Nov 8, 2015, 12:01 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
For complimentary premier upgrades, United explains how they are handled for itineraries with more than one passenger:
If a reservation includes three or more travelers, and only one is not a Premier member, the Complimentary Premier Upgrades will be processed according to the lowest Premier status level in the reservation. If two or more travelers on the reservation are not Premier members, it will not be processed automatically. In these cases, Premier members should call the Premier Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves and the eligible companion.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly.../upgrades.html
For elites, an itinerary for multiple passengers will remain together until ~T-24. If the upgrades clear before then, the PNR remains together. If they have not cleared by then, the PNR will be "split" when you check in for purposes of upgrades, with waitlist priority in accordance with above. The splitting has consequences regarding eligibility for "inherited status" - i.e., baggage allowances, upgrade priority, boarding priority for passengers with lower status than the highest status passenger. I.e., as a formal matter the benefits of inherited status are lost (although E+ seats are usually retained or can be gotten back, baggage is usually granted, one can board with highest priority passenger). This also matters for the return.
This thread explains various scenarios and considerations as to whether it is desirable to split the PNR before T-24 and the consequences of having it happen.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you mind if not all passengers are upgraded? If you are willing to have some people remain in coach, then splitting increases your chances of an upgrade before T-24 because sometimes only one upgrade seat becomes available at a time. In such scenarios a group of 2+ will be skipped. If you can't be separated, don't split until forced to do so. If you really can't be separated, consider a call to UA to ask to be marked not for upgrades.
2) Once you get inside T-24 your PNR will be split, unless you make a special request that it not be. Each passenger will be placed on the upgrade list in accordance with the above. This doesn't matter much on the outbound flight unless there are IRROPS, in which case it may be tougher to get accommodation for all passengers.
3) On the return flight(s) the companions may no longer have the highest level of status of all passengers, including baggage allowances (E+ seats are usually retained). However, some recent reports are that companions retain the status of the highest passenger on the original PNR, even after it is split.
related threads
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
Splitting up partner airline award reservation
Archive thread : To split or not to split PNR {Archive}
Companion policy
One companion traveling on a paid ticket on the same reservation as a Premier member is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select flights, and may be confirmed with the same priority as the Premier member, even on the day of departure. If the companion is a Premier member, the upgrade will be processed according to the highest Premier status level in the reservation.If a reservation includes three or more travelers, and only one is not a Premier member, the Complimentary Premier Upgrades will be processed according to the lowest Premier status level in the reservation. If two or more travelers on the reservation are not Premier members, it will not be processed automatically. In these cases, Premier members should call the Premier Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves and the eligible companion.
For elites, an itinerary for multiple passengers will remain together until ~T-24. If the upgrades clear before then, the PNR remains together. If they have not cleared by then, the PNR will be "split" when you check in for purposes of upgrades, with waitlist priority in accordance with above. The splitting has consequences regarding eligibility for "inherited status" - i.e., baggage allowances, upgrade priority, boarding priority for passengers with lower status than the highest status passenger. I.e., as a formal matter the benefits of inherited status are lost (although E+ seats are usually retained or can be gotten back, baggage is usually granted, one can board with highest priority passenger). This also matters for the return.
This thread explains various scenarios and considerations as to whether it is desirable to split the PNR before T-24 and the consequences of having it happen.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you mind if not all passengers are upgraded? If you are willing to have some people remain in coach, then splitting increases your chances of an upgrade before T-24 because sometimes only one upgrade seat becomes available at a time. In such scenarios a group of 2+ will be skipped. If you can't be separated, don't split until forced to do so. If you really can't be separated, consider a call to UA to ask to be marked not for upgrades.
2) Once you get inside T-24 your PNR will be split, unless you make a special request that it not be. Each passenger will be placed on the upgrade list in accordance with the above. This doesn't matter much on the outbound flight unless there are IRROPS, in which case it may be tougher to get accommodation for all passengers.
3) On the return flight(s) the companions may no longer have the highest level of status of all passengers, including baggage allowances (E+ seats are usually retained). However, some recent reports are that companions retain the status of the highest passenger on the original PNR, even after it is split.
related threads
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
Splitting up partner airline award reservation
Archive thread : To split or not to split PNR {Archive}
To split or not to split PNR
May 11, 2022, 10:45 am
#31
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: 66,827
As others have mentioned,sometime back (over a year ago), UA changed the process and the splitting will occur on if needed to actually partially upgrade some.
May 19, 2022, 12:52 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,055
I had read in another thread that if a 1K purchases tickets for himself and a companion with no status, and applies PlusPoints to both persons, that if the ticket is ultimately split even before check in, that the companion without status keeps the 1k status with plus points applied. I am guessing this is beneficial for International flights where if PZ1 keeps opening up months in advance one at a time it doesn't skip two people together at the top of the list.
May 19, 2022, 1:46 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: SYR
Posts: 27
I had read in another thread that if a 1K purchases tickets for himself and a companion with no status, and applies PlusPoints to both persons, that if the ticket is ultimately split even before check in, that the companion without status keeps the 1k status with plus points applied. I am guessing this is beneficial for International flights where if PZ1 keeps opening up months in advance one at a time it doesn't skip two people together at the top of the list.
May 30, 2022, 9:19 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Latin America and USA
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold
Posts: 456
I had a reservation with me (1K), Mrs. IMissthe747 (Platinum), my mother (general member) and my daughter (lap infant). I used the app to check in, since I needed to scan my daughter's passport for the first time. Check in was successful, and we were all on one reservation. I was not asked if I wanted to split.
Later in the day I was upgraded, and the system split me onto a separate reservation. A few hours later my wife was upgraded, and she was split onto a third reservation.
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system, or if it was just another "lucky" day in EWR.
Later in the day I was upgraded, and the system split me onto a separate reservation. A few hours later my wife was upgraded, and she was split onto a third reservation.
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system, or if it was just another "lucky" day in EWR.
May 30, 2022, 10:23 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: UA Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 66
I had a reservation with me (1K), Mrs. IMissthe747 (Platinum), my mother (general member) and my daughter (lap infant). I used the app to check in, since I needed to scan my daughter's passport for the first time. Check in was successful, and we were all on one reservation. I was not asked if I wanted to split.
Later in the day I was upgraded, and the system split me onto a separate reservation. A few hours later my wife was upgraded, and she was split onto a third reservation.
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system, or if it was just another "lucky" day in EWR.
Later in the day I was upgraded, and the system split me onto a separate reservation. A few hours later my wife was upgraded, and she was split onto a third reservation.
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system, or if it was just another "lucky" day in EWR.
Sorry the bad luck bug got a hold of you too. Not sure what's going on at EWR.
May 30, 2022, 10:39 pm
#36
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: 66,827
...
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system....
My mother never showed on the upgrade lists once the reservations were split. We had a leg departing out of EWR that went out with two open seats up front, and the agent would not upgrade my mother, despite her eligibility as my traveling companion originally on the same reservation.
Not sure if the lap infant screwed things up in the system....
Comprehensive Companion CPU Questions
Additionally there have been on/off issues with a lapchild getting cpu.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 30, 2022 at 11:03 pm Reason: lapchild issues
Jun 14, 2022, 11:50 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 99
Beware Upgrading Non-Premier Family/ Friends
Long time lurker, first time poster. Maybe the following issue is my fault and I should have looked into the process better. Nonetheless wanted to share in case it helps someone else out.
I’m PP. Wife is PS. As we always do, we booked a trip with our 3 kids on a single itinerary meaning because I’m PP we all get E+, free checked bags, and because wife and I have TSA Precheck kids always get it too. We always decline the CPU list to stay together. But on a recent short flight, all CPU’s had cleared and there were 4 available F seats still. I thought hey, would be fun to put wife and kids in F, what a treat. Talked to the gate agent, got it done no problem. Family had a great flight in F and all was well for me in E+.
No good deed goes unpunished. Getting the CPU’s meant we were all split into separate itineraries. So now for our remaining travel on this trip, all of our kids: 1) Can’t check in until we are at the airport (minors on individual tickets). 2) Don’t get free E+ 3) Don’t get free checked bags 4) Don’t get TSA pre-check. 5) Get boarding group 4. Absolutely was not worth the upgrades. And honesty kind of mind-blowing to me there’s this glaring problem in the process.
Nonetheless, is what it is. But figured worth posting so maybe it doesn’t happen to someone else.
I’m PP. Wife is PS. As we always do, we booked a trip with our 3 kids on a single itinerary meaning because I’m PP we all get E+, free checked bags, and because wife and I have TSA Precheck kids always get it too. We always decline the CPU list to stay together. But on a recent short flight, all CPU’s had cleared and there were 4 available F seats still. I thought hey, would be fun to put wife and kids in F, what a treat. Talked to the gate agent, got it done no problem. Family had a great flight in F and all was well for me in E+.
No good deed goes unpunished. Getting the CPU’s meant we were all split into separate itineraries. So now for our remaining travel on this trip, all of our kids: 1) Can’t check in until we are at the airport (minors on individual tickets). 2) Don’t get free E+ 3) Don’t get free checked bags 4) Don’t get TSA pre-check. 5) Get boarding group 4. Absolutely was not worth the upgrades. And honesty kind of mind-blowing to me there’s this glaring problem in the process.
Nonetheless, is what it is. But figured worth posting so maybe it doesn’t happen to someone else.
Jun 15, 2022, 12:10 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
So now for our remaining travel on this trip, all of our kids: 1) Can’t check in until we are at the airport (minors on individual tickets). 2) Don’t get free E+ 3) Don’t get free checked bags 4) Don’t get TSA pre-check. 5) Get boarding group 4. Absolutely was not worth the upgrades. And honesty kind of mind-blowing to me there’s this glaring problem in the process.
2) Definitely not true; call and they should be able to be seated in E+ as your companions
3) This isn't supposed to happen anymore, but I suppose might. You might be able to get reimbursed after the fact if you ask UA, but no promises.
4) No info
5) They can board with you anyway.
This is the relevant thread: To split or not to split PNR
Jun 15, 2022, 3:15 am
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,459
Jun 15, 2022, 7:00 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 99
1) Probably true, although it's possible that an agent might be able to clear that flag
2) Definitely not true; call and they should be able to be seated in E+ as your companions
3) This isn't supposed to happen anymore, but I suppose might. You might be able to get reimbursed after the fact if you ask UA, but no promises.
4) No info
5) They can board with you anyway.
This is the relevant thread:
2) Definitely not true; call and they should be able to be seated in E+ as your companions
3) This isn't supposed to happen anymore, but I suppose might. You might be able to get reimbursed after the fact if you ask UA, but no promises.
4) No info
5) They can board with you anyway.
This is the relevant thread:
As far as the TSA stuff (reply to other posters), our kids always end up with Pre-check when they’re on an itinerary with us, I think just because they are minors. Definitely true another adult on the itinerary wouldn’t get it post-2020, but seems not to apply to minors unless we’re always lucky. At any rate they’re not all under 12, so we won’t all be able to go through pre-check this time.
Jun 15, 2022, 8:29 am
#44
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: 66,827
Thanks, this is helpful, looks like they could push through the E+ seating. Talked to an agent, they did tell me specifically the checked bags would not be free for the non-Premier passengers but we could request reimbursement (whether it will go through or not is another question). Also nothing they could do about not being able to check in until the airport so we’re stuck there. ...
The bag benefit shuld been possible, sometime you have to ask the agent to check the PNR history to see the split occur. Contract agents (aka no real UA empolyees) that handle bag check may be misinformed.
As far as the TSA stuff (reply to other posters), our kids always end up with Pre-check when they’re on an itinerary with us, I think just because they are minors. Definitely true another adult on the itinerary wouldn’t get it post-2020, but seems not to apply to minors unless we’re always lucky. At any rate they’re not all under 12, so we won’t all be able to go through pre-check this time.
Jul 6, 2022, 4:25 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 43
Traveling EWR > STT with 3 non-status family members on Sunday and just looking to double check this beforehand. I have Gold status so everyone receives 2 free checked bags. When I go to check in, if I split the PNR in order to have a chance at the upgrade, will the rest of my family lose their 2 free checked bags because we are no longer on the same reservation? I’m wondering this for both the flight there and return flight home. It’s paramount that they get the free bags, but I also would love to get the upgrade if I can.