Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > United Airlines | MileagePlus
Reload this Page >

UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}

Old Jan 4, 2015, 2:01 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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:
  • 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)
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.
  • 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
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}
Print Wikipost

UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}

Old Jul 24, 2018, 8:33 pm
  #4141  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,327
Originally Posted by nobodyherebutme
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.
The link is still there and will only appear if the check-in process finds available flights that you could SDC to --- meaning it finds flights within 24 hours that have your fare bucket open and that meet all other SDC rules. Since the link doesn't appear during check-in then the check-in process found no eligible flights. You can keep checking through the app periodically.

-RM
RobOnLI is offline  
Old Jul 24, 2018, 8:37 pm
  #4142  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Originally Posted by Aussienarelle
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 ).
It depends a lot on the specific fare rules once you are no longer attempting an SDC. Generally speaking, if the ticketed fare class is currently available, and the inventory would have been legal by the fare rules at ticketing (time-wise), then you can make an even exchange and pay only the change fee. However, all of this is detailed in the fare rules of each and every fare, and I'm just listing the most common tag for this situation. Further complications involving downline segments will also muddle things if this is not simply a one-way or the last segment of a longer journey.

Remember for SDC that not only does the new flight need to be within 24 hours of the old one, but the current time also has to be within 24 hours.
findark is offline  
Old Jul 24, 2018, 8:39 pm
  #4143  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,580
Originally Posted by Aussienarelle
.... 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 ).
If your original fare class is not available, there will be a fare differential (but no change fee) in the SDC.

Note, exact 24-hour changes are not really possible and for lower fare classes SDC with no fare differential may not be possible until well after T-24, as lower fare classes may not be opened until closer to departure if there is little space available.

Originally Posted by j2simpso
.... STALK fares ...
????
Fares lower than W are S,T,L,K,G ... "A" is discount F fare.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 24, 2018 at 8:45 pm Reason: self merge
WineCountryUA is offline  
Old Jul 24, 2018, 8:59 pm
  #4144  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
Originally Posted by findark
It depends a lot on the specific fare rules once you are no longer attempting an SDC. Generally speaking, if the ticketed fare class is currently available, and the inventory would have been legal by the fare rules at ticketing (time-wise), then you can make an even exchange and pay only the change fee. However, all of this is detailed in the fare rules of each and every fare, and I'm just listing the most common tag for this situation. Further complications involving downline segments will also muddle things if this is not simply a one-way or the last segment of a longer journey.
Changing the first coupon often (not always) triggers a re-price, because you may be tied to the current advance purchase restrictions. As you point out, the full fare rules govern whether or not this is true.

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
????
Fares lower than W are S,T,L,K,G ... "A" is discount F fare.
STALK is AC terminology. It's likely to confuse people on the UA board.
jsloan is online now  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 5:42 pm
  #4145  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 180
I have Star Alliance Gold (not United) and am able to make SDC (within 24 hours of flight) with the United app for free. If I book 2 tickets together and my travel partner does not have *Gold status, can I use the SDC (for free) for both tickets?

Thanks!
hoangtri1 is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 6:40 pm
  #4146  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,855
Originally Posted by hoangtri1
I have Star Alliance Gold (not United) and am able to make SDC (within 24 hours of flight) with the United app for free. If I book 2 tickets together and my travel partner does not have *Gold status, can I use the SDC (for free) for both tickets?

Thanks!
lots of reports of *G getting free SDC. He published benefit applies to UA Premier members only (gold and up), but realistically, seems to apply to *G.

If you get it, yes, companion on the same PNR should too.
emcampbe is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 7:14 am
  #4147  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,524
Was scheduled to fly DTW-ORD-SAN this afternoon, moved it to tomorrow AM, at a less then ideal time, with the intention to move it again later. However, my return leaves San diego tomorrow night at 9pm to newark. Now that i've moved my first set of flights to tomorrow, and checked in, the app (and UA.com) thinks I'm going to newark, and I can't make any changes. It seems kind of odd that it would think that. It's preventing me from making any SDC changes (there should be a couple other options to fly out tonight, as an example).

I setup an expertflyer alert so I'm not checking the UA app, but wanted to make sure that if I found something that worked and called into UA, they'd be able to at least understand what I'm saying and make an SDC to San Diego, not Newark.
BThumme is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 7:21 am
  #4148  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,752
It seems like that loose routing rules may be over. Ive held a SFO-LAX for the last few days that Ive kept pushing out, and Ive only been offered LAS/SBP/SBA/SAN/MFR/PHX/SMF consistently as alternates even though many other flights had fare class availability.

Contrast this to a week ago when I was offered SFO-HNL-SFO-LAX
pushmyredbutton is offline  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 8:46 am
  #4149  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
Originally Posted by BThumme
I setup an expertflyer alert so I'm not checking the UA app, but wanted to make sure that if I found something that worked and called into UA, they'd be able to at least understand what I'm saying and make an SDC to San Diego, not Newark.
Yes, the agents will still see it as two flights and should be able to make changes for you.
jsloan is online now  
Old Jul 27, 2018, 8:55 am
  #4150  
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 813
Originally Posted by emcampbe
you cannot SDC anything (non-UA issued ticket ignored, at the moment), unless it is UA/UAX
From the wiki-
  • Change UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to UA metal: A
Has anyone had any success with this recently? I have in the past, but earlier this year 2 attempts were (correctly, if one is honest) firmly rejected.
kilo is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2018, 8:13 pm
  #4151  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA 1k MM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 256
Standby Rules

Question for the experts. My wife (1k) booked an award ticket for a friend, no status, travelling today. The last leg LAX/FAT she checked at gate for a standby flight 3 hours earlier. There were 4 other people on the standby list when she asked 25 minutes before boarding. T o both her and my surprise she got the last seat.

My question is 1) she was asked for no fee to standby and 2) she went to the top of the standby list.

Her ticket showed XN . Is this what helped her "jump the line" and no fee or my wife's status? I thought perhaps the other standby customers didn't show, but why no $75 fee?

Last edited by sgfood; Jul 28, 2018 at 8:36 pm
sgfood is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2018, 8:42 pm
  #4152  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,359
Originally Posted by sgfood
Standby Rules

Question for the experts. My wife (1k) booked an award ticket for a friend, no status, travelling today. The last leg LAX/FAT she checked at gate for a standby flight 3 hours earlier. There were 4 other people on the standby list when she asked 25 minutes before boarding. T o both her and my surprise she got the last seat.

My question is 1) she was asked for no fee to standby and 2) she went to the top of the standby list.

Her ticket showed XN . Is this what helped her "jump the line" and no fee or my wife's status? I thought perhaps the other standby customers didn't show, but why no $75 fee?
It's possible that the friend (incorrectly) 'inhereted' your wife's 1K status. However, it's also possible she did not. There's no standby fee when at a connection point, and even no-status XN (lowest fare class) could be prioritised above someone flying non-rev, e.g., on a buddy pass.
fumje is offline  
Old Jul 28, 2018, 11:14 pm
  #4153  
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 131
  • Change at layover airport when a bag has been checked: N
I've been able request a SDC at a stopover airport with a Checked bag. I was flying PVG-LAX-EWR with a final connection to a small northeastern city. I wanted to get out of LAX earlier so I could get some sleep on the PS lie flat seats. The lounge agent was willing let me change since my final flight would be the same.
Resonant Programmer is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 5:50 am
  #4154  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,324
Originally Posted by sgfood
Her ticket showed XN . Is this what helped her "jump the line" and no fee or my wife's status? I thought perhaps the other standby customers didn't show, but why no $75 fee?
The vast majority of people on the standby list are NRSAs, so any revenue pax (awards count in this context) would trump them.
findark is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2018, 9:57 pm
  #4155  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 529
SDC Availability starts when? Applies to same city airports?

I'm UA Gold so SDC is free.

I want to get a SAN-IAD ticket for a couple weeks from now.

Say my scheduled departure is Monday at 4pm. Is the first time SDC opens up for me at $0 at 4pm on Sunday?

So, beginning at 4pm on Sunday, I can look for availability for any flights on Sunday night?

Also, will any $0 options be indicated to the BWI or DCA airports since they all fit under the WAS airport code?

Thank you!
EQDsSUCK is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.