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 24, 2018, 12:58 pm
#4126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I'm flying LHR-DEN-SFO on on a business class award on UA metal on Friday with a long layover in DEN. I no longer have UA status. Simple question: if I pay for a SDC to improve my connection at T-24 do I have to pay again if a better SDC (e.g. direct) opens up nearer to departure and I want to take it?
Sorry if this has been answered, my search-fu has failed me.
Sorry if this has been answered, my search-fu has failed me.
However, there may be an undocumented pmCO policy waiving the SDC fee at the transfer point. (Several people have reported waivers, anyway). So, it's possible that you might be able to get onto an earlier SFO flight for free if you try it once you arrive in DEN.
Note that there's an excellent chance that you'll never see any I inventory on DEN-SFO, so that may be moot. (I'm surprised you found any in the first place, to be honest). UA will likely upgrade a few GS/1K over the next couple of days and then they will try to sell the remaining seats for last-minute purchases and TOD upgrades. I don't like your chances on either of the nonstops either, to be honest -- there are likely only 8 J seats available, total, between the two flights.
Jul 24, 2018, 1:24 pm
#4127
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 585
What's the policy of accomodation for 1k? My MIA-ORD flight is coming in late from EWR and I will miss my last connection.
Jul 24, 2018, 1:41 pm
#4129
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 585
Did a same day change bc i knew of the newark weather, I chose to connect thru ORD instead. The flight that was delayed UA1415 was due to mechanical but it didn't say now on the app, just said delayed. Does it matter? Never got stuck like this before so not sure.
Jul 24, 2018, 1:46 pm
#4130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
For a 1K/GS, the biggest difference is that UA is more likely to put you on another airline if a delay is mechanical than if it's weather. For anyone else, mechanical vs. weather determines whether you get a voucher or if you're on your own. For a 1K, UA's unpublished policy is that they'll take care of you either way, but it will still be easier with a mechanical delay because not all CS agents know about the policy.
Jul 24, 2018, 1:48 pm
#4131
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,463
edit add: there is sort of a bug in the app (android only?) that flight status is not shown on the SDC screen, so you have to be careful in selecting a new flight.
Jul 24, 2018, 1:50 pm
#4132
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 585
Yeah, i don't know why they published mechanical delay in the beginning and then changed to "incoming flight arriving 1h 47m late" i wished i took that screen shot
Jul 24, 2018, 2:03 pm
#4133
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Typically that means that they swapped a flight somewhere. The historical information will be available for the customer service rep to see.
Jul 24, 2018, 2:05 pm
#4134
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
Yes.
However, there may be an undocumented pmCO policy waiving the SDC fee at the transfer point. (Several people have reported waivers, anyway). So, it's possible that you might be able to get onto an earlier SFO flight for free if you try it once you arrive in DEN.
Note that there's an excellent chance that you'll never see any I inventory on DEN-SFO, so that may be moot. (I'm surprised you found any in the first place, to be honest). UA will likely upgrade a few GS/1K over the next couple of days and then they will try to sell the remaining seats for last-minute purchases and TOD upgrades. I don't like your chances on either of the nonstops either, to be honest -- there are likely only 8 J seats available, total, between the two flights.
However, there may be an undocumented pmCO policy waiving the SDC fee at the transfer point. (Several people have reported waivers, anyway). So, it's possible that you might be able to get onto an earlier SFO flight for free if you try it once you arrive in DEN.
Note that there's an excellent chance that you'll never see any I inventory on DEN-SFO, so that may be moot. (I'm surprised you found any in the first place, to be honest). UA will likely upgrade a few GS/1K over the next couple of days and then they will try to sell the remaining seats for last-minute purchases and TOD upgrades. I don't like your chances on either of the nonstops either, to be honest -- there are likely only 8 J seats available, total, between the two flights.
Jul 24, 2018, 2:35 pm
#4135
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: D/FW
Programs: DL MM/Silver; UA 1K ; Hilton Gold; Marriott Titanium; Avis Pref+,Hertz PC
Posts: 585
So I am waiting in line at MIA to see if they could switch me a nonstop flt on AA. However, I checked in one bag. Since I don't have status on AA, would i be paying for the bag?
Jul 24, 2018, 2:43 pm
#4136
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,165
If so, you should not be charged but make sure UA pulls and reroutes it. If the bag is not already in UA's possession/already tagged -- unless you're flying up front on AA be prepared to pay for it [learned that lesson: complete check-in including having the contractor send the bag off to the netherworld before pulling the "I'm going to misconnect!" alarm]
Jul 24, 2018, 2:48 pm
#4137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Call the 1K Line. You can find the number on the back of your MileagePlus card. If you don't have the physical card, it's on the back of the card in the UA app also (tap the card to flip it over).
Jul 24, 2018, 7:08 pm
#4138
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
Has the Change Flight option been removed from the check-in screen in the IOS app? I've tried several times today (for a flight scheduled to leave at 8am tomorrow) but haven't seen it. I saw that I could still access the function through the reservation. Not only is it many more clicks and waits but it also doesn't seem to serve up as many free changes as the other option used to.
Jul 24, 2018, 7:57 pm
#4139
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
So I tried to change my flight to a day earlier but the 1K desk at first said the fare class was not available (W) but then told me it would cost me $$$$. The cost of my hotel room was negligible so although would like to have been home earlier just stayed the extra day.
I have another flight next week and would like to change it to a day earlier but wanting to understand if it costs more even when the same fare class is available. I did not think this was the case but wanted to confirm as I was confused by the call yesterday.
I do understand there is a change fee since it is not with 24 hours of the original flight. For yesterday's call I was trying to change to the exact flight 24 hours earlier which is outside the SDC window (I believe ).
I have another flight next week and would like to change it to a day earlier but wanting to understand if it costs more even when the same fare class is available. I did not think this was the case but wanted to confirm as I was confused by the call yesterday.
I do understand there is a change fee since it is not with 24 hours of the original flight. For yesterday's call I was trying to change to the exact flight 24 hours earlier which is outside the SDC window (I believe ).
Jul 24, 2018, 8:07 pm
#4140
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
So I tried to change my flight to a day earlier but the 1K desk at first said the fare class was not available (W) but then told me it would cost me $$$$. The cost of my hotel room was negligible so although would like to have been home earlier just stayed the extra day.
I have another flight next week and would like to change it to a day earlier but wanting to understand if it costs more even when the same fare class is available. I did not think this was the case but wanted to confirm as I was confused by the call yesterday.
I do understand there is a change fee since it is not with 24 hours of the original flight. For yesterday's call I was trying to change to the exact flight 24 hours earlier which is outside the SDC window (I believe ).
I have another flight next week and would like to change it to a day earlier but wanting to understand if it costs more even when the same fare class is available. I did not think this was the case but wanted to confirm as I was confused by the call yesterday.
I do understand there is a change fee since it is not with 24 hours of the original flight. For yesterday's call I was trying to change to the exact flight 24 hours earlier which is outside the SDC window (I believe ).
You may want to try changing the flight online from the Manage Reservations tab of United.com since it will allow you to see all options available (including change fees and fare difference) so you can make a more informed decision than what the 1K agent would tell you.
Hope that provides some insight.
Safe Travels,
James