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UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions -Free STBY for all, SDC for all elites

Old Jan 5, 2018, 8:16 pm
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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

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.
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:
  • 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-Premiers Only 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

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

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 other 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?
Yes 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.

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}

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UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions -Free STBY for all, SDC for all elites

Old Feb 14, 2024, 11:37 am
  #571  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
Originally Posted by aw
Hi. *A Gold (TK) booked on SFO-YVR (UA# operated by AC) with a companion and tkts issued by UA (016). Would it be possible to STBY on the same day for a LATER flight on UA?
I will never understand the concept of standing by for a later flight. What if you don't clear?

If you miss your flight, UA will try to rebook you. As far as proactive standby, there is one board member who insists that this is absolutely SOP and a completely sane thing to want to do, but I've never heard any other experiences.
jsloan is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2024, 12:11 pm
  #572  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: UA GS, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 261
I have a difficult situation about the same day change. If original flight is AAA-BBB-CCC, and in bound CCC-BBB-AAA. I need to change AAA-BBB-DDD stopover DDD-EEE-CCC, and CCC-BBB-AAA. Is this possible? My plan is after I finish AAA-BBB I use same day change to BBB-DDD-CCC, and after I finish BBB-DDD, I use same day change again DDD-CCC, and after three days change chose DDD-EEE-CCC. Is it valid? thanks in advance
willliamjia is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2024, 1:22 pm
  #573  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,134
Originally Posted by willliamjia
I have a difficult situation about the same day change. If original flight is AAA-BBB-CCC, and in bound CCC-BBB-AAA. I need to change AAA-BBB-DDD stopover DDD-EEE-CCC, and CCC-BBB-AAA. Is this possible? My plan is after I finish AAA-BBB I use same day change to BBB-DDD-CCC, and after I finish BBB-DDD, I use same day change again DDD-CCC, and after three days change chose DDD-EEE-CCC. Is it valid? thanks in advance
Your plan relies on a number of stars aligning in ways that they aren't guarantied to align in (and if any of A, B, C, D, or E are outside of the US make things even more complicated and risky). The biggest caveat is needing to have the same fare class available, and for DDD-CCC having that availability across at least 4 options spaced out enough to bounce that ball down the road 3 days.

Is there a reason if you need to stop in DDD you don't just change your ticket now? It may be because I'm extraordinarily risk adverse but I personally wouldn't try it particularly if it's a "need to" rather than "want to" situation.
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lincolnjkc is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2024, 1:28 pm
  #574  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: UA GS, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by lincolnjkc
Your plan relies on a number of stars aligning in ways that they aren't guarantied to align in (and if any of A, B, C, D, or E are outside of the US make things even more complicated and risky). The biggest caveat is needing to have the same fare class available, and for DDD-CCC having that availability across at least 4 options spaced out enough to bounce that ball down the road 3 days.

Is there a reason if you need to stop in DDD you don't just change your ticket now? It may be because I'm extraordinarily risk adverse but I personally wouldn't try it particularly if it's a "need to" rather than "want to" situation.

Thank you for your response. Only AAA is outside US. All the others are in US. The reason I do not want change is international long hauls upgraded. I do not want to touch those two trans-pacific legs. All fares are B and promotional and not available now. So changing would be prohibitive..
willliamjia is offline  
Old Feb 14, 2024, 4:39 pm
  #575  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 151
Originally Posted by Scotttyd
what is united's policy on standbys with checked luggage?

Our situation - flying CDG to IAD to RDU - two options for the IAD to RDU leg - option A = 6 hour connection option B = 1 hr 50min connection.
If we book the longer connection and make it through customs and immigration on time, can we fly standby for even if we have checked baggage? (we have no status with united - I tried this as gold with American and they said they couldn't bc we had checked bags)
Is there a fee to do so?
If we are able to do this, what are the odds our bags will be on our flight? Not a big deal as I only live a few miles from the airport in RDU - could drop my wife and daughter at home, then come back and grab bags if on the second flight.

thanks
You have to pick up your bags at the first airport in the United States after arriving from most international airports (arrivals from Canada and Ireland are exceptions that I know of.).

After you clear customs and immigration, you normally drop your bags off to be re-checked. If I recall correctly, there are a few agents there who assist with rebooking possible misconceptions. Instead of just dropping your bags off, I would speak with the agent to get on the standby list and get your bags retagged for the earlier flight. Since your bags will pass through a CTX machine, your bags are generally allowed to be put on a domestic US flight even if you don’t get onboard.
misterfuss is offline  
Old Feb 19, 2024, 9:03 am
  #576  
 
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 4
Small data point, but had a red eye SAN-LAX-IAH. First leg CPU cleared 36hr before as a Plat, and wanted to get on standby for morning flights for nonstop SAN-IAH, so went to airport early morning. Gate agent saw the PZ fare class on first leg, and confirmed me into PZ directly on the nonstop SDC. Economy fully booked and only 2 available PZ at the time.
nyanqwerty is offline  
Old Feb 19, 2024, 2:54 pm
  #577  
 
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 417
Originally Posted by nyanqwerty
Small data point, but had a red eye SAN-LAX-IAH. First leg CPU cleared 36hr before as a Plat, and wanted to get on standby for morning flights for nonstop SAN-IAH, so went to airport early morning. Gate agent saw the PZ fare class on first leg, and confirmed me into PZ directly on the nonstop SDC. Economy fully booked and only 2 available PZ at the time.
how high were you on the upgrade list for second leg?
unitedwildcat is offline  
Old Feb 20, 2024, 1:07 pm
  #578  
 
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by unitedwildcat
how high were you on the upgrade list for second leg?
Was 2 with 3 remaining 1st class seats. Would've most likely cleared it I think.
nyanqwerty is offline  
Old Feb 21, 2024, 1:45 am
  #579  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 20
Success with SDC over text that simultaneously:
  • switched operating carrier (from LX to UA; reservation was UA-ticketed and UA-marketed)
  • switched terminal (JFK to EWR)
  • was booked in basic economy (but K class and not N class)
Since it wasn't on UA metal the app would fail the check-in flow. "Change flight" would inform me that the ticket was purchased in Basic Economy.
bppcomplete is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2024, 5:06 pm
  #580  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: DFW from PDX - UA 1K 2MM,Lifetime HHonnors Diamond, Bonvoy AMB/LT Tit, National Exec Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 554
Android App

I used to be able to do SDC very easy in the app. Now there is only a change flight button and it loads all fare differences. If I go to the website I can see SDC.

What am I missing?
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dshafiee is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2024, 2:13 pm
  #581  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 914
I'm flying:

YEG-DEN UA Basic Economy
DEN-IAH UA Basic Economy
-stay-
IAH-YYZ AC as a partner
YYZ-YEG AC as a partner

The wiki says there's a restriction on SDC for basic economy tickets but I can't find the supporting text on the official documentation https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/tra...ht-change.html

Did it change? Is the wiki wrong? Obviously, for SDC I'd need to find open BE space, right, since it maps to open BE fare class space? I'd do same day standby for 6am flight (as opposed to my confirmed 3pm seat), but if it fails (and it often does), I'm stuck airside for nine hours because of US Preclearance.
asovse1 is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2024, 2:19 pm
  #582  
 
Join Date: Dec 2022
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 417
Originally Posted by asovse1
I'm flying:

YEG-DEN UA Basic Economy
DEN-IAH UA Basic Economy
-stay-
IAH-YYZ AC as a partner
YYZ-YEG AC as a partner

The wiki says there's a restriction on SDC for basic economy tickets but I can't find the supporting text on the official documentation https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/tra...ht-change.html

Did it change? Is the wiki wrong? Obviously, for SDC I'd need to find open BE space, right, since it maps to open BE fare class space? I'd do same day standby for 6am flight (as opposed to my confirmed 3pm seat), but if it fails (and it often does), I'm stuck airside for nine hours because of US Preclearance.
You can’t same day change on BE. Confirmed changes are not allowed. You can standby but you’ll have to ask the agent at the gate to put you on standby. You won’t be able to do it in the app since you have a connection.
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unitedwildcat is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2024, 2:28 pm
  #583  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: YEG, SFO, VCA, JR JY-13
Programs: hahaha
Posts: 914
Found it. It was under the BE T&Cs:

  • Changing a flight: Ticket changes are not allowed. This includes advance changes and same-day changes, even for Premier members. Basic Economy tickets can only be changed if they’re issued between March 3, 2020, and April 30, 2021; or between May 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, for travel commencing between August 11 and December 31, 2021.
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asovse1 is offline  
Old Mar 8, 2024, 10:11 pm
  #584  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 549
I’ve previously standby-ed a non 016 ticket. I vaguely remember using the app in the past but my most recent experience was over kiosk due to app error. Has anyone been able to standby a non 016 ticket AND change gateways (EWR/JFK/LGA or DCA/IAD)? Kiosk will usually error when checking in at a different airport.
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Old Mar 9, 2024, 12:06 am
  #585  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,186
Originally Posted by ALGU
I’ve previously standby-ed a non 016 ticket. I vaguely remember using the app in the past but my most recent experience was over kiosk due to app error. Has anyone been able to standby a non 016 ticket AND change gateways (EWR/JFK/LGA or DCA/IAD)? Kiosk will usually error when checking in at a different airport.
Neither standby nor same-day change allow the use of a co-terminal. The 016 ticket adds an additional complexity. I would not expect this request to be succesful.
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jsloan is offline  

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