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}
Jun 26, 2019, 8:08 am
#5461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Did it give you all of the boarding passes when you first checked in? Was it treating your transfer point as a destination, or did it correctly identify that you were a through passenger? Was it going to check bags all the way through? Did you get INTL on both boarding passes?
I know UA has been working on their SDC functionality recently, so it wouldn't surprise me if they'd tightened up this loophole too. I haven't had a long transfer like that in a while. However, this is the first report I've heard of its systems actually recognizing an overnight transfer as anything but two consecutive flights on the same PNR.
I know UA has been working on their SDC functionality recently, so it wouldn't surprise me if they'd tightened up this loophole too. I haven't had a long transfer like that in a while. However, this is the first report I've heard of its systems actually recognizing an overnight transfer as anything but two consecutive flights on the same PNR.
I was a little bit surprised as well, since that was a stopover in the sense of going from a not-the-last-of-the-day flight to a next-day flight. But I don't think the fare actually included a stopover, so I'm not sure what to make of it. The itinerary was put together with google flights, since the UA search wasn't giving me what I wanted (the overnight).
Last edited by fumje; Jun 26, 2019 at 1:55 pm Reason: tyop
Jun 27, 2019, 12:41 pm
#5462
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
UA Flight Change Clarification
TWO QUESTIONS:
1. First about free same day changes: For a free same day change, my understanding is that the entire existing itinerary in one direction needs to be on UA metal AND the entire new itinerary must be on UA metal as well. Is that correct?
2. Does the above also apply to $120 change fee changes >24 hours? In other words, can you change flights that contain codeshares to flights that do not (and vice-versa) if you pay the change fee?
I'm asking because my return from SIN is quite far out and I want to leave as much flexibility as possible to switch it when and if PZ space becomes available.
1. First about free same day changes: For a free same day change, my understanding is that the entire existing itinerary in one direction needs to be on UA metal AND the entire new itinerary must be on UA metal as well. Is that correct?
For example:
If you are in SIN and you have SIN-SFO-TPA (All UA flights), the only change option would be another SIN-SFO flight because that is the only connection UA has from SIN. You could not switch to SIN-NRT-SFO-TPA, for example, as SIN-NRT is an NH codeshare.
Also, if you already had SIN-NRT-SFO-TPA, you could not change to SIN-SFO-TPA because you could not change the SIN-NRT NH codeshare at all. However, once you reached NRT, you could switch to a different flight out of NRT if one is available.
If you are in SIN and you have SIN-SFO-TPA (All UA flights), the only change option would be another SIN-SFO flight because that is the only connection UA has from SIN. You could not switch to SIN-NRT-SFO-TPA, for example, as SIN-NRT is an NH codeshare.
Also, if you already had SIN-NRT-SFO-TPA, you could not change to SIN-SFO-TPA because you could not change the SIN-NRT NH codeshare at all. However, once you reached NRT, you could switch to a different flight out of NRT if one is available.
2. Does the above also apply to $120 change fee changes >24 hours? In other words, can you change flights that contain codeshares to flights that do not (and vice-versa) if you pay the change fee?
I'm asking because my return from SIN is quite far out and I want to leave as much flexibility as possible to switch it when and if PZ space becomes available.
Jun 27, 2019, 1:04 pm
#5463
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: 66,854
As SIN-SFO-TPA is all UA, it is possible
Remember SDC can only be done within 24 hours of the original departure and the new departure.
Changes other times are governed by the ticket change rules and space / fare availability. Formal changes (outside of SDC) are likely to have significant fare changes (depending on the purchased fare).
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 27, 2019 at 1:09 pm
Jun 27, 2019, 1:27 pm
#5464
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
SDC and standard ticket changes are two separate actions.
Remember SDC can only be done within 24 hours of the original departure and the new departure.
Changes other times are governed by the ticket change rules and space / fare availability. Formal changes (outside of SDC) are likely to have significant fare changes (depending on the purchased fare).
Remember SDC can only be done within 24 hours of the original departure and the new departure.
Changes other times are governed by the ticket change rules and space / fare availability. Formal changes (outside of SDC) are likely to have significant fare changes (depending on the purchased fare).
So I guess for greatest flexibility, book a codeshare and switch to a non-codeshare if a good seat comes up.
Thanks
Jun 27, 2019, 1:36 pm
#5465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
No issues (assuming routing is legal), but it will usually reprice using fares in effect today if you change the routing like that.
Jun 27, 2019, 1:41 pm
#5466
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: 66,854
Except you will be subject to the fares at the time of the change -- so, potentially a significant fare differential
Jun 27, 2019, 6:45 pm
#5467
Join Date: May 2001
Location: TPA 50%/BKK 30%/HKG 20%
Programs: UA 1K MM - AF G – TK G – AZ Ex – Hilton D – Marriott G – IHG P
Posts: 1,990
I've noticed that the W-and-up fares between SEA and Florida don't really change much unless it is a holiday somewhere and you can usually route around that by changing cities. (And they are usually available right up until departure.)
Last edited by TomA; Jun 28, 2019 at 10:24 am
Jun 27, 2019, 9:07 pm
#5468
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PMD
Programs: UA*G, NW, AA-G. WR-P, HH-G, IHG-S, ALL. TT-GE.
Posts: 2,910
2. SDC options were plenty. All $0. Pretty much all day--all options of course exceeding the 24-hour max.
3. Two-segment options appeared too--SAN, SMF, PHX, DEN, COS (30-min conx to last n/s of the day. Yeah, right!).
Jun 28, 2019, 6:41 am
#5469
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
1. I could only check in to LAX-IAH. No INTL on BP. (That means TBIT *A lounge only.)
2. SDC options were plenty. All $0. Pretty much all day--all options of course exceeding the 24-hour max.
3. Two-segment options appeared too--SAN, SMF, PHX, DEN, COS (30-min conx to last n/s of the day. Yeah, right!).
2. SDC options were plenty. All $0. Pretty much all day--all options of course exceeding the 24-hour max.
3. Two-segment options appeared too--SAN, SMF, PHX, DEN, COS (30-min conx to last n/s of the day. Yeah, right!).
Jun 28, 2019, 3:13 pm
#5470
Join Date: May 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-Plat, UA-Plat 2MM, AA-PlatPro, B6-Mosaic 3, AY-Plat, HY-Globalist, MR-LT Plat, HH-Gold
Posts: 1,235
P class not flattening until very last minute
Anyone else notice that P class is no longer flattening along with the other fare classes as departure nears? LAX-EWR today all fare classes available except P have opened up on every flight within 3-4 hours. P has stayed at 0 for every flight until about 90 minutes before departure. In the past it's been relatively easy to move flights around within 24 hours and definitely within 3-4 hours. Now you have to be at the airport if you're in P and want to SDC.
For clarity, I'm talking standard paid P and not the Px upgrade classes.
For clarity, I'm talking standard paid P and not the Px upgrade classes.
Jul 2, 2019, 3:33 pm
#5471
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: All the programs!
Posts: 1,006
Is it possible to SDC to an international flight that's exactly 1 day earlier? I know within 24 hours works but curious if this does.
I'm trying to depart SFO 1 day earlier than I originally booked. If not, am I able to standby?
Thanks,
*edit reading some of the previous posts points to a no for SDC but standby may be possible.
I'm trying to depart SFO 1 day earlier than I originally booked. If not, am I able to standby?
Thanks,
*edit reading some of the previous posts points to a no for SDC but standby may be possible.
Jul 2, 2019, 3:50 pm
#5472
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: 66,854
Standby is problematic also because standby requires same DAY, however occasionally an airport agent will push it thru.
You can showup a day earlier and try, as some have been lucky, but it is against policy and I would have a place to stay that evening lined up.
Jul 3, 2019, 10:50 am
#5473
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
SDC challenge due to through fare
I’m in LHR hoping to SDC to an earlier flight, 928, tomorrow. 928 is wide open in both PZ and W, so I thought switching my GPU from the later flight would work. But two agents have already said there is nothing they can do because LHR-YVR doesn’t have W inventory currently. We already have W space ORD-YVR and were not looking to change that flight
Is it the case that you have to have through fare inventory to change even one segment on an itinerary with a connection?
Is it the case that you have to have through fare inventory to change even one segment on an itinerary with a connection?
Jul 3, 2019, 11:23 am
#5474
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Jul 3, 2019, 11:34 am
#5475
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355