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 23, 2019, 6:57 am
#4966
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2
I'm flying NBO-FRA-SFO, with the NBO-FRA leg on LH and FRA-SFO on UA. The UA leg follows a long layover (12 hours) so I want to SDC to an earlier UA operated flight (also direct FRA-SFO). Is this possible?
Feb 23, 2019, 7:53 am
#4967
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
You should have the ability to SDC once the NBO-FRA flight is marked as 'used,' which will be sometime between boarding in NBO and arrival. You'll need availability in the same fare class that you're currently booked into. If there's no availability, you can ask for standby instead.
Feb 23, 2019, 8:26 am
#4968
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Weird question here for a round-trip ticket.
Not exactly a SDC question.
If I have to change my departure date into the future, past the day of the "return flight" can I change the "return flight" a little later? That is I won't have enough information to schedule my "return flight" right away. Can I change the "return flight" later, of course before the "return flight" is supposed to occur?
Will I cause some kind of time warp and UA will cancel my entire ticket?
I don't want to pay for more ticket changes than I need to. At worst, one change fee per direction. Thanks.
Not exactly a SDC question.
If I have to change my departure date into the future, past the day of the "return flight" can I change the "return flight" a little later? That is I won't have enough information to schedule my "return flight" right away. Can I change the "return flight" later, of course before the "return flight" is supposed to occur?
Will I cause some kind of time warp and UA will cancel my entire ticket?
I don't want to pay for more ticket changes than I need to. At worst, one change fee per direction. Thanks.
Feb 23, 2019, 10:37 am
#4969
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
You should have the ability to SDC once the NBO-FRA flight is marked as 'used,' which will be sometime between boarding in NBO and arrival. You'll need availability in the same fare class that you're currently booked into. If there's no availability, you can ask for standby instead.
You should have the ability to SDC once the NBO-FRA flight is marked as 'used,' which will be sometime between boarding in NBO and arrival. You'll need availability in the same fare class that you're currently booked into. If there's no availability, you can ask for standby instead.
Feb 23, 2019, 11:44 am
#4970
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Feb 23, 2019, 12:07 pm
#4971
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: YVR/YUL/LHR/HKG
Programs: TK Gold
Posts: 577
Just asking whether SDC is available with Basic Economy passengers with status? I have * Gold, and I don't seem to find the policy explicitly. It seems to suggest that non status passenger wont get SDC... Not sure about status pax?
Feb 23, 2019, 12:18 pm
#4972
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Cannot change!
When one purchases a basic economy ticket, one of the caveats is that no change is allowed. The C in SDC stands for change. So, you cannot do it with or without status!
Feb 23, 2019, 1:36 pm
#4973
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,709
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
You should have the ability to SDC once the NBO-FRA flight is marked as 'used,' which will be sometime between boarding in NBO and arrival. You'll need availability in the same fare class that you're currently booked into. If there's no availability, you can ask for standby instead.
You should have the ability to SDC once the NBO-FRA flight is marked as 'used,' which will be sometime between boarding in NBO and arrival. You'll need availability in the same fare class that you're currently booked into. If there's no availability, you can ask for standby instead.
Feb 23, 2019, 6:15 pm
#4974
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 114
If I book a YN award flight for 15k miles, can I SDC to any flight with YN availability in the 24 hour window, even if it requires more miles?
Feb 23, 2019, 9:40 pm
#4975
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
Feb 24, 2019, 10:22 am
#4976
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 380
Don’t know if this is because of today’s ORD weather waiver, my flight delay, or a programming glitch. But I was able to SDC on an upgraded PZ fare class to a different flight and retained the upgrade via the app.
This sort of explains why I couldn’t SDC to any flight yesterday because the system was probably searching for open T fare flights and for some reason couldn’t find any (despite all the flights I was looking at being wide open in Y).
Interesting change if this app feature sticks. There are some days I’d rather give up my upgrade just to get where I am going faster.
This sort of explains why I couldn’t SDC to any flight yesterday because the system was probably searching for open T fare flights and for some reason couldn’t find any (despite all the flights I was looking at being wide open in Y).
Interesting change if this app feature sticks. There are some days I’d rather give up my upgrade just to get where I am going faster.
Feb 24, 2019, 10:43 am
#4977
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
Was PZ available on the new flight? This has been the default behavior since the switch from R to PZ.
Feb 24, 2019, 11:07 am
#4978
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 380
I didn’t check but it must have been. Took the last remaining F seat ORD-DEN with 20+ on the upgrade list.
Feb 24, 2019, 11:36 am
#4979
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
Don’t know if this is because of today’s ORD weather waiver, my flight delay, or a programming glitch. But I was able to SDC on an upgraded PZ fare class to a different flight and retained the upgrade via the app.
This sort of explains why I couldn’t SDC to any flight yesterday because the system was probably searching for open T fare flights and for some reason couldn’t find any (despite all the flights I was looking at being wide open in Y).
Interesting change if this app feature sticks. There are some days I’d rather give up my upgrade just to get where I am going faster.
This sort of explains why I couldn’t SDC to any flight yesterday because the system was probably searching for open T fare flights and for some reason couldn’t find any (despite all the flights I was looking at being wide open in Y).
Interesting change if this app feature sticks. There are some days I’d rather give up my upgrade just to get where I am going faster.
Feb 25, 2019, 1:39 pm
#4980
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: MEX
Programs: AM, UA, AA
Posts: 64
Quick question,
I'm connecting from an international flight in IAH with a 4-h layover to SAT
There's a flight that shortens my layover to 2 hours.
I'm Silver
I was thinking on getting to the connections desk just after Customs and try to change to the earlier flight if there are free seats
My question is: will I be charged the $75 USD or that depends on the agent?
Thanks
I'm connecting from an international flight in IAH with a 4-h layover to SAT
There's a flight that shortens my layover to 2 hours.
I'm Silver
I was thinking on getting to the connections desk just after Customs and try to change to the earlier flight if there are free seats
My question is: will I be charged the $75 USD or that depends on the agent?
Thanks