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?
Your chances are greatly improved of getting an EUA upgrade for ITO-LAX if you split the record. With multiple pax on the same record, you won't be elligible for an upgrade until the gate.
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f 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?
United will not automatically process a UDU upgrade for a reservation with more than 2 passengers. If you and one companion would like to upgrade on UA, then you must split off the third passenger.
The best way for you yourself ensure you yourself alone have the best chance for an upgrade would be to split yourself onto your own single-passenger record. Then on the CO flight you could add one companion to the upgrade list at the airport. On UA neither companion would be elligible for an upgrade.
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.
I agree! Although it's not so much confusion that I strive to eliminate, but rather the predicament where one configuration of PNRs/FFNs works best for the outbound, and another configuration works best for the return.