA, that occurs as soon as your boarding pass is scanned; you can probably SDC as soon as you get onto the plane.With a checked bag, you’ll need to involve an agent, and you’re creating a lot of extra work for somebody and increasing the chance of your bag getting lost in transit. (They have to go down, locate your checked bag, and re-tag it for your new flights). Unless you can give the agent a better reason than “I want extra PQMs,” I wouldn’t anticipate this being easy to do.
TL/DR: don’t check a bag when you’re looking to SDC in general, and especially when you’re looking to do it for reasons that aren’t going to make sense to people who don’t read FlyerTalk.
PS: I’d also discount the possibility of getting a CPU into a lie-flat seat from HNL to the mainland. While we’re starting to see instruments clear occasionally, and there are even the reports of an occasional CPU on the 737s, the premium traffic gravitates to the lie-flat options. I’d expect it to sell out; as you say you’re traveling “late summer,” I assume there’s still quite a bit of time for people to buy flights.
Jul 8, 2018, 5:30 pm
#4062
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: CO-plat, SPG-plat
Posts: 1,655
Does anyone have advice on WHERE/WHEN to best process SDC for AC-issued 4-segment award travel with first segment on BR? I'd like to change my SFO-AUS-IAH segments to one of the SFO-IAH nonstops. I assume BR wouldn't touch this at all. My options are as follows:
1. On the phone with UA prior to check-in (I assume UA.com still does not support SDC for itineraries with >3 segments).
2. At TPE airport prior to check-in (UA ticket counter should be open when I check-in).
3. At TPE airport UA ticket counter after check-in with BR. Although I'd have the UA segment boarding passes in hand, I would already have checking my baggage to final destination. Alternatively, I can decline to check my baggage when obtaining boarding passes and walk over to UA ticket counter. If successful SDC to desired flight, I can return to BR and check my baggage to final destination on the new flights.
4. After reclaiming baggage at SFO, I can skip the baggage re-check and proceed to ticket counter to attempt SDC there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
1. On the phone with UA prior to check-in (I assume UA.com still does not support SDC for itineraries with >3 segments).
2. At TPE airport prior to check-in (UA ticket counter should be open when I check-in).
3. At TPE airport UA ticket counter after check-in with BR. Although I'd have the UA segment boarding passes in hand, I would already have checking my baggage to final destination. Alternatively, I can decline to check my baggage when obtaining boarding passes and walk over to UA ticket counter. If successful SDC to desired flight, I can return to BR and check my baggage to final destination on the new flights.
4. After reclaiming baggage at SFO, I can skip the baggage re-check and proceed to ticket counter to attempt SDC there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Jul 8, 2018, 5:36 pm
#4063
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
You might be able to get someone at SFO to put you onto the nonstop when you go to re-check your baggage — out of all of your options, it’s the only one that even has a chance at success.Mostly, though, unless you’re a vegetarian, I’d just be planning to stop by the Salt Lick and pick up some Hill Country barbecue.
Jul 8, 2018, 5:39 pm
#4064
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
Does anyone have advice on WHERE/WHEN to best process SDC for AC-issued 4-segment award travel with first segment on BR? I'd like to change my SFO-AUS-IAH segments to one of the SFO-IAH nonstops. I assume BR wouldn't touch this at all. My options are as follows:
1. On the phone with UA prior to check-in (I assume UA.com still does not support SDC for itineraries with >3 segments).
2. At TPE airport prior to check-in (UA ticket counter should be open when I check-in).
3. At TPE airport UA ticket counter after check-in with BR. Although I'd have the UA segment boarding passes in hand, I would already have checking my baggage to final destination. Alternatively, I can decline to check my baggage when obtaining boarding passes and walk over to UA ticket counter. If successful SDC to desired flight, I can return to BR and check my baggage to final destination on the new flights.
4. After reclaiming baggage at SFO, I can skip the baggage re-check and proceed to ticket counter to attempt SDC there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
1. On the phone with UA prior to check-in (I assume UA.com still does not support SDC for itineraries with >3 segments).
2. At TPE airport prior to check-in (UA ticket counter should be open when I check-in).
3. At TPE airport UA ticket counter after check-in with BR. Although I'd have the UA segment boarding passes in hand, I would already have checking my baggage to final destination. Alternatively, I can decline to check my baggage when obtaining boarding passes and walk over to UA ticket counter. If successful SDC to desired flight, I can return to BR and check my baggage to final destination on the new flights.
4. After reclaiming baggage at SFO, I can skip the baggage re-check and proceed to ticket counter to attempt SDC there.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
In practice - it can happen on a multi-carrier itin, only once all partner segments have been reported as ‘used’. There’s no point in doing anything at TPE - it won’t work, and even if the IA desk could do it (they won’t be in control of the ticket anyway, at that point, I don’t think), I wouldn’t want to risk anything going wrong with the existing BR segment.
You could theoretically try on the UA app after boarding your BR flight - not sure how fast BR reports, but you’ll know as your checked in UA segments will show electronic BPs on the app. However, it sounds like you have checked bags, which will disable the ability to SDC there.
Youre only choice really is to do this on landing at SFO. You can try calling when you can turn your cell phone on at taxi, but an agent may or may not do it (based on checked bag). Best place to do it is probably at baggage re check - they’ll also be able to retag bags for you.
Jul 8, 2018, 5:57 pm
#4065
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
You could theoretically try on the UA app after boarding your BR flight - not sure how fast BR reports, but you’ll know as your checked in UA segments will show electronic BPs on the app. However, it sounds like you have checked bags, which will disable the ability to SDC there.
You do not want to SDC a non-016 ticket, but you really, really do not want to SDC a non-016 ticket to add or remove a segment.