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}
May 30, 2017, 8:16 pm
#2461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,404
Ms. Xyzzy was flying XXX-YYY today on an award ticket. She got to the airport early and politely asked at the gate to be listed as standby on an earlier flight. The agent gave all sorts of excuses why Ms. Xyzzy could not be listed to go standby. First was that she was checked in already for another flight. Then there wasn't room in X/XN on the desired flight. Then she was told that she wasn't on a revenue ticket. Finally the exasperated GA told her to call the 1K line because perhaps they could move her. Of course the 1K line said the flight was under gate control so Ms Xyzzy handed the gate agent the phone. After talking to the 1K line the gate agent said she was done talking about it with the 1K line, that she couldn't do anything to assist and rudely handed Ms. Xyzzy back her phone. A few seconds later she rudely flung a boarding pass in Ms. Xyzzy's face.
Was this a reasonable request? I believe it was. Ms. Xyzzy has done this with success before. In this case it seems there were tw
seats left unsold and there were two non-rev employees listed and waiting to be cleared into them. I suspect that was the real reason for not wanting to clear Ms. Xyzzy onto the flight.
Was this a reasonable request? I believe it was. Ms. Xyzzy has done this with success before. In this case it seems there were tw
seats left unsold and there were two non-rev employees listed and waiting to be cleared into them. I suspect that was the real reason for not wanting to clear Ms. Xyzzy onto the flight.
Last edited by Xyzzy; May 31, 2017 at 6:30 am
May 30, 2017, 9:03 pm
#2462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,458
it would be simple: i booked an S fare ticket. xxx-bbb has S availability. dca-xxx does not.
i thought the basis of the sdc was that you were confirmed all the way and not in the instance in which you are confirmed on the first leg(s) and not latter legs. the question is whether i can standby on first leg if confirmed on all latter legs.
xxx absolutely has relevance as it's a hub that is closer, quicker, and gets me to bbb much earlier.
or would this be an issue because if i do not clear on dca-xxx, this could lead to no S availability out of dca, period.
i thought the basis of the sdc was that you were confirmed all the way and not in the instance in which you are confirmed on the first leg(s) and not latter legs. the question is whether i can standby on first leg if confirmed on all latter legs.
xxx absolutely has relevance as it's a hub that is closer, quicker, and gets me to bbb much earlier.
or would this be an issue because if i do not clear on dca-xxx, this could lead to no S availability out of dca, period.
Yes, shouldn't be a problem. I've done it many times. The agent will protect you on the second segment and list you standby for the first, and then the system resyncs the ticket if you clear.
I'd recommend showing up a bit early, because it takes a fair amount of typing.
I'd recommend showing up a bit early, because it takes a fair amount of typing.
May 30, 2017, 10:06 pm
#2463
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Was this a reasonable request? I believe it was. Ms. Xyzzy has done this with success before. In this case it seems there were tw seats left unsold and there were two non-rev employees listed and waiting to be cleared into them. I suspect that was the real reason for not wanting to clear Ms. Xyzzy onto the flight.
seats left unsold and there were two non-rev employees listed and waiting to be cleared into them. I suspect that was the real reason for not wanting to clear Ms. Xyzzy onto the flight.Was especially shocked that one time a family member couldn't get an SDS done at *SFO* -- either at the gate or at the service desk by 84. Both came up with excuses, and that was that.
May 31, 2017, 10:38 am
#2464
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I have a SFO-FRA (UA) + FRA-XXX (LH), and the app is actually offering to SDC. The only SDC option keeps the FRA-XXX LH flight, but it let's me switch the UA segment. I don't think I've ever seen that before, although I know it was possible by calling.
May 31, 2017, 1:07 pm
#2465
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Does it actually work, though? I had this on a UA/LX itin earlier this year and it seemed to process the SDC, then blew up when trying to confirm. The engine seemed to error on reissuing the ticket. Nothing an agent couldn't fix in a minute, though.
May 31, 2017, 1:56 pm
#2466
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I didn't actually try, I just wanted to see what the options were (I'm happy with my current itinerary). I've had errors with all kinds of pure-UA international SDC's though, so I doubt it's exclusive to travel with partners. That said, those tickets might have had a partner segment on the other direction, so maybe any partner segments anywhere on the ticket break SDC?
May 31, 2017, 2:29 pm
#2467
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 97
Just a dp. I got SDC approved with a bulk ticket by calling UA 1K line. I am a 1K member.
May 31, 2017, 2:33 pm
#2468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
SDC for free is one of those amazing perks we take for granted. I used it to save myself 12 hours of hanging out in San Diego - and now I can sleep in my own bed versus the red-eye.
May 31, 2017, 2:49 pm
#2469
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: United 1K, American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 430
Edit: Oh, almost forgot, SDC is great to switch to other flights if you think your upgrade opportunities are better on other flights. By doing your research on the proposed flight's seat inventories, sometimes you can position yourself to virtually guarantee an upgrade, provided you have high enough status!
Last edited by Ruhr; May 31, 2017 at 2:52 pm Reason: SDC for upgrade opportunities
Jun 2, 2017, 6:28 am
#2470
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,002
I am flying LAX-EWR (P class) in a couple weeks. However, I would like to SDC to LAX-SFO-EWR (with SFO-EWR on 77W) if possible. If LAX-SFO does not have P availability (only seats in Y) but SFO-EWR has P, can I make the change?
Jun 2, 2017, 2:10 pm
#2471
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
It will need an agent, but it should be fine if there's Y and you make clear you're willing to sit in the Y cabin.
Jun 2, 2017, 3:50 pm
#2472
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 4,044
It works the other way, too. I originally booked a Saturday same day mileage/elite run a few weeks ago. With SDC, I turned it into a depart Friday night, stay overnight in one city, and Saturday night create a layover in Chicago at the ORD connection point and leave Sunday morning. SDC is great for killing time AND creating time/layover opportunities for when you don't want your travelling adventure to end!
Edit: Oh, almost forgot, SDC is great to switch to other flights if you think your upgrade opportunities are better on other flights. By doing your research on the proposed flight's seat inventories, sometimes you can position yourself to virtually guarantee an upgrade, provided you have high enough status!
Edit: Oh, almost forgot, SDC is great to switch to other flights if you think your upgrade opportunities are better on other flights. By doing your research on the proposed flight's seat inventories, sometimes you can position yourself to virtually guarantee an upgrade, provided you have high enough status!
Jun 3, 2017, 6:52 am
#2473
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
Same Day Change Fee for Gold?
I am UA Gold. When I was traveling on a return ticket last week I looked at my reservation on a computer to see what my same day change options were. There were several options with the same itinerary that were no change in ticket price but listed a $200 change fee. I thought the change fee was waived for Gold.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...daychange.aspx
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...daychange.aspx
Jun 3, 2017, 7:15 am
#2474
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,017
I am UA Gold. When I was traveling on a return ticket last week I looked at my reservation on a computer to see what my same day change options were. There were several options with the same itinerary that were no change in ticket price but listed a $200 change fee. I thought the change fee was waived for Gold.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...daychange.aspx
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...daychange.aspx
Jun 3, 2017, 7:21 am
#2475
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,597
Or you can call United, and they will waive the fee.