I’m currently booked on the following itinerary for HNL-LAS in June:

1. HNL-ITO United 7832 (Hawaiian)
2. ITO-LAX United 1563 (Continental)
3. LAX-LAS United 774

4. LAS-LAX United 877
5. LAX-OGG United 544
6. OGG-HNL United 7812 (Hawaiian)

I’m currently OnePass Platinum and MileagePlus Premier Executive, but my reservation is with 2 others who have no status whatsoever, and I’m wondering if I should or should not split the PNR to increase my chances of an upgrade.

From what I understand on CO metal, my chances are increased if I split my PNR, but on UA metal, the opposite is true. I have some questions based on each of the airlines’ upgrade policies:

Is there any hope of getting upgraded on flight #2 above (ITO-LAX) without splitting the PNR? What would be the best way to increase my chances for getting EUA?

If I don’t split the PNR would it be possible to get the UDU for flight #5 above (LAX-OGG)? From what I read on the United website, I don’t have to do anything and they will put in an upgrade request for me and one of my companions. Will they still do this if I have 3 people on my reservation?

I’ll be very glad when CO and UA are one airline and have one EUA/UDU upgrade policy, as it is currently I get very confused.