Last edit by: leftysauce
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.
Present Eligiblity policy 2023
Premier members may be able to get another flight for free. If your original cabin isn’t available, you may have to pay a price difference.
All other travelers may be able to get another flight within 24 hours of the original flight. You may have to pay a price difference even if the same cabin is available.
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 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:
The practice of fare leveling all fares for all flights at a specific time appears no longer in effective -- it does happen in some case but appears to be more variable
Standby
For all fare classesother than Basic Economy (N class) you may standby if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. There is no longer a fee for Standby. 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 up to 24 hours of original departure on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport or UA app. 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?
YesNo. 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.
Standby Nuances and Loose Rules
All nuances assume request is made within 24 hours of scheduled departure to a flight within 24 hours of the request.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = officially permitted and possible using any method
K = Perhaps not officially permitted, but kiosk will allow.
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.
Mileage Credit after SDC
SDC is considered a voluntary change, so your credited PQM & PQS will be credited based on the route you actually fly. Your PQDs should not change and therefore for your RDMs will not change. Occasionally if you fly a fewer number of segments, your PQD will credit wrong, but a call to MPSC should correct that.
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}
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.
Present Eligiblity policy 2023
Same day changes
Premier members may be able to get another flight for free. If your original cabin isn’t available, you may have to pay a price difference.
All other travelers may be able to get another flight within 24 hours of the original flight. You may have to pay a price difference even if the same cabin is available.
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 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:
- Not available for Basic Economy (N class) tickets
- 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.
- Must be issued on UA ticket stock (ticket number begins with 016)
- Award tickets are eligible, but an award change may be a better option (not restricted to 24 hours)
- 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 a 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 non-PremiersOnly premier members as of 1 Jan 2021- No fee for Premier (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.The practice of fare leveling all fares for all flights at a specific time appears to no longer be in effect.- 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)
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.
- 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)
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours after the original flight, if the original flight has been delayed: Y (at least in the app)
- 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 potentially dire consequences)
- Change from an upgraded flight into Y on the new flight: Y
- Change from a PointsPlus-upgraded flight into J/F on the new flight: A
- Change from a CPU-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available PZ space on the new flight: N*
- Change from an instrument-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available PZ 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: A - 60 minutes prior to both flights required
- Change at layover airport when a bag has been checked: A - 60 minutes prior to both flights required
- Change a bulk fare: A*
- Stand-By to later flight, then SDC after original flight departs to flight within 24-hours of new Stand-By flight: Y
Code:
EVERYDAY AWARD AND REVENUE BUCKETS ARE TO LEVEL OUT WITHIN 2H OF DEPARTURE
The practice of fare leveling all fares for all flights at a specific time appears no longer in effective -- it does happen in some case but appears to be more variable
Standby
For all fare classes
Instead of paying a same-day change discounted fee, can I stand by for my desired flight for free?
Yes
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.
Standby Nuances and Loose Rules
All nuances assume request is made within 24 hours of scheduled departure to a flight within 24 hours of the request.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = officially permitted and possible using any method
K = Perhaps not officially permitted, but kiosk will allow.
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.
- To a flight the previous calendar day: A*/N*/K (app allows this)
- To a flight after your ticketed flight, on the same calendar day: Y
- To a flight the following calendar day: N*
- Request Standby at an airport other than departure airport: Can now request Standby via app 24 hours in advance
- Make request calendar day before scheduled flight to flight same day as scheduled departure: K
Mileage Credit after SDC
SDC is considered a voluntary change, so your credited PQM & PQS will be credited based on the route you actually fly. Your PQDs should not change and therefore for your RDMs will not change. Occasionally if you fly a fewer number of segments, your PQD will credit wrong, but a call to MPSC should correct that.
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions -Free STBY for all, SDC for all elites
#138
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
Changing CVG-DEN to CVG-ORD-longlayover-DEN?
On a business trip that has a flight in a few days from CVG-DEN. Mom has a health issue in Chicago (simple procedure) and I was wondering what I could do to have an extended lay over in ORD? Right now I have an afternoon/evening flight. Can I push the ORD-DEN leg to the next day (late evening preferably)? 48 hours? Is there a max? I'm guessing that I can change to CVG-ORD-DEN and since I only do carry on, just don't take the second leg and buy a ticket for when I want to fly back?
1K on a revenue ticket. L class.
1K on a revenue ticket. L class.
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,462
On a business trip that has a flight in a few days from CVG-DEN. Mom has a health issue in Chicago (simple procedure) and I was wondering what I could do to have an extended lay over in ORD? Right now I have an afternoon/evening flight. Can I push the ORD-DEN leg to the next day (late evening preferably)? 48 hours? Is there a max? I'm guessing that I can change to CVG-ORD-DEN and since I only do carry on, just don't take the second leg and buy a ticket for when I want to fly back?
1K on a revenue ticket. L class.
1K on a revenue ticket. L class.
If the original routing CVG-DEN or CVG-anything else-DEN, then you obviously need SDC to offer CVG-ORD-DEN, then pursue the above.
Depending on how much you want to stop at ORD, it could be worth rebooking (with fare difference). If play be ear is fine, though, good luck!
#140
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: 66,856
Assuming your booked routing is CVG-ORD-DEN: any time between boarding CVG-ORD and scheduled departure ORD-DEN, you can look for SDC to later ORD-DEN. No guarantee it's offered. If you get it, you can keep checking and changing based on whatever inventory is available. There isn't a stated max for changing, but you may get cut off or run out of inventory before 48h....
#142
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,518
I recall this wasn't the first time I noticed this in the past few years. Perhaps UA added some restrictions to prevent repeated SDC beyond a certain time?
#143
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SFO, BRU, ADB
Programs: UA Gold, BA Silver, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 706
I have a question on whether "illegal stopovers" (intl overnight layover) would be permitted.
I have a ticket from LAX to GVA where I an overnight layover in FRA (< 24h). Booked using multi-city LAX-XXX-FRA // FRA-GVA (// GVA-LAX). The fare is for LAX-GVA and does not permit stopovers (so my stay in FRA cannot and does not currently exceed 24h).
Will I be able to SDC to an earlier LAX-XXX-FRA flight that would make my layover (/"stopover") in FRA illegal (> 24h)?
This post #910 mentions the following: "UA's check-in computers do not care how you are fared. They use their own calculation of what constitutes a stopover that is independent of the fare. Specifically, if you're spending the night, for the purposes of check-in (and thus standby/baggage/SDC) UA will treat the transfer point as a stopover whether it is or is not."
The FAQ mentions creating illegal layovers at origin is usually not permitted but the post above says the layover might be treated as a stopover and not a layover for purposes of SDC. So I am leaning towards it would be allowed?
I have a ticket from LAX to GVA where I an overnight layover in FRA (< 24h). Booked using multi-city LAX-XXX-FRA // FRA-GVA (// GVA-LAX). The fare is for LAX-GVA and does not permit stopovers (so my stay in FRA cannot and does not currently exceed 24h).
Will I be able to SDC to an earlier LAX-XXX-FRA flight that would make my layover (/"stopover") in FRA illegal (> 24h)?
This post #910 mentions the following: "UA's check-in computers do not care how you are fared. They use their own calculation of what constitutes a stopover that is independent of the fare. Specifically, if you're spending the night, for the purposes of check-in (and thus standby/baggage/SDC) UA will treat the transfer point as a stopover whether it is or is not."
The FAQ mentions creating illegal layovers at origin is usually not permitted but the post above says the layover might be treated as a stopover and not a layover for purposes of SDC. So I am leaning towards it would be allowed?
#144
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,382
As nonUA *G, the app did offer options for SDC on nonBE (i didn't complete the process to see if they would charge me)
Edit: actually looking back at my saved screenshots, it said
Same day confirmation
Choose a new flight in the same fare class below to make a confirmed change for free
Edit: actually looking back at my saved screenshots, it said
Same day confirmation
Choose a new flight in the same fare class below to make a confirmed change for free
Original flight was 6am EWR-SFO-SIN
NonBE, Change Flights offers the same flights below, or even EWR-NRT-SIN which won't show up on SDC due to the NH leg on nrt-sin (no problems with fare rules to do change flights ).
SDC screenshot was via the website during check-in, not app, but app didn't offer any extra options
Last edited by paperwastage; May 4, 2023 at 8:18 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
I have a question on whether "illegal stopovers" (intl overnight layover) would be permitted.
I have a ticket from LAX to GVA where I an overnight layover in FRA (< 24h). Booked using multi-city LAX-XXX-FRA // FRA-GVA (// GVA-LAX). The fare is for LAX-GVA and does not permit stopovers (so my stay in FRA cannot and does not currently exceed 24h).
Will I be able to SDC to an earlier LAX-XXX-FRA flight that would make my layover (/"stopover") in FRA illegal (> 24h)?
This post #910 mentions the following: "UA's check-in computers do not care how you are fared. They use their own calculation of what constitutes a stopover that is independent of the fare. Specifically, if you're spending the night, for the purposes of check-in (and thus standby/baggage/SDC) UA will treat the transfer point as a stopover whether it is or is not."
The FAQ mentions creating illegal layovers at origin is usually not permitted but the post above says the layover might be treated as a stopover and not a layover for purposes of SDC. So I am leaning towards it would be allowed?
I have a ticket from LAX to GVA where I an overnight layover in FRA (< 24h). Booked using multi-city LAX-XXX-FRA // FRA-GVA (// GVA-LAX). The fare is for LAX-GVA and does not permit stopovers (so my stay in FRA cannot and does not currently exceed 24h).
Will I be able to SDC to an earlier LAX-XXX-FRA flight that would make my layover (/"stopover") in FRA illegal (> 24h)?
This post #910 mentions the following: "UA's check-in computers do not care how you are fared. They use their own calculation of what constitutes a stopover that is independent of the fare. Specifically, if you're spending the night, for the purposes of check-in (and thus standby/baggage/SDC) UA will treat the transfer point as a stopover whether it is or is not."
The FAQ mentions creating illegal layovers at origin is usually not permitted but the post above says the layover might be treated as a stopover and not a layover for purposes of SDC. So I am leaning towards it would be allowed?
#146
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,060
In the "old days" - say Jan 2020, LOL, pre-COVID change rules, as a 1K, I could change my flight and get booked unto another flight, which seemed to ignore the cost difference of the two flights at that moment.
Say, on Jan 1, 2020, I bought a ticket for econ-plus for 2K for SFO-LHR-EWR-LAX. Then I used my upgrades and was upgraded for my flight LHR-EWR. I then changed my flight (24 hours in advance) to get on a different flight, though the cost of the flight in Biz Class was far higher than I paid.
To be fair, this is more complicated as I was upgraded, so of course, the flight was cheaper, and yet I was allowed to change the flight and keep my biz seat. Instead, if I had paid for a biz class seat for 2k and at the time of the flight it was 4k, I still would have been allowed to change to a different flight, as long as it was the same destination and within 24 hours. Or at least that is how it worked for me for many years as a 1K, before March 2020.
Sorry, for the long leadup, but my question is. Now that change fees and the such are free - for all. So, if I bought a SFO-LHR biz class seat for 3K and a more desirable flight, still SFO-LHR is 6K, within 24 hours, as a 1K, am I still allowed to change to a different flight, without any extra cost, as in the past (or at least IME) ? TIA!
Say, on Jan 1, 2020, I bought a ticket for econ-plus for 2K for SFO-LHR-EWR-LAX. Then I used my upgrades and was upgraded for my flight LHR-EWR. I then changed my flight (24 hours in advance) to get on a different flight, though the cost of the flight in Biz Class was far higher than I paid.
To be fair, this is more complicated as I was upgraded, so of course, the flight was cheaper, and yet I was allowed to change the flight and keep my biz seat. Instead, if I had paid for a biz class seat for 2k and at the time of the flight it was 4k, I still would have been allowed to change to a different flight, as long as it was the same destination and within 24 hours. Or at least that is how it worked for me for many years as a 1K, before March 2020.
Sorry, for the long leadup, but my question is. Now that change fees and the such are free - for all. So, if I bought a SFO-LHR biz class seat for 3K and a more desirable flight, still SFO-LHR is 6K, within 24 hours, as a 1K, am I still allowed to change to a different flight, without any extra cost, as in the past (or at least IME) ? TIA!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 4, 2023 at 10:13 pm Reason: Moved to SDC thread
#147
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: 66,856
.....
Sorry, for the long leadup, but my question is. Now that change fees and the such are free - for all. So, if I bought a SFO-LHR biz class seat for 3K and a more desirable flight, still SFO-LHR is 6K, within 24 hours, as a 1K, am I still allowed to change to a different flight, without any extra cost, as in the past (or at least IME) ? TIA!
Sorry, for the long leadup, but my question is. Now that change fees and the such are free - for all. So, if I bought a SFO-LHR biz class seat for 3K and a more desirable flight, still SFO-LHR is 6K, within 24 hours, as a 1K, am I still allowed to change to a different flight, without any extra cost, as in the past (or at least IME) ? TIA!
#148
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,060
OK, what about a flight like SFO-FRA-LHR (where FRA to LHR is on a partner. If I want to change to SFO-LHR will that work or will they balk?? TIA!
#149
Formerly doc4science
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: CMH/DSM
Programs: United Airlines Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 562
#150
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: 66,856
That sounds like a award change, not SDC. If space is available award changes can happen anytime for free and include partner flights.