Originally Posted by
itsMoe
This is now my 3rd occurrence. It was my understanding that if you travel with a companion, and you're waitlisted but not cleared for an upgrade, during OLCI the PNR will be split if you wish to remain on the upgrade list. To that end, you're asked during OLCI, and your options are to either decline being on the upgrade list (and stay with your companion(s)), or opt in and have the PNR split.
If you are waitlisted using an instrument, the PNR auto-splits at check-in.
If you are waitlisted for a CPU, the system gives you the choice at check-in whether you want to split the PNR.