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}
Dec 24, 2022, 11:18 pm
#7261
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
True for international flights, and that’s why most carriers don’t really like to let you standby with checked luggage. It’s a pain.
For domestic flights, your bag is as likely as not to be loaded onto the next flight to your destination whether you’re on it or not. There is no positive passenger-bag match requirement for US domestic flights, and UA doesn’t really want the baggage room littered with bags for future flights.
For domestic flights, your bag is as likely as not to be loaded onto the next flight to your destination whether you’re on it or not. There is no positive passenger-bag match requirement for US domestic flights, and UA doesn’t really want the baggage room littered with bags for future flights.
i guess i will be the annoying passenger standing there making sure it gets loaded before walking to jetway
well, as long as it doesnt go missing. if it comes at a later flight that's fine esp when on the way home. the bag will be delivered straight to doorstep
Dec 24, 2022, 11:44 pm
#7262
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
What the earlier poster is suggesting is the bag will be on the earlier flight, rather or not you clear on that flight and when not picked up, put aside until you arrive. And that is a possibility. No sure how common either approach is (hold or sending forward on the earlier flight). Note even if you do not standby, the bag going on an earlier flight, is always a possibility.
Dec 25, 2022, 12:48 am
#7263
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
What the earlier poster is suggesting is the bag will be on the earlier flight, rather or not you clear on that flight and when not picked up, put aside until you arrive. And that is a possibility. No sure how common either approach is (hold or sending forward on the earlier flight). Note even if you do not standby, the bag going on an earlier flight, is always a possibility.
forwarding bag and if successful, the bag will be sitting at destination airport unclaimed then? I guess there are not many bag thiefs here and the bag will probably be sitting at some airport office at some point.
Dec 25, 2022, 1:16 am
#7264
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
Positive passenger bag match has not been required for decades in the US
Many than you care to know about
Dec 25, 2022, 2:47 am
#7265
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
the only airports i personally feel comfortable letting bags sit unclaimed are SIN/TYO
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 25, 2022 at 1:10 pm Reason: No needed to go there
Dec 25, 2022, 8:04 am
#7266
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
They tried it for a while after 9/11. It was quietly dropped after a few months. Many people still believe this is done, but it’s been two decades since it was enforced. Officially, the reason is that all luggage is scanned with enhanced explosive scanners, but behind the scenes, the airlines absolutely hated it and lobbied to kill it, as it was killing their on-time performance.
Even on international flights, the airline is not strictly required to carry the passenger luggage on the same plane as the passenger, provided that the separation is involuntary. In practice, that just means that if the airline mis-routes a bag, they can get it back to you even though you’re not on that plane.
Luggage theft is rarely a big problem in the US. Not only are there cameras all over airports, meaning that thieves know they’re likely to be identified, in most cases suitcases are going to be full of used clothing and half-full toiletries. If you look around an airport baggage service office after a bunch of delayed flights like we’ve had the last few days, you’ll see lots and lots of bags with little attention being paid to them, waiting for their owners to show up and claim them.
Even on international flights, the airline is not strictly required to carry the passenger luggage on the same plane as the passenger, provided that the separation is involuntary. In practice, that just means that if the airline mis-routes a bag, they can get it back to you even though you’re not on that plane.
Luggage theft is rarely a big problem in the US. Not only are there cameras all over airports, meaning that thieves know they’re likely to be identified, in most cases suitcases are going to be full of used clothing and half-full toiletries. If you look around an airport baggage service office after a bunch of delayed flights like we’ve had the last few days, you’ll see lots and lots of bags with little attention being paid to them, waiting for their owners to show up and claim them.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 25, 2022 at 1:11 pm Reason: updated quote ro reflect Moderator edit
Dec 25, 2022, 9:42 pm
#7267
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 49
Context:
At the Premier check-in desk, I asked the agent to add me to the standby list. I got a laundry list of reasons why this isn't possible:
At this point, the agent called a supervisor, who ran through 1-3 above. I politely but stubbornly stood at the desk and told the agents to tell me which rule I was violating, and I'd happily be on my way.
After ~10 minutes of standing at the desk, the supervisor told the agent to "do it manually," and I overheard the agent say she'd do it in SHARES. I noticed that my fare class on the app changed to "W", and they handed me a boarding pass for the desired nonstop flight. I even got an aisle seat.
Did I just get very lucky?
Incidentally, I'm unable to (voluntarily) change the date of my return flight YYY-XXX online, so I'll have to call... are these changes likely to have messed up the pricing structure on my reservation?
- I had a round trip ticket XXX-YYY-XXX.
- I voluntarily changed to XXX-ZZZ-YYY-XXX, i.e. adding a connection on the outbound, when changing the date.
- I wanted to standby on the nonstop XXX-YYY, which departed less than an hour after my confirmed XXX-ZZZ flight.
- Within 24h of the desired nonstop flight, I tried to standby in the app, but the app said there were no standby options. However, the desired nonstop flight had economy seats available for standby per the Flight Status page.
At the Premier check-in desk, I asked the agent to add me to the standby list. I got a laundry list of reasons why this isn't possible:
- The computer says there are no standby options. (I showed her the Flight Status page for the nonstop.)
- I was on an award ticket, so I can't standby. (Not true - I had "K" fare class which isn't an award. I pointed to the "K" on the agent's screen and said an award would be "X" or "YN.")
- I had a connection, so I can't standby on a nonstop. (I thought this wasn't true, but I reread the wiki post, and I appear to have confused SDC and standby -- rookie mistake)
At this point, the agent called a supervisor, who ran through 1-3 above. I politely but stubbornly stood at the desk and told the agents to tell me which rule I was violating, and I'd happily be on my way.
After ~10 minutes of standing at the desk, the supervisor told the agent to "do it manually," and I overheard the agent say she'd do it in SHARES. I noticed that my fare class on the app changed to "W", and they handed me a boarding pass for the desired nonstop flight. I even got an aisle seat.
Did I just get very lucky?
Incidentally, I'm unable to (voluntarily) change the date of my return flight YYY-XXX online, so I'll have to call... are these changes likely to have messed up the pricing structure on my reservation?
Dec 26, 2022, 1:07 am
#7268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
After ~10 minutes of standing at the desk, the supervisor told the agent to "do it manually," and I overheard the agent say she'd do it in SHARES. I noticed that my fare class on the app changed to "W", and they handed me a boarding pass for the desired nonstop flight. I even got an aisle seat.
Did I just get very lucky?
Did I just get very lucky?
In general, you needn’t / shouldn’t try to get added to the standby list at check-in. They can do it, but it’s not their specialty, and anyway you’re going to have to interact with someone else when you clear. Instead, ask at the gate for the flight you want to get onto.
Dec 31, 2022, 6:36 am
#7269
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 22
Missing a standby
Hi everyone, I didn't see any data points on this but what would happen if you stand by for an earlier flight but then end up missing it? Are you still confirmed on the original itinerary?
Scenario is I'm flying LHR-ORD-SFO with a long layover in ORD. I'd like to take an earlier ORD-SFO flight and see an option to standby (actually the app even shows me flights departing while I'm still en route to ORD), but since I have to go through immigration it might be pretty tight.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Scenario is I'm flying LHR-ORD-SFO with a long layover in ORD. I'd like to take an earlier ORD-SFO flight and see an option to standby (actually the app even shows me flights departing while I'm still en route to ORD), but since I have to go through immigration it might be pretty tight.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Dec 31, 2022, 9:41 am
#7270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
If I hadn’t shown up, I’m not sure what would have happened. It was not the usual procedure.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Dec 31, 2022, 12:27 pm
#7271
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
Hi everyone, I didn't see any data points on this but what would happen if you stand by for an earlier flight but then end up missing it? Are you still confirmed on the original itinerary?
Scenario is I'm flying LHR-ORD-SFO with a long layover in ORD. I'd like to take an earlier ORD-SFO flight and see an option to standby (actually the app even shows me flights departing while I'm still en route to ORD), but since I have to go through immigration it might be pretty tight.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Scenario is I'm flying LHR-ORD-SFO with a long layover in ORD. I'd like to take an earlier ORD-SFO flight and see an option to standby (actually the app even shows me flights departing while I'm still en route to ORD), but since I have to go through immigration it might be pretty tight.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
You’re supposed to be, yes. However, I recently cleared standby early, without the gate agent confirming that I was there. I was walking to the gate, intending to ask about my seat, when I saw that I’d been confirmed and had a seat assignment. I walked to the podium, irritated the person in the Group 2 line by using the Group 1 line, and scanned my standby boarding pass; it then spit out my real boarding pass.
If I hadn’t shown up, I’m not sure what would have happened. It was not the usual procedure.
Prior to my recent experience, I would have said to go ahead and standby. After that, I’d probably say not to standby until you get through security back at T1. (A reminder that not only do you have to go through immigration at ORD, you also have to take the train from T5 back to T1 and go through security).
If I hadn’t shown up, I’m not sure what would have happened. It was not the usual procedure.
Prior to my recent experience, I would have said to go ahead and standby. After that, I’d probably say not to standby until you get through security back at T1. (A reminder that not only do you have to go through immigration at ORD, you also have to take the train from T5 back to T1 and go through security).
Dec 31, 2022, 10:16 pm
#7272
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,280
Prior to my recent experience, I would have said to go ahead and standby. After that, I’d probably say not to standby until you get through security back at T1. (A reminder that not only do you have to go through immigration at ORD, you also have to take the train from T5 back to T1 and go through security).
I actually also had GA clear me without calling me (just saw my name in app showing cleared). It was before boarding started at all. However, I did notice I was still on the upgrade list for my original flight and stayed that way until it departed. So I would cautiously say no issue to 'no-show' your standby flight (obvious caveat is that I have not tried doing so).
Hi everyone, I didn't see any data points on this but what would happen if you stand by for an earlier flight but then end up missing it? Are you still confirmed on the original itinerary?
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Can I still request standby and if I'm not at the gate will they just give my seat to someone else (assuming I clear), or would clearing standby automatically remove my old confirmed seat and then I'd misconnect? Obviously another option is to standby at the gate but I'm worried at that point someone else might clear who might have been lower on the standby list.
Nov 1, 2023, 11:11 pm
#7273
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
This is an archive thread, the active thread is
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions -Free STBY for all, SDC for all elites
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions -Free STBY for all, SDC for all elites
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 6, 2024 at 12:58 am