Originally Posted by
sosafan
While I don't have any answer to the question, I'm having difficulty seeing
the problem. I don't find checking in with two PNR's any easier than
checking in two people with one PNR. With two PNR's, I can still get
my wife and I seated together if I call early enough. One time my
daughters had separate itineraries, A-B-C and D-B-C, with the second
flight the same. Due to a schedule change, it became D-E-C. I called
and they fixed it. I am guessing there are some real advantages that
I am just not thinking of, but I haven't seen them in this thread yet.
Just the ones I've experienced from having to book two travellers on separate on PNRs rather than a single PNR on the two occasions it has happened to me:
1) Since I was travelling with my daughter who was 6, need to call customer service, wait on hold, ask for fee waiver, etc. because I can't book a 6 year on an itinerary by herself online.
2) Need to call customer service, wait on hold, discuss, etc. to have my companion booked into E+ because she wasn't on the same PNR.
3) Need to create a separate UNTD online account and log in to two separate accounts to check in online rather than do it once through my account as you would when travelling on a single PNR.
4) Experience flight cancellation w/i hours of departure and find that you and the person you're travelling with have been booked on separate substitute flights, which shouldn't happen when on same PNR.
All in all, these things on a add up to a lot of easily avoidable inconveniences, and hours on the phone with customer service in total, almost all of which could be avoided by being booked on a single PNR. I'm generally very happy with United, but definitely would like to see things that could be improved through seemingly easy fixes improved...