NerveEnding

I'm sure I'll end up calling United anyway, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any experience with this. A friend and I will be flying overseas. We live in different cities and have different starting flights, but both of us connect in Newark onto the same flight. Can I use my gold status top rebook us both in the e+? Or will the separate pnrs doom this plan? Thanks.

WineCountryUA

Only on the flights you fly together and only an agent can do this.

azzurro

Call UA, have both record locator numbers available, let them know you are the UA Gold and would like to have them put your companion in E+ on the flight(s) where you are together. It can also be helpful to know where you want them seated before you call - it does not need to be right next to you so choosing an aisle and window can (rarely nowadays) sometimes end up with an empty middle for you both. In the event equipment changes and they reseat the companion in E, just call back ASAP to fix. Babysitting the reservation online is useful to keep an eye out for this as they don't usually send notice of equipment change. Companion can board with your group also, just hold their bp or tell GA they are with you when the non-Gold bp beeps at the gate.

mahasamatman

It's not only equipment changes that can trigger this. Random reseating is not unheard of.

jamesdenver

I've traveled overseas multiple times with family in the midwest - connecting/meeting in ORD or IAD. I've always been able to move my non-status family into E+ on our shared flights (after calling an agent,)

And their separate PNR remains separate.

Soccerdad1995

Are you sure about this? Since getting Plat this year, I have been boarding in group 1 with the larger of our carry-ons and my companion has boarded in G2. It would be nice to have her board with me in G1.

I usually wait til the very end of G1 regardless since I don't like to stand in line, so technically my companion (and I) would both be boarding at the start of G2, but we are not waiting in line for G2.

Baze

If more than 1 person traveling together, they can all board in the group with the lowest number, so yes, your companion can board with you in group 1. Just do as was suggested, say something to the GA that the person behind you is traveling with you.

aacharya

Absolutely acceptable. I do it all the time for my non-1K spouse (that is, when I haven't cleared her into F for the transcon). As for not waiting in line, I prefer earlier in G1 - else I'm standing and waiting near the galley or on the jetway instead of already in my seat.

iluv2fly

I ran into an old friend at LGA last month. She was in Group 5. I told her to board with me as she was concerned about storing her bags. When they called GS, I told the agent she was with me and she didn't even bat an eye.

And I have done this successfully in the past before.

Soccerdad1995

Thanks. I learn useful things all the time from these threads.

As far as the line thing, I think it's damned if you do, damned if you don't.

My latest MO is to wait until there are about 4-5 people remaining in the G1 line, then I get my but up off the chair and start walking to the G1 line. My goal is to time it perfectly so that I do not have to break stride until I am in the jetway, and also so that I get in front of anyone from G2. Kind of a little game I play.

Yes, I do have to wait on the jetway and/or near the galley, but that wait is usually a lot less than the wait involved in being one of the first in the G1 line.

drewguy

Yeah, non-issue. Only pro-tip is to go first, because the scanners I've run into give a nasty beep if you're there before your boarding group and all the G2s look at you like a line cutter.

RNE

Excellent advice.

That'll work, but I find it's smoother to hand both boarding passes at once to the gate cyborg, my BG1 pass on top, of course.

Baze

I agree but have been at a couple stations where they specifically announce everyone much hold their own BP.

COSPILOT

For domestic travel? I've only seen this request for international departures.

drewguy

The stack of iPhones is a bit cumbersome.