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
Dec 28, 2022, 8:30 am
#76
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
How does upgrade splitting work?
We have a four pax pnr -- two pax are Plats and the other two are our minor children - for a trip tomorrow.
We're not checked in yet but appear as #1 thru #4 on the upgrade list (flight booked 11/16).
At OLCI united asks me to select which passengers I would like to list for an upgrade, and lists 2 pax total:
Any guesses what happens to the PNR if I accept? Are we gonna get 2 records with 2 people each and 4 upgrade list spots? Or something more exciting?
We're not checked in yet but appear as #1 thru #4 on the upgrade list (flight booked 11/16).
At OLCI united asks me to select which passengers I would like to list for an upgrade, and lists 2 pax total:
Any guesses what happens to the PNR if I accept? Are we gonna get 2 records with 2 people each and 4 upgrade list spots? Or something more exciting?
Last edited by mherdeg; Dec 28, 2022 at 8:46 am
Dec 28, 2022, 10:01 am
#77
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,417
Right now the system is buggy (or was of recent check) and you're likely to end up with two pax in the Plat slot and 2 in a no-status slot.
What should happen is that you would pair each child with a Plat parent and end up 1-4 on the list still.
I would wait to check in at airport so that you maximize your chances of making sure you stay in the right place.
What should happen is that you would pair each child with a Plat parent and end up 1-4 on the list still.
I would wait to check in at airport so that you maximize your chances of making sure you stay in the right place.
Dec 28, 2022, 11:17 am
#78
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,767
Or decline the upgrade entirely and save the headache. I don't know what route this is but if a short flight then may not be worth the hassle. If not a short flight then unlikely that will remain 11/16 and your party #1-4 up to time of departure.
Dec 28, 2022, 11:24 am
#79
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
.
Dec 28, 2022, 3:29 pm
#80
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
As an update, instead of using OLCI, we checked in at a kiosk. There's a special kiosk checkin flow that allowed each of the two Plats to designate one companion to go on the upgrade standby list, and we ended up as #1-#4 on the upgrade list, checked in, all still on a single PNR. The flight is now booked 17/16 in First (?) so I guess it's academic.
Dec 28, 2022, 8:41 pm
#81
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,767
As an update, instead of using OLCI, we checked in at a kiosk. There's a special kiosk checkin flow that allowed each of the two Plats to designate one companion to go on the upgrade standby list, and we ended up as #1-#4 on the upgrade list, checked in, all still on a single PNR. The flight is now booked 17/16 in First (?) so I guess it's academic.
Dec 28, 2022, 8:57 pm
#82
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,446
We have a four pax pnr -- two pax are Plats and the other two are our minor children - for a trip tomorrow.
We're not checked in yet but appear as #1 thru #4 on the upgrade list (flight booked 11/16).
At OLCI united asks me to select which passengers I would like to list for an upgrade, and lists 2 pax total:
img
Any guesses what happens to the PNR if I accept? Are we gonna get 2 records with 2 people each and 4 upgrade list spots? Or something more exciting?
We're not checked in yet but appear as #1 thru #4 on the upgrade list (flight booked 11/16).
At OLCI united asks me to select which passengers I would like to list for an upgrade, and lists 2 pax total:
img
Any guesses what happens to the PNR if I accept? Are we gonna get 2 records with 2 people each and 4 upgrade list spots? Or something more exciting?
As an update, instead of using OLCI, we checked in at a kiosk. There's a special kiosk checkin flow that allowed each of the two Plats to designate one companion to go on the upgrade standby list, and we ended up as #1-#4 on the upgrade list, checked in, all still on a single PNR. The flight is now booked 17/16 in First (?) so I guess it's academic.
Dec 28, 2022, 8:57 pm
#83
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,994
Was likely always going to be academic for the situation you describe. Even as a 1K I don't recall a companion upgrade in several years. Personally in such situations I decline the upgrade unless a one way or last segment of itinerary as not worth it splitting the PNR, as may create unnecessary hassle downstream.
Dec 28, 2022, 8:59 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,446
Dec 29, 2022, 8:42 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,578
Actually, as Gold I had one companion upgrade just miss (TUS - ORD) and the second clear (ORD - BOS) on the 24th. I'd attribute this to the lack of business / status travel, as the boarding group 1 lines were pretty short as well.
Dec 30, 2022, 4:28 pm
#86
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,990
Cf. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glos...tterSelected=U
Jan 3, 2023, 9:35 pm
#87
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 144
UL = Upgrade Lottery
Cf. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glos...tterSelected=U
Cf. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glos...tterSelected=U
Jan 21, 2023, 5:32 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
Ha ha ha.
(1) Booked a 4-passenger ticket for me (Plat), my wife (Plat), and my two kids (no status), CLE-IAD-BOS.
(2) Checked in online via the web app. This allows us to put all 4 pax on the upgrade waitlist! We say that all pax want to be upgraded and that my companion is my kid, my wife's companion is the other kid.
(3) Now we show up online as #1 (me), #2 (first kid), #3 (wife), #4 (second kid) on the upgrade waitlist.
Overnight:
(4) I clear into PZ on CLE-IAD. The PNR splits -- now the original PNR has my wife and two kids, and the new PNR has me.
(5) The upgrade list for CLE-IAD now has
#1 first kid
#2 second kid
(6) The upgrade list for IAD-BOS now has
#1 second kid
#2 me
#3 first kid
My wife has vanished from the upgrade list altogether. ?!.
So I think the lesson here is that with a complicated CPU-eligible multi-pax PNR you should not check in in advance, because the auto-splitting for advance clearance will randomly throw people off the waitlist.
(1) Booked a 4-passenger ticket for me (Plat), my wife (Plat), and my two kids (no status), CLE-IAD-BOS.
(2) Checked in online via the web app. This allows us to put all 4 pax on the upgrade waitlist! We say that all pax want to be upgraded and that my companion is my kid, my wife's companion is the other kid.
(3) Now we show up online as #1 (me), #2 (first kid), #3 (wife), #4 (second kid) on the upgrade waitlist.
Overnight:
(4) I clear into PZ on CLE-IAD. The PNR splits -- now the original PNR has my wife and two kids, and the new PNR has me.
(5) The upgrade list for CLE-IAD now has
#1 first kid
#2 second kid
(6) The upgrade list for IAD-BOS now has
#1 second kid
#2 me
#3 first kid
My wife has vanished from the upgrade list altogether. ?!.
So I think the lesson here is that with a complicated CPU-eligible multi-pax PNR you should not check in in advance, because the auto-splitting for advance clearance will randomly throw people off the waitlist.
Last edited by mherdeg; Jan 21, 2023 at 5:51 am
Mar 11, 2023, 3:44 pm
#89
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,546
As usual, I should know this, but it has been a while. I am trying UA again after a bit of a hiatus for domestic flights.
Booked LAX-BWI-LAX
Questions:
Thanks.
Booked LAX-BWI-LAX
- Two pax, both Gold (I'm MM, spouse is my designated gold)
- Outbound Q fare, return S
- Both flights showed us on the CPU list
- Figured WTH, just added us to the outbound miles upgrade waitlist (worth 15k miles each pax for a sucky redeye)
Questions:
- Confirming the miles + $0 charge should put us above regular CPUs?
- Either way, for two golds, should I request a split to increase the odds of one of us clearing on the outbound? Wait and split for return only?
- As a rule, if we were just CPU and no miles pay, is the best strategy to split?
- If we do split, we are both Gold, I'm MM, will I be above my spouse on the list or is it random? (The reservation is me as pax 1 and her as pax 2 if that matters, but now after submitting the miles pay upgrade request she is listed first, weird.
Thanks.
Last edited by abaheti; Mar 11, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Mar 11, 2023, 3:54 pm
#90
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,352
As usual, I should know this, but it has been a while. I am trying UA again after a bit of a hiatus for domestic flights.
Booked LAX-BWI-LAX
Questions:
Thanks.
Booked LAX-BWI-LAX
- Two pax, both Gold (I'm MM, spouse is my designated gold)
- Outbound Q fare, return S
- Both flights showed us on the CPU list
- Figured WTH, just added us to the outbound miles upgrade waitlist (worth 15k miles each pax for a sucky redeye)
Questions:
- Confirming the miles + $0 charge should put us above regular CPUs?
- Either way, for two golds, should I request a split to increase the odds of one of us clearing on the outbound? Wait and split for return only?
- As a rule, if we were just CPU and no miles pay, is the best strategy to split?
- If we do split, we are both Gold, I'm MM, will I be above my spouse on the list or is it random? (The reservation is me as pax 1 and her as pax 2 if that matters, but now after submitting the miles pay upgrade request she is listed first, weird.
Thanks.
2. In theory, your odds are better if you split. In practice, I suspect your odds are nearly zero.
3. It matters less for CPU, but, I suppose. But your chances of CPU are even closer to zero.
4. No way to tell.
