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}
Feb 26, 2019, 11:37 am
#4996
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
IAD-PVG
I looked at SDC options for IAD-PVG after check-in. The only options available are the ones with a fewer hours layover at SFO/LAX. There were not any long layover options such as leaving IAD in the early evening and stay at SFO/LAX for over 12 hours and head to PVG next day. The options on App and website were identical. My question is whether or not a 1K agent will be able to change IAD-PVG to long layover options. Btw, all flights are UA metals.
Feb 27, 2019, 9:43 pm
#4997
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Singapore
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1MM/1k
Posts: 477
where is it on the app?
I must be missing something but where can I find the SDC options on the app?
All I can find is under "trip details" -> "manage reservation" -> "change flight", which directs me to the web (not in the app). I couldn't find anywhere else on the app that shows SDC options.
All I can find is under "trip details" -> "manage reservation" -> "change flight", which directs me to the web (not in the app). I couldn't find anywhere else on the app that shows SDC options.
Feb 27, 2019, 10:25 pm
#4998
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Note that it won't appear if there aren't any alternative flights available without a fare difference.
Feb 28, 2019, 2:21 am
#4999
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Singapore
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1MM/1k
Posts: 477
Does the same fare need to exist on *every* segment, including that not to be changed
Say original booking AAA-BBB-CCC on S fare, and I'd like to change to AAA-DDD-BBB-CCC, with BBB-CCC unchanged. Currently S fare is not available on BBB-CCC, but S is available on AAA-DDD-BBB. Should I be able to do SDC? The app/website isn't offering it, and the phone agent claimed that it cannot be done.
Feb 28, 2019, 3:15 am
#5000
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Say original booking AAA-BBB-CCC on S fare, and I'd like to change to AAA-DDD-BBB-CCC, with BBB-CCC unchanged. Currently S fare is not available on BBB-CCC, but S is available on AAA-DDD-BBB. Should I be able to do SDC? The app/website isn't offering it, and the phone agent claimed that it cannot be done.
Feb 28, 2019, 2:22 pm
#5001
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,456
Has anyone had recent experience trying to SDC a mixed-cabin revenue booking? I'm flying LAX-EWR-DCA in D/H (the second leg is on an E145). I think there was a post in the previous thread circa 2016 saying that it would be very hard to do so, but just wondering if anyone has had more recent experiences.
On a side note: weirdly, UA.com seems to price this itinerary as a through H fare with a ~$300 upcharge to D on the transcon, as opposed to all other LAX-EWR-XXX fares with EWR-XXX on a single-cabin plane, which are effectively pricing as two one-ways.
On a side note: weirdly, UA.com seems to price this itinerary as a through H fare with a ~$300 upcharge to D on the transcon, as opposed to all other LAX-EWR-XXX fares with EWR-XXX on a single-cabin plane, which are effectively pricing as two one-ways.
Feb 28, 2019, 3:24 pm
#5002
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
For an INTL itinerary A-B-C with 23-hour connection at B priced with A-C through fare, UA.com shows them as two separate trips (A-B & B-C). Based on my previous experiences, I should be able to checkin for A-B only and SDC to A-D-B.
This time, however, B-C is on another carrier (not UA coded, not even *A). Will I be able to SDC in this case?
This time, however, B-C is on another carrier (not UA coded, not even *A). Will I be able to SDC in this case?
Feb 28, 2019, 3:39 pm
#5003
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Has anyone had recent experience trying to SDC a mixed-cabin revenue booking? I'm flying LAX-EWR-DCA in D/H (the second leg is on an E145). I think there was a post in the previous thread circa 2016 saying that it would be very hard to do so, but just wondering if anyone has had more recent experiences.
For an INTL itinerary A-B-C with 23-hour connection at B priced with A-C through fare, UA.com shows them as two separate trips (A-B & B-C). Based on my previous experiences, I should be able to checkin for A-B only and SDC to A-D-B.
This time, however, B-C is on another carrier (not UA coded, not even *A). Will I be able to SDC in this case?
This time, however, B-C is on another carrier (not UA coded, not even *A). Will I be able to SDC in this case?
If D-B isn't UA metal this won't work.
Feb 28, 2019, 3:55 pm
#5004
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Actually, IME, the UA app will likely consider A-B and B-C separate trips, and so I expect the app will let you SDC to A-D-B (all on UA metal).
Feb 28, 2019, 7:59 pm
#5005
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,456
Alright, we'll see if I give it a whirl. If, for example, I want to reroute onto two flights with F, will I be accommodated up front for both? I suspect it's YMMV given the weird fare construction I have, but again, any anecdotes or reports would be good to hear!
Feb 28, 2019, 8:43 pm
#5006
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
So, what I'd expect is that the app will restrict you to EWR transfers, and if you are able to change the second leg to a two-cabin plane, it will put you into economy with an H fare.
If you actually have a through fare, you may be able to talk an agent into putting you in the front on the connecting flight.
Feb 28, 2019, 10:18 pm
#5007
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
This time, I wonder whether involving a non-UA segment (B-C) on a through fare would make things different.
Mar 1, 2019, 5:33 am
#5008
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Flying ORF-EWR today, booked on the 7:15pm flight. Last night at T-24, I wanted to SDC to the 5:15pm flight (both 145's). The app didn't show this flight, even though it showed seats available. I called the 1K desk, and the agent initially said I couldn't SDC because the only seat left was full Y fare, and I would have to pay a $300 fare difference to SDC. Then, after I declined, he said because I am 1K, he could force it through (booking now shows M fare, was S).
Looking at that (5:15pm) flight now, it looks like there are seats open in every fare class, even Basic Economy and Saver Award. I guess this is part of the lottery of whether to wait until closer to flight time to see if more seats open up. Still. anyone who paid a fare difference to SDC from one non-stop to another, then noticed open seats, would not have been happy.
Looking at that (5:15pm) flight now, it looks like there are seats open in every fare class, even Basic Economy and Saver Award. I guess this is part of the lottery of whether to wait until closer to flight time to see if more seats open up. Still. anyone who paid a fare difference to SDC from one non-stop to another, then noticed open seats, would not have been happy.
Mar 1, 2019, 8:05 am
#5009
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Flying ORF-EWR today, booked on the 7:15pm flight. Last night at T-24, I wanted to SDC to the 5:15pm flight (both 145's). The app didn't show this flight, even though it showed seats available. I called the 1K desk, and the agent initially said I couldn't SDC because the only seat left was full Y fare, and I would have to pay a $300 fare difference to SDC. Then, after I declined, he said because I am 1K, he could force it through (booking now shows M fare, was S).
Looking at that (5:15pm) flight now, it looks like there are seats open in every fare class, even Basic Economy and Saver Award. I guess this is part of the lottery of whether to wait until closer to flight time to see if more seats open up. Still. anyone who paid a fare difference to SDC from one non-stop to another, then noticed open seats, would not have been happy.
Looking at that (5:15pm) flight now, it looks like there are seats open in every fare class, even Basic Economy and Saver Award. I guess this is part of the lottery of whether to wait until closer to flight time to see if more seats open up. Still. anyone who paid a fare difference to SDC from one non-stop to another, then noticed open seats, would not have been happy.
The app won't show flights that have a fare difference; that's normal.
Your experience getting the flight re-fared for free is unusual, but rapidly changing availability isn't. On multiple occasions, I've had flights open up during the SDC window that were originally unavailable. Patience, persistence, and ExpertFlyer alerts all help.
Mar 3, 2019, 9:17 am
#5010
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
I'd really rather not fly AC (somehow 47% overall OTP, and 63% on this particular flight doesnt inspire confidence of not missing the connection to Asia - in addition to being stuck in AC Y-) . Its a United ticket.
Any recent experiences of UA allowing to SDC onto the UA metal flight when previously booked on a partner operated codeshare? The flights leave roughly at around the same time.