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UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}

Old Jan 4, 2015, 2:01 pm
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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:
  • 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)
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)
  • 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
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}
Print Wikipost

UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}

Old Mar 22, 2019, 8:15 pm
  #5101  
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Originally Posted by VXforever
There was one time I SDCed a direct flight into a 2 day itinerary that passed through all of UA's hubs (AND was mostly on wide bodies in F).
And this is likely why people are reporting that SDC options are drying up.

UA might not care about Y inventory, but I promise you that they care about F inventory. They want to sell those TODs.
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Old Mar 23, 2019, 12:46 am
  #5102  
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Originally Posted by RobOnLI
I think several have reported this with SDC but I had never seen this before until yesterday. Boarded at my origin on a flight to IAH and normally when you board you can SDC the downline segments. I pulled up the app to see what options were available for the IAH-destination leg. It only gave me non-stop flights on that calendar day only. No connection options (which were available) and no non-stop options the next day (still within 24 hours) appeared at all. This happened all the way up until I boarded the connection in IAH. First time I've seen this and I hope it's not a new policy that's about to be enforced (e.g., can't SDC to the following day, can't SDC more than "x" times on a ticket, etc.).

-RM
Yup, that's exactly my observation on a iad-yyz. SDC only works for that day. On the bright side, it allows you to SDC to different fare classes on the same day within the cabin. I have a P fare and can SDC to D and C fare classes as well. Who knows how long this algorithm might last. SDC was the best UA feature and this might cause me to stop chasing UA Gold status.
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Old Mar 23, 2019, 8:43 am
  #5103  
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Originally Posted by hokiebuy
Yup, that's exactly my observation on a iad-yyz. SDC only works for that day. On the bright side, it allows you to SDC to different fare classes on the same day within the cabin. I have a P fare and can SDC to D and C fare classes as well. Who knows how long this algorithm might last. SDC was the best UA feature and this might cause me to stop chasing UA Gold status.
Interesting. That's never been a rule of SDC. I wonder if United is moving to Delta's system which only allows SDC on the same day but in first class allows SDC to any open seat (assuming it's at least J1). Personally I hope not. I much prefer United's method.

Also, how do you know you can SDC to D or C class from P? The options that came up showed you the booking class and you looked at it? For my SDC it only showed non-stop flights with my fare class open (but I was booked in coach and hadn't been upgraded yet).

-RM
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Old Mar 23, 2019, 3:13 pm
  #5104  
 
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Originally Posted by RobOnLI
Interesting. That's never been a rule of SDC. I wonder if United is moving to Delta's system which only allows SDC on the same day but in first class allows SDC to any open seat (assuming it's at least J1). Personally I hope not. I much prefer United's method.

Also, how do you know you can SDC to D or C class from P? The options that came up showed you the booking class and you looked at it? For my SDC it only showed non-stop flights with my fare class open (but I was booked in coach and hadn't been upgraded yet).

-RM
It shows fare classes either when performing SDC on website or after you do it on the app. At the very least I could try to get into fare class F or J and net some more PQMs.
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Old Mar 24, 2019, 7:37 pm
  #5105  
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Originally Posted by 1k-all-the-way
Any recent experiences with a situation like this?
I have paid business ticket on 016 stock from SFO-CDG on Swiss. Any chance I might be successful trying to SDC to the UA non-stop same day? Wiki indicated might be possible... Has anyone been successful in doing something like this?
Generally, this can only be done by an agent (assuming CDG is your destination and your fare class is available on the UA flight) and better chances with an airport agent.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:34 am
  #5106  
 
Join Date: May 2012
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Originally Posted by RobOnLI
I think several have reported this with SDC but I had never seen this before until yesterday. Boarded at my origin on a flight to IAH and normally when you board you can SDC the downline segments. I pulled up the app to see what options were available for the IAH-destination leg. It only gave me non-stop flights on that calendar day only. No connection options (which were available) and no non-stop options the next day (still within 24 hours) appeared at all. This happened all the way up until I boarded the connection in IAH.

-RM
SDCing one segment into two segments did not appear on App even though fare classes were available. Two recent examples was 1) SFO-PVG to SFO-LAX-PVG in G and 2) DTW-IAD to DTW-ORD-IAD in PZ.
Another unrelated issue was that one-stop of PVG-IAD with 8 hour layover at SFO was not given on App; but 1K agent could do it. I ended at getting a two-stop option to arrive at IAD four hours earlier than the one-stop option.
In general, App is still doing one segment to another one segment or two segments to other two segments. The latter may be more restrictive than before.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 4:44 pm
  #5107  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
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I'm a new 1K. I thought it could change a paid flight for free (no change fee), but believe i am wrong.

I have an economy ticket (W) from SMF - ORD on Thursday at 210p (UA 1712). I went to change to the same flight next day (Friday 210p) and it was $366. $166 in fare difference + $200 change fee.

I called united 1K and the agent said i needed to change my flight within 24 hrs of departure AND the new flight must also be in that 24 hr window. So I said if I called WED night, could I change it without the $200 fee and he said "No, because the new flight is friday at 2p and not within the 24 hours."

Is that the correct interpretation?

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 25, 2019 at 5:08 pm Reason: moved to master thread
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 4:51 pm
  #5108  
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Originally Posted by mayday23
I'm a new 1K. I thought it could change a paid flight for free (no change fee), but believe i am wrong.
UA does not have a policy of waiving change fees for 1Ks. I've seen occasional reports that agents will waive them on an ad hoc basis.

Originally Posted by mayday23
I called united 1K and the agent said i needed to change my flight within 24 hrs of departure AND the new flight must also be in that 24 hr window. So I said if I called WED night, could I change it without the $200 fee and he said "No, because the new flight is friday at 2p and not within the 24 hours."

Is that the correct interpretation?
Yes. The agent is referring to a Same-Day Confirmed change (SDC). There is no fee for UA Gold and above members, but the fare difference will apply. You may be able to SDC twice -- for example, at 9 AM Thursday, you could SDC to any flight prior to 9 AM Friday. Then, at 2:10 PM Thursday, you could SDC to the 2:10 PM Friday flight.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 4:53 pm
  #5109  
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Originally Posted by mayday23
I'm a new 1K. I thought it could change a paid flight for free (no change fee), but believe i am wrong.

I have an economy ticket (W) from SMF - ORD on Thursday at 210p (UA 1712). I went to change to the same flight next day (Friday 210p) and it was $366. $166 in fare difference + $200 change fee.

I called united 1K and the agent said i needed to change my flight within 24 hrs of departure AND the new flight must also be in that 24 hr window. So I said if I called WED night, could I change it without the $200 fee and he said "No, because the new flight is Friday at 2p and not within the 24 hours."

Is that the correct interpretation?
Do you fly Alaska? If so, that may cause confusion, UA has different policies even for top tier 1Ks.

And yes, agent was correct - you have to within 24 hours of BOTH original flight AND flight you want to change to @:-)

What you want to do is virtually impossible. You cannot change to the flight you desire until Thursday at 2:10 p.m., at which point you should be in your seat and the door is closed or about to be closed.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 4:55 pm
  #5110  
 
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Originally Posted by jsloan
Yes. The agent is referring to a Same-Day Confirmed change (SDC). There is no fee for UA Gold and above members, but the fare difference will apply. You may be able to SDC twice -- for example, at 9 AM Thursday, you could SDC to any flight prior to 9 AM Friday. Then, at 2:10 PM Thursday, you could SDC to the 2:10 PM Friday flight.
Bloody genius. Thank you
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 5:34 pm
  #5111  
 
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Originally Posted by jsloan
UA does not have a policy of waiving change fees for 1Ks. I've seen occasional reports that agents will waive them on an ad hoc basis.


Yes. The agent is referring to a Same-Day Confirmed change (SDC). There is no fee for UA Gold and above members, but the fare difference will apply. You may be able to SDC twice -- for example, at 9 AM Thursday, you could SDC to any flight prior to 9 AM Friday. Then, at 2:10 PM Thursday, you could SDC to the 2:10 PM Friday flight.
I just did this with a rolling three SDC to be on a flight 24 hours later. I had already paid the change fee once so did not want to fo this again, but worth it for the extra time with my son.
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Old Mar 25, 2019, 7:09 pm
  #5112  
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Originally Posted by mayday23
Bloody genius. Thank you
Originally Posted by Aussienarelle
I just did this with a rolling three SDC to be on a flight 24 hours later. I had already paid the change fee once so did not want to fo this again, but worth it for the extra time with my son.
Just be careful that there is availability on the second flight @:-)

It's early in the year so the loads are probably light, but I"m not sure I'd try this in summer season when it seems like all the flights are full.
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Old Mar 26, 2019, 8:08 pm
  #5113  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I have a question about what fare bucket SDC AWARD tickets come out of. (The answer is likely posted here but couldn't find it..... )

For example, if I have a saver award on a flight and go to move it, must there be a saver award fare as if I was making a new booking on the selected flight? Or will it allow changes to other open seats/fare classes? If it needs the same saver seat, then there is no difference for a 1k as changes are free? Thanks!
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Old Mar 26, 2019, 8:12 pm
  #5114  
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Originally Posted by 1k-all-the-way
I have a question about what fare bucket SDC AWARD tickets come out of. (The answer is likely posted here but couldn't find it..... )

For example, if I have a saver award on a flight and go to move it, must there be a saver award fare as if I was making a new booking on the selected flight? Or will it allow changes to other open seats/fare classes? If it needs the same saver seat, then there is no difference for a 1k as changes are free? Thanks!
The same fare bucket as your current booking, yes. The only difference for a 1K would be if you were using somebody else's miles (without status).
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Old Mar 26, 2019, 8:15 pm
  #5115  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Originally Posted by jsloan
The same fare bucket as your current booking, yes. The only difference for a 1K would be if you were using somebody else's miles (without status).
Thanks Jsloan. My miles, my ticket. Was just wondering if SDC added any extra flexibility over just searching for a new award seat.... I have never used it on an award ticket....
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