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}
Jun 16, 2017, 9:11 pm
#2536
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Jun 18, 2017, 9:31 am
#2537
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: UA 1K (Million Miler). AA Gold (lifetime 1 Million). TK Elite Gold
Posts: 895
SDC to UA/AC code share
Hello. I recently purchased two itineraries on UA using ecerts, meaning travel only on UA metal. On the final leg from EWR-YYZ, I am booked on UA metal, but would like to fly on an earlier flight which is an UA/AC code share (UA flight number) operated by AC. Would this be changeable as a SDC. 1K here. Thanks as always.
Jun 18, 2017, 9:37 am
#2538
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Hello. I recently purchased two itineraries on UA using ecerts, meaning travel only on UA metal. On the final leg from EWR-YYZ, I am booked on UA metal, but would like to fly on an earlier flight which is an UA/AC code share (UA flight number) operated by AC. Would this be changeable as a SDC. 1K here. Thanks as always.
Jun 20, 2017, 8:05 am
#2539
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Just did an SDC and for some odd reason, I was not charged $75 - and it's not the first time I was not charged.
I was on a Z fare and was unable to complete the change online. I called, and was told the "you're on an economy fare" line. The agent couldn't see the ability to change flights either. She called the rate desk and was told that sometimes the outbound flights don't show up as being able to be changed and have to be done manually, which she did.
It took about 5 minutes total.
I was on a Z fare and was unable to complete the change online. I called, and was told the "you're on an economy fare" line. The agent couldn't see the ability to change flights either. She called the rate desk and was told that sometimes the outbound flights don't show up as being able to be changed and have to be done manually, which she did.
It took about 5 minutes total.
Jun 20, 2017, 9:50 am
#2540
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
Just did an SDC and for some odd reason, I was not charged $75 - and it's not the first time I was not charged.
I was on a Z fare and was unable to complete the change online. I called, and was told the "you're on an economy fare" line. The agent couldn't see the ability to change flights either. She called the rate desk and was told that sometimes the outbound flights don't show up as being able to be changed and have to be done manually, which she did.
It took about 5 minutes total.
I was on a Z fare and was unable to complete the change online. I called, and was told the "you're on an economy fare" line. The agent couldn't see the ability to change flights either. She called the rate desk and was told that sometimes the outbound flights don't show up as being able to be changed and have to be done manually, which she did.
It took about 5 minutes total.
[EDIT] Oops, I didn't see that you were NOT charged! Well, congrats for somehow finding a loophole! haha! ^ [/EDIT]
Jun 20, 2017, 9:56 am
#2541
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I'm only a silver. This isn't the first time I wasn't charged for an SDC. But I agree, according to the rules, I should have been charged $75.
Jun 21, 2017, 8:18 pm
#2542
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 60
SDC on non-ua ticketed
Mulling the possibility of doing SFO-HKG-MNL-HKG-EWR. Everything is on UA metal except HKG-MNL on PAL and MNL-HKG on CX.
Is there any possibility to do an SDC to eliminate HKG-MNL-HKG part and make it into SFO-HKG-EWR?
Thanks!
Is there any possibility to do an SDC to eliminate HKG-MNL-HKG part and make it into SFO-HKG-EWR?
Thanks!
Jun 21, 2017, 8:21 pm
#2543
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Jun 21, 2017, 8:24 pm
#2544
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Jun 21, 2017, 8:25 pm
#2545
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You want to eliminate the HKG-MNL-HKG and return to EWR directly from HKG?
MNL is likely a "destination" in the fare construction and SDC can only be used when keeping the original origin / destination. So, this will not be offered by the app or a phone agent and seriously doubt an airport agent would even consider this as SDC. This looks like a major ticket change.
Is this some form of hidden city ticketing?
Jun 21, 2017, 8:27 pm
#2546
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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Posts: 56,454
Jun 21, 2017, 8:39 pm
#2547
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Jun 21, 2017, 9:15 pm
#2548
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 60
Thanks for all the help. I'm not too familiar with SDC rules so grateful with all the helpful responses from this forum.
The main reason of my question to take out HKG-MNL-HKG is to see if I can spend more time in HKG.
The main reason of my question to take out HKG-MNL-HKG is to see if I can spend more time in HKG.
Jun 21, 2017, 10:03 pm
#2549
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
For the record I understand why you would want to do this - as much as I like Manila and PI, Hong Kong is almost my favorite city in the world even though accommodations are rather on the pricey side.
OK, there is the possibility, on the way back, to SDC to next day as UA flies to three (IIRC) cities from HKG. But trust me, int'l SDC ain't easy. So as I understand SDC rules you could in theory do this, but, if you are not that familiar with SDC rules, this is probably not for you.
Jun 21, 2017, 10:53 pm
#2550
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 60
Don't know how long your stay in MNL is, but IIRC Cebu Pacific flies this route (among others) and rather cheap. It's a short flight so if it were me I'd fly to HKG after arriving in MNL and forget about SDC that just is (almost certainly) not going to happen.
For the record I understand why you would want to do this - as much as I like Manila and PI, Hong Kong is almost my favorite city in the world even though accommodations are rather on the pricey side.
OK, there is the possibility, on the way back, to SDC to next day as UA flies to three (IIRC) cities from HKG. But trust me, int'l SDC ain't easy. So as I understand SDC rules you could in theory do this, but, if you are not that familiar with SDC rules, this is probably not for you.
For the record I understand why you would want to do this - as much as I like Manila and PI, Hong Kong is almost my favorite city in the world even though accommodations are rather on the pricey side.
OK, there is the possibility, on the way back, to SDC to next day as UA flies to three (IIRC) cities from HKG. But trust me, int'l SDC ain't easy. So as I understand SDC rules you could in theory do this, but, if you are not that familiar with SDC rules, this is probably not for you.