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}
Oct 22, 2017, 7:36 am
#2866
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titan., Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres
Posts: 143
So if you SDC, the waitlist does not follow you to the new flight. For example, waitlisting GPU on XXX-YYY for a month, but if I SDC under T-24 to XXX-VVV, waitlist is not an option. Either R>0 and I confirm at SDC, or ride in E.
Oct 22, 2017, 7:40 am
#2867
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
That’s the policy, yes. It’s always possible that an agent will elect to go against policy, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Oct 22, 2017, 7:48 am
#2868
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titan., Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres
Posts: 143
Which would explain why it went from R4 to R0 at T25.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Oct 22, 2017, 10:01 am
#2869
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
That's been the rule much longer than a year. As long as I can remember, in fact.
Oct 22, 2017, 11:51 am
#2870
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Oct 22, 2017, 1:42 pm
#2871
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Oct 22, 2017, 3:14 pm
#2872
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Fair enough. It was about a year ago that I started to see complaints that people could no longer transfer their upgrade requests during the SDC process, so it’s possible that the original rule was “no new waitlist additions” and the updated rule is “no new or transferred waitlist additions.”
Oct 22, 2017, 8:07 pm
#2873
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,415
Fair enough. It was about a year ago that I started to see complaints that people could no longer transfer their upgrade requests during the SDC process, so it’s possible that the original rule was “no new waitlist additions” and the updated rule is “no new or transferred waitlist additions.”
Oct 22, 2017, 8:14 pm
#2874
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Although I haven't exhaustively studied reports here, I'm not sure that they are all reliable for assessing application of this rule; for example—as was alluded to at the beginning of this line of discussion—if going xxx-yyy-zzz, you can potentially change to xxx-vvv-zzz and waitlist vvv-zzz, just not xxx-vvv. Sometimes xxx-vvv has not front cabin anyway, so that may seem like you're getting something special, when it's actually within policy.
Oct 22, 2017, 8:16 pm
#2875
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Oct 25, 2017, 1:17 am
#2876
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
I'm currently at SFO on a PVG-SFO-LAS - so far agents have told me I cannot SDC my SFO-LAS to >24H past my arrival time in SFO, otherwise it becomes a layover vs. a connection.
Is there so other approach to extending my time in SFO beyond 24H other than buying a new one-way ticket and forfeiting the original SFO-LAS segment?
Is there so other approach to extending my time in SFO beyond 24H other than buying a new one-way ticket and forfeiting the original SFO-LAS segment?
Oct 25, 2017, 6:11 am
#2877
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
Multiple sdc's! If you have check-in luggage, it won't work.
Oct 25, 2017, 6:37 am
#2878
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
I'm currently at SFO on a PVG-SFO-LAS - so far agents have told me I cannot SDC my SFO-LAS to >24H past my arrival time in SFO, otherwise it becomes a layover vs. a connection.
Is there so other approach to extending my time in SFO beyond 24H other than buying a new one-way ticket and forfeiting the original SFO-LAS segment?
Is there so other approach to extending my time in SFO beyond 24H other than buying a new one-way ticket and forfeiting the original SFO-LAS segment?
The agents are technically correct. The SDC policy is supposed to be a change fee waiver, and the underlying fare rules are still supposed to apply. Unless your fare allows a stopover at SFO -- and most discount fares wouldn't -- the agents' interpretation is correct by the letter of the rule.
Having said that, if you see a flight that's significantly delayed, you can try to SDC to that one, and then use the delay to get a further extension. Alternatively, try to SDC to the latest flight option they'll give you, preferably creating an overnight connection. At that point, the app may treat the SFO-LAS leg as an independent trip, allowing you to SDC again to a later flight provided that you haven't left a bag in United's possession. I can't guarantee that it will work, but if your alternative is to throw away the ticket, it may be worth trying.
Keep in mind that you must be within 24 hours of both your current and target flight to SDC, so if you want to fly to LAS on, e.g., Saturday, you'd need to SDC at least once a day until then, and there's never any guarantee that there will be space available in your fare class.
Oct 25, 2017, 12:54 pm
#2879
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: 1K
Posts: 220
Forgive me if this has been covered already. I’m on SDC right now and have two questions.
1. If I am on P fare and standby an earlier flight, but sit in coach will I accrue PQM at 2X?
2. The entire ticket is in P, but a different leg is showing “ineligible for miles and status accrual”.
Thoughts?
1. If I am on P fare and standby an earlier flight, but sit in coach will I accrue PQM at 2X?
2. The entire ticket is in P, but a different leg is showing “ineligible for miles and status accrual”.
Thoughts?
Oct 25, 2017, 12:59 pm
#2880
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Forgive me if this has been covered already. I’m on SDC right now and have two questions.
1. If I am on P fare and standby an earlier flight, but sit in coach will I accrue PQM at 2X?
2. The entire ticket is in P, but a different leg is showing “ineligible for miles and status accrual”.
Thoughts?
1. If I am on P fare and standby an earlier flight, but sit in coach will I accrue PQM at 2X?
2. The entire ticket is in P, but a different leg is showing “ineligible for miles and status accrual”.
Thoughts?
2. That thing is notoriously buggy. What airline, route, etc? Anything unusual about it? If not, 98% odds it posts as normal.