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 18, 2017, 12:06 pm
#2851
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
Thanks for the replies to #816 .
If I'm flying XXX-IAD-FLL-IAH-PTY with an 8-hour overnight layover or stopover in FLL, can I SDC through MIA instead of FLL, or is FLL considered a destination since I'm there overnight? Hoping to skip a hotel room and FLL is dead at night; MIA has a 24-hour lounge and a lot more to do near the airport.
I have status, so any SDC fees should be waived. Thanks.
If I'm flying XXX-IAD-FLL-IAH-PTY with an 8-hour overnight layover or stopover in FLL, can I SDC through MIA instead of FLL, or is FLL considered a destination since I'm there overnight? Hoping to skip a hotel room and FLL is dead at night; MIA has a 24-hour lounge and a lot more to do near the airport.
I have status, so any SDC fees should be waived. Thanks.
Oct 18, 2017, 12:17 pm
#2852
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
Interesting experience today. Booked in F SJC-EWR via ORD (ORD-EWR in Business on 3 class 777) and was looking to SDC to the SJC-EWR non stop.
No F space available on the non stop however was offered my same itin with a F seat on the 777 for a $200 change fee.
I didn't get the usual "there are no F or J seats available on this route" message although on other options to change the message was there in red as usual.
No F space available on the non stop however was offered my same itin with a F seat on the 777 for a $200 change fee.
I didn't get the usual "there are no F or J seats available on this route" message although on other options to change the message was there in red as usual.
Oct 18, 2017, 12:57 pm
#2853
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Interesting experience today. Booked in F SJC-EWR via ORD (ORD-EWR in Business on 3 class 777) and was looking to SDC to the SJC-EWR non stop.
No F space available on the non stop however was offered my same itin with a F seat on the 777 for a $200 change fee.
I didn't get the usual "there are no F or J seats available on this route" message although on other options to change the message was there in red as usual.
No F space available on the non stop however was offered my same itin with a F seat on the 777 for a $200 change fee.
I didn't get the usual "there are no F or J seats available on this route" message although on other options to change the message was there in red as usual.
$200 sounds like the standard change fee for a non-SDC flight change, which you'd get to via "Change Flights" on the UA.com reservation page. I'd be surprised if that system was pushing you into F on the 772 for $0 fare difference, but stranger things have happened -- perhaps it got confused by the 3-cabin flight on the second leg.
Oct 18, 2017, 1:16 pm
#2854
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,026
What do you mean by "$200 change fee"? Do you mean there was a $199 upgrade offer in-app? (If so -- consolidated list of historical ToDs here.)
$200 sounds like the standard change fee for a non-SDC flight change, which you'd get to via "Change Flights" on the UA.com reservation page. I'd be surprised if that system was pushing you into F on the 772 for $0 fare difference, but stranger things have happened -- perhaps it got confused by the 3-cabin flight on the second leg.
$200 sounds like the standard change fee for a non-SDC flight change, which you'd get to via "Change Flights" on the UA.com reservation page. I'd be surprised if that system was pushing you into F on the 772 for $0 fare difference, but stranger things have happened -- perhaps it got confused by the 3-cabin flight on the second leg.
Oct 18, 2017, 1:20 pm
#2855
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
I have created free stopovers in numerous places that should have had a $35 or $85 or whatever stopover surcharge.
The OP's issue was that he/she was trying to do an SDC more than 24 hours before departure of the new segment, and so any fees that were charged are not indicative of a normal SDC.
Oct 18, 2017, 11:31 pm
#2856
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
bad idea, no showing will cancel the remaining legs. You would have had to have had an alternative gateway connection as the NRT-DEN flight is only once daily, so looked for an alternative flight (LAX? nonstop IAH? that would depart within 24 hours, even if it would just be a temporary flight while you look to change again).
For what its worth, only $100 seems like an okay deal to make an almost last minute change and get an extra day in a city you wanted to visit.
For what its worth, only $100 seems like an okay deal to make an almost last minute change and get an extra day in a city you wanted to visit.
anecdote: the more international and more off-season (ie not during may in japan or summer vacation in europe) your flight, the much higher chances are there will be ample k and l fares. and best of all if you're flying out of a large station like lhr fra nrt and going to a large us city, you have multiple routing options. and lhr ua agents are awesome at finding you availability you never thought existed.
Oct 19, 2017, 11:22 am
#2857
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB+ Emerald (Platino), M&M Senator (Gold), Meliá Rewards Platino, NH Platinum
Posts: 436
Does ua.com or the app offer SDC from a direct ORD-MEX to ORD-IAH-MEX with 12 hours overnight stay in IAH? Or normally it offers options to travel within the same day (without sleeping at transfer point)?
Thanks
Thanks
Oct 19, 2017, 5:00 pm
#2858
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
anecdote: the more international and more off-season (ie not during may in japan or summer vacation in europe) your flight, the much higher chances are there will be ample k and l fares. and best of all if you're flying out of a large station like lhr fra nrt and going to a large us city, you have multiple routing options. and lhr ua agents are awesome at finding you availability you never thought existed.
Is the general consensus here that the phone agents are able to work more SDC magic than one can do oneself within the app? Thanks again.
Oct 20, 2017, 8:22 am
#2859
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SFO sometimes
Programs: UA 1K, AA gold, A3 gold
Posts: 1,634
Thanks for the reply. I'm flying between Latin America and the U.S. (and then back to Lat. Am.), so it should be an off time in terms of travel demand.
Is the general consensus here that the phone agents are able to work more SDC magic than one can do oneself within the app? Thanks again.
Is the general consensus here that the phone agents are able to work more SDC magic than one can do oneself within the app? Thanks again.
The app seems to only list the top X choices. So when directs / most logical connections are unavailable, it gives you further afield options (I once had app give me MSP-EWR-SFO).
However if availabilty is really hard to get or you have a complex routing / ticket (eg end on end fares), the app might not be able to handle it and an agent needs to get involved. Then it depends on agent willingness to get creative to help out vs being lazy and saying “can’t do.” Definitely higher proportion of HUCA in those cases for me. Just be nice so they don’t annotate your record.
Oct 20, 2017, 12:21 pm
#2860
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
However if availabilty is really hard to get or you have a complex routing / ticket (eg end on end fares), the app might not be able to handle it and an agent needs to get involved. Then it depends on agent willingness to get creative to help out vs being lazy and saying “can’t do.” Definitely higher proportion of HUCA in those cases for me. Just be nice so they don’t annotate your record.
Oct 21, 2017, 1:07 pm
#2861
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 40
Premier Gold member, traveling xxx-iad-fra-xxx.
xxx-iad operated by united
Iad - fra operated by united
Fra-xxx operated by LH
I want to change a flight departing 5 hours later xxx-iad, which subsequently makes me have to change both other flights as well. Would still have the first two operated by UA, the third operated by LH.
I can't tell from the wiki if I can do this change free or not within 24 hrs. Any ideads?
xxx-iad operated by united
Iad - fra operated by united
Fra-xxx operated by LH
I want to change a flight departing 5 hours later xxx-iad, which subsequently makes me have to change both other flights as well. Would still have the first two operated by UA, the third operated by LH.
I can't tell from the wiki if I can do this change free or not within 24 hrs. Any ideads?
Oct 21, 2017, 1:15 pm
#2862
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Premier Gold member, traveling xxx-iad-fra-xxx.
xxx-iad operated by united
Iad - fra operated by united
Fra-xxx operated by LH
I want to change a flight departing 5 hours later xxx-iad, which subsequently makes me have to change both other flights as well. Would still have the first two operated by UA, the third operated by LH.
I can't tell from the wiki if I can do this change free or not within 24 hrs. Any ideads?
xxx-iad operated by united
Iad - fra operated by united
Fra-xxx operated by LH
I want to change a flight departing 5 hours later xxx-iad, which subsequently makes me have to change both other flights as well. Would still have the first two operated by UA, the third operated by LH.
I can't tell from the wiki if I can do this change free or not within 24 hrs. Any ideads?
If you're just changing xxx-IAD and(/or) IAD-FRA, that is feasible, with some caveats.
Oct 21, 2017, 2:42 pm
#2863
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
Oct 22, 2017, 7:19 am
#2864
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titan., Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres
Posts: 143
Didn't see this in the wiki but it seems important.
Phone agent just told me I that I cannot change an INTL flight and waitlist a GPU. If R>0, then could immediately confirm, but could not transfer waitlist to another flight. In other words, if I think my upgrade chances are slim on the INTL XXX-YYY leg of a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary, I cannot change to a XXX-VVV-ZZZ route and waitlist the GPU on the XXX-VVV leg. Either I immediately confirm because R>0 or I sit in the back.
Does this match with experience?
Thanks.
Phone agent just told me I that I cannot change an INTL flight and waitlist a GPU. If R>0, then could immediately confirm, but could not transfer waitlist to another flight. In other words, if I think my upgrade chances are slim on the INTL XXX-YYY leg of a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary, I cannot change to a XXX-VVV-ZZZ route and waitlist the GPU on the XXX-VVV leg. Either I immediately confirm because R>0 or I sit in the back.
Does this match with experience?
Thanks.
Oct 22, 2017, 7:24 am
#2865
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,397
Didn't see this in the wiki but it seems important.
Phone agent just told me I that I cannot change an INTL flight and waitlist a GPU. If R>0, then could immediately confirm, but could not transfer waitlist to another flight. In other words, if I think my upgrade chances are slim on the INTL XXX-YYY leg of a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary, I cannot change to a XXX-VVV-ZZZ route and waitlist the GPU on the XXX-VVV leg. Either I immediately confirm because R>0 or I sit in the back.
Does this match with experience?
Thanks.
Phone agent just told me I that I cannot change an INTL flight and waitlist a GPU. If R>0, then could immediately confirm, but could not transfer waitlist to another flight. In other words, if I think my upgrade chances are slim on the INTL XXX-YYY leg of a XXX-YYY-ZZZ itinerary, I cannot change to a XXX-VVV-ZZZ route and waitlist the GPU on the XXX-VVV leg. Either I immediately confirm because R>0 or I sit in the back.
Does this match with experience?
Thanks.
