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
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Likely not. However, if there is V availability, you should be able to SDC, then re-apply PlusPoints and have them clear immediately.
#317
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 259
Thank you for your insight! The original flight to BOS departs at 2:35pm and the direct flight is at 4:25pm. Do we need to wait until the 4:25 pm flight is open for check in or is there a way to call and get on it once the BOS flight opens up?
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
The SDC window would open 24 hours prior to the later of the two itineraries -- the IAH-LHR flight, in this case.
#319
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz PC, IHG Spire, Marriot Gold
Posts: 122
?? It's literally a link in the wiki. Just click on it. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20863900-post1819.html
It references a post outside of this thread. But it's also post 1819, not 1813 per the link.
-RM
It references a post outside of this thread. But it's also post 1819, not 1813 per the link.
-RM
#320
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 259
So the update is I waited until 24 hours before the second flight. Inventory shows both V availability and PZ but SDC is not available on the app. I called United and I am being told that due to the ticket type (whatever that means), they can only do it if I pay the fare difference of over $1000 per passenger. Flight leaves tomorrow so I might be out of options. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
#321
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
So the update is I waited until 24 hours before the second flight. Inventory shows both V availability and PZ but SDC is not available on the app. I called United and I am being told that due to the ticket type (whatever that means), they can only do it if I pay the fare difference of over $1000 per passenger. Flight leaves tomorrow so I might be out of options. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
If you still see PZ space tomorrow prior to your flight, you can also ask at check-in — “Hey, I see there’s a nonstop; is there any chance you could put me on that?” But I can’t think of any “ticket type” that you could have upgraded successfully but that couldn’t be used for a valid SDC, unless maybe you had a fare break in BOS. On your existing reservation you’ll find a link to the fare rules. Are there two outbound fare rules, one for HOU-BOS and one for BOS-LON? Or do you just see the one for HOU-LON?
Oh, sorry, one other thing: is LHR your final destination, or are you connecting further from there? Because a downline connection might make SDC impossible.
#322
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 209
sometimes the app glitches out and shows no options but in most times I've been able to standby for earlier flights in the app, even to the day before (still within 24 hours).
alternatively, you can chat with GAs at https://travelhelp.united.com and they can add you to the standby list
alternatively, you can chat with GAs at https://travelhelp.united.com and they can add you to the standby list
Got to airport a little over an hour before the flight I wanted to take. Went to kiosk, and there had the option to stand by for the earlier flight. It spit out two BPs - one for original flight showing my F seat assignment (CPU cleared about 24 hours earlier), and one that said "standby" for the one I wanted to change to, with obviously no seat assignment. Gold status was showing on both BPs.
Asked GA for the standby flight if it was possible to get added to upgrade list (there was PZ space available). Answer was no, not possible for standbys. About 5 minutes before boarding, got text that standby cleared. Lost the CPU and ended up riding in the back, but was assigned exit row so had plenty of space.
Not sure if everything I was told is correct. Seems like they should have been able to either (1) honor CPU from original flight since PZ was available, or (2) at least add me to CPU list for standby flight, no? Other strange thing is that new BP in app showed Group 2 instead of Group 1. However, after landing, it had updated to correctly show Group 1. Short flight on the 550, so none of this really mattered. However, if I need to do this again in the future for a longer flight where it *would* matter, I'd like to be more educated on this.
#323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Not sure if everything I was told is correct. Seems like they should have been able to either (1) honor CPU from original flight since PZ was available, or (2) at least add me to CPU list for standby flight, no? Other strange thing is that new BP in app showed Group 2 instead of Group 1. However, after landing, it had updated to correctly show Group 1. Short flight on the 550, so none of this really mattered. However, if I need to do this again in the future for a longer flight where it *would* matter, I'd like to be more educated on this.
2 - No, you can’t be added to the CPU list for a flight where you don’t have a confirmed seat.
Now, after you cleared, you could conceivably have been put onto the CPU list, if there were still any seats up front, but the likelihood of getting that accomplished while an agent is busy trying to get the flight out is fairly low.
#324
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 463
Other strange thing is that new BP in app showed Group 2 instead of Group 1. However, after landing, it had updated to correctly show Group 1. Short flight on the 550, so none of this really mattered. However, if I need to do this again in the future for a longer flight where it *would* matter, I'd like to be more educated on this.
#325
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: IAD
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 209
1 - Any change invalidates a CPU. While the app will sometimes let you do SDC into available PZ space, it’s not a documented feature.
2 - No, you can’t be added to the CPU list for a flight where you don’t have a confirmed seat.
Now, after you cleared, you could conceivably have been put onto the CPU list, if there were still any seats up front, but the likelihood of getting that accomplished while an agent is busy trying to get the flight out is fairly low.
2 - No, you can’t be added to the CPU list for a flight where you don’t have a confirmed seat.
Now, after you cleared, you could conceivably have been put onto the CPU list, if there were still any seats up front, but the likelihood of getting that accomplished while an agent is busy trying to get the flight out is fairly low.
#327
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 378
So I'd like to know the same -- and the flight I'm trying to change out of is tomorrow morning. Tempted to test it for us and might report back lol
#328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
#329
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
I've SDC on the same ticket many times before and have also get reservations to exchange the ticket when the space is available but no options or has errors in the app
#330
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 378
I dont think it's a limit thing - it's just that the app/backend gets confused when there are too many exchanges/coupons. But even if the app doesn't give you options, you can call reservations and have them exchange it.
I've SDC on the same ticket many times before and have also get reservations to exchange the ticket when the space is available but no options or has errors in the app
I've SDC on the same ticket many times before and have also get reservations to exchange the ticket when the space is available but no options or has errors in the app