Aug 13, 2013, 12:23 am
Last edit by: Guate87
What is this whole PNR auto-splitting thing about?
First, you need to realize there are two separate upgrade waitlists. There's the advance upgrade waitlist, which runs periodically from your applicable upgrade window until about four hours before departure, and the airport waitlist, which is manually cleared by the gate agents about 30 minutes before departure.
The first waitlist can handle an elite and a companion automatically. If you're next in line for an upgrade and there are at least two upgradeable seats available, you'll both get the upgrade.
The second waitlist (the airport one) can only handle upgrading one traveler on a PNR. If there is more than one person in your reservation when you check in, you'll be asked if you want to either split the reservation if waitlisted for CPU or stay on the same reservation and decline being on the gate waitlist. For supported waitlisted upgrades (PPs or Miles) you will not be asked and it will split (without choice) at check-in.
Next, you need to be familiar with United's "auto-check-in" feature. If you select this option when you check in for your original outbound flight (depending on how you check in, it may automatically default to selecting this), then shortly after 24 hours before your return flight segment, you'll automatically be checked in and boarding passes will be electronically delivered to you. discontinued
If you opt for this and the system automatically checks you in, and if you have two people in your reservation, the system will automatically split your reservation. You and your companion will now be on two separate reservations, and you'll be waitlisted for an upgrade and your companion won't.
Why might splitting be bad?
[color=#000000]If your companions are not elite, they will no longer qualify for the elite benefits they inherited from you. That means no free baggage (including credit card companion bag benefit), no Economy Plus seating access (although they won't be booted out of E+ if they're already seated in it, barring irregular operations), no Premier Access, and potential issues in irregular operations as a result of being on a separate reservation (they may be rebooked on a separate flight from you without agent intervention). If you have TSA pre-check your family traveling with you on the same PNR can use the precheck line - which they cannot do if you split. And if you are traveling with children
First, you need to realize there are two separate upgrade waitlists. There's the advance upgrade waitlist, which runs periodically from your applicable upgrade window until about four hours before departure, and the airport waitlist, which is manually cleared by the gate agents about 30 minutes before departure.
The first waitlist can handle an elite and a companion automatically. If you're next in line for an upgrade and there are at least two upgradeable seats available, you'll both get the upgrade.
The second waitlist (the airport one) can only handle upgrading one traveler on a PNR. If there is more than one person in your reservation when you check in, you'll be asked if you want to either split the reservation if waitlisted for CPU or stay on the same reservation and decline being on the gate waitlist. For supported waitlisted upgrades (PPs or Miles) you will not be asked and it will split (without choice) at check-in.
Next, you need to be familiar with United's "auto-check-in" feature. If you select this option when you check in for your original outbound flight (depending on how you check in, it may automatically default to selecting this), then shortly after 24 hours before your return flight segment, you'll automatically be checked in and boarding passes will be electronically delivered to you. discontinued
If you opt for this and the system automatically checks you in, and if you have two people in your reservation, the system will automatically split your reservation. You and your companion will now be on two separate reservations, and you'll be waitlisted for an upgrade and your companion won't.
Why might splitting be bad?
[color=#000000]If your companions are not elite, they will no longer qualify for the elite benefits they inherited from you. That means no free baggage (including credit card companion bag benefit), no Economy Plus seating access (although they won't be booted out of E+ if they're already seated in it, barring irregular operations), no Premier Access, and potential issues in irregular operations as a result of being on a separate reservation (they may be rebooked on a separate flight from you without agent intervention). If you have TSA pre-check your family traveling with you on the same PNR can use the precheck line - which they cannot do if you split. And if you are traveling with children
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
Apr 7, 2012, 3:28 pm
#1
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The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
There were 5 of us on 3 different PNRs for flights home tomorrow (done so to maximize UG chances and make sure we had bags covered). I did auto-check in for the flight home, but nowhere did I agree to split PNRs at T-24. Lo and behold, we're now on 5 different PNRs (one of whom is a minor), and of course the new ones didn't show up in my account (had to log in under their MP numbers to find the info).
How do we stop this in the future? An incredibly annoying "feature" IMO.
How do we stop this in the future? An incredibly annoying "feature" IMO.
Apr 7, 2012, 3:38 pm
#2
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I wish there was a way to just opt out of the UG mess. If I'm travelling with my wife and kid, I don't want it, I just want to sit with them. And once they get split into all the little itty bitty PNRs, all h*** breaks loose if there's any change of aircraft or irrops that requires new seat assignments. Yuck.
Apr 7, 2012, 3:38 pm
#3
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Anyone else know how to trick this stupid system into not splitting?
Last edited by iluv2fly; Apr 7, 2012 at 3:49 pm Reason: response to deleted post
Apr 7, 2012, 3:40 pm
#4
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Apr 7, 2012, 4:22 pm
#5
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I actually do remember seeing that, and specifically did NOT elect to split as 1) my PNR companion is a GM, so I wanted to keep us together, and 2) we've already been upgraded on the 1,700 mile leg and didn't need to press for an upgrade on the 400 mile leg, esp. as it's an E70 so a small Y/C delta.
Apr 7, 2012, 4:45 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
I know that calling and telling UA doesn't do squat. A couple weeks ago I was flying with my family (including 3 children). After making my reservation online I called and after being on hold FOREVER, specifically told the agent to keep me off the upgrade list so I could stay with my family. Of course, I got upgraded and couldn't get my original seat back. So once on the plane it took some juggling to get us all kinda together (there were all families around us so giving away a first class seat was a lot harder than I thought).
As I've mentioned before, I fully realize UA doesn't care about 1K's (or most any individual, for that matter), so the screw-up doesn't surprise me. I'm already at 50k qualifying miles for the year so with zero worry about keeping my status I've already started flying AA and SWA.
As I've mentioned before, I fully realize UA doesn't care about 1K's (or most any individual, for that matter), so the screw-up doesn't surprise me. I'm already at 50k qualifying miles for the year so with zero worry about keeping my status I've already started flying AA and SWA.
Apr 7, 2012, 4:51 pm
#8
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Apr 7, 2012, 9:36 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 534
I also hate the auto-split. Why is it so hard to keep two pax on one PNR?
Apr 7, 2012, 10:18 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Honolulu / DC
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Agree - this is a cluster
My former 1P now GM son and I got split in the process of going SEA-SFO-HNL last month. The result was that I got upgraded and he didn't and I couldn't decline it and stay seated with him. OK - he got NF and I got exit row. Bad as the "1 traveling companion on the same PNR" rule was clearly violated.
Problem: once split, the PNRs are split. So the return was a cluster in every possible way. Is this a pmCO thing?? No matter, it NEEDS TO STOP.
Problem: once split, the PNRs are split. So the return was a cluster in every possible way. Is this a pmCO thing?? No matter, it NEEDS TO STOP.
Apr 7, 2012, 10:25 pm
#11
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I also hate the auto-split. Why is it so hard to keep two pax on one PNR?
Apr 7, 2012, 10:33 pm
#12
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+1
traveling with partner who is also gold, upgrade confusion on board after we had already boarded in coach. Both asked if we wanted to move up front at separate times after we were seated in exit row. Both declined individually but had we known we probably both should have been upgraded. Checked return today and our res is split without permission. Declined auto check in on return. What a pita.
traveling with partner who is also gold, upgrade confusion on board after we had already boarded in coach. Both asked if we wanted to move up front at separate times after we were seated in exit row. Both declined individually but had we known we probably both should have been upgraded. Checked return today and our res is split without permission. Declined auto check in on return. What a pita.
Apr 7, 2012, 11:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 310
The PNR auto-splitting was amusing a couple weeks ago when I travelled with my infant daughter who had her own seat. I got upgraded and she was stuck in coach. Resulted in more work for the check-in agent to fix. Same thing happened on the return, since the PNR was already split.
Apr 8, 2012, 12:08 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Wasn't aware of this. Does the system still split the PNR if both passengers have been upgraded prior to T-24?
And after the split, does the non-elite passenger still get placed on the upgrade list? If so, is it based on the status of the elite member?
And after the split, does the non-elite passenger still get placed on the upgrade list? If so, is it based on the status of the elite member?
Apr 8, 2012, 12:19 am
#15
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IME, after split, the non-elite pax does not get placed on the upgrade list automatically. A request to add a companion to the upgrade list on the day of travel usually is met with the response "you can't do it" because the UC agent or the gate agent does not know how to to do it.
