Waitlisted Mileage Upgrade: Split PNRs?
 

After an unsuccessful search I am left with a couple questions about an upcoming IAH-NRT-IAH trip.

I will be flying with my wife in July on CO 7/6 IAH-NRT-IAH (as part of the SEA-NRT B fare deal) and we have requested and already been waitlisted for the mileage upgrades to BF. The main question I have is, if in order to maximize our chances, I should split the PNRs? This is definitely what I would do for EUAs, but I do not know how it works for upgrade rewards.

Here is some extra data points: I am a OP Plat, and the miles are coming from my account. My wife is OP Silver, but I believe that should not matter since the miles are coming from a Plat account. Also, according to the agent at the OP Elite Desk, we are the first ones on the waitlist, and not a single seat has been sold in BF for our flights yet. We would not mind too much if only one of us (i.e. my wife) travels in BF.

I am just wondering if given that we are both in the same PNR, if CO were to open a single seat at a time, many other people on the waitlist might clear ahead of us...

Thanks for your insight!

I would split them.

In my waitlist experience it seems that dergon_gf and I clear *usually* on the same day, but a couple of times I have gotten it first then her a few days later.

Since you don't mind the possibility of only one of you getting into BF there is no sizable downside with splitting PNRs.

We (both Plat) have just completed a domestic trip booked together and then split. DISASTER! For some reason, when I split myself out of the original PNR, the creator's (me) OP# "masks" the other's number and seems to disqualify either for EUA. Even at OLCI, she was not offered the UG nor put on the standby list. A trip to the airport and a helpful GA was needed to "repair" her PNR. The EUA occurred on return.

Perhaps it is different in your mileage-based int'l upgrade, but I would be wary.

Well, my experience with splitting domestic PNRs to increase EUA chances has been that it works flawlessly. I usually split Mrs. enmascarado from the reservation, then (if lucky) we both get EUA'd or else I put her as my companion at the airport.

But, once again, I have yet to hear if this works the same way for Int'l waitlist, and if I should split it online, or call, or if this is going to mess up the waitlisted segments, or if everything will be alright!

I am tempted to follow dergon darkhelm's advice so far, but I was hoping to hear from someone who has tried this before?

Thanks!

Would one split on a reward as well?

If I understand the workings correctly, if they release seats one at a time, and there are single upgrade waitlists after you, then you'll be bypassed. If two seats are released and are available and the two of you are at the top, then it'll clear. The odds are slightly better if you split, however you're more likely to have your seats reassigned apart from one another.