Combining Records
Oct 11, 2006 | 1:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: AUS
Programs: Delta - Silver
Posts: 329
Combining Records
What is the process for combining 2 separately booked records into one? Two tickets were purchased separately and now I want to combine them to be able to leverage my elite status for the person that I'm flying with. Do I just need to call nwa and ask them to combine the 2?
Oct 11, 2006 | 1:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MN, USA
Programs: NW plat
Posts: 297
I have been told by a very competent-sounding Elite line rep that it cannot be done, but you can call and see if the person you talk to can do it. That would be the only way; no on-line possibilities.
Oct 11, 2006 | 2:26 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: If it's a day ending in -Y, I'm probably at work
Programs: DL FO, Hilton Gold, National Executive
Posts: 144
In short: It's not possible. Airline PNRs can not be increased after a record locator (confirmation number) has been assigned. In other words, you can split a record and remove passengers from a reservation, or you can delete a passenger from a reservation, but you can not add them. Sorry 
Oct 11, 2006 | 3:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
Programs: NW Gold; lifetime WorldClubs
Posts: 286
I have in the past been offered by Northwest reservations agents to cross-reference two PNRs. That's not the same as combining two bookings into one, but I was told that it provided protection from schedule changes that might affect the reservations in different ways. I generally ask for this whenever I have a trip with one purchased ticket and one award ticket, a scenario that requires two PNRs.
- Martin
- Martin
Oct 11, 2006 | 4:27 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,884
Indeed, that process is sometimes referred to as "linking" the PNRs. As noted, though, this does not combine 2 records into 1, something that cannot be done.
Oct 11, 2006 | 7:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SIN
Programs: KL Life Platinum, QF Platinum, OZ Diamond, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 213
you can declare your friend as a travelling companion at the gate prior to boarding to waitlist for standby upgrades ...
Oct 11, 2006 | 9:12 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
Originally Posted by publicmsu
What is the process for combining 2 separately booked records into one? Two tickets were purchased separately and now I want to combine them to be able to leverage my elite status for the person that I'm flying with. Do I just need to call nwa and ask them to combine the 2?
When my children were not Platinum, I often booked them each separately so that I could use E-Certs. We couldn't combine th records. I have cross referenced as many as 4 records each for two separate itineraries, one of them being on a different airline.
Oct 11, 2006 | 9:39 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,092
Originally Posted by AviationFan
I have in the past been offered by Northwest reservations agents to cross-reference two PNRs. That's not the same as combining two bookings into one, but I was told that it provided protection from schedule changes that might affect the reservations in different ways. I generally ask for this whenever I have a trip with one purchased ticket and one award ticket, a scenario that requires two PNRs.
- Martin
- Martin
Cross-referencing is merely a notation in the record that these two people are travelling together. No systems are looking at it, and neither are agents, unless they specifically look for it.
Oct 11, 2006 | 10:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
Programs: NW Gold; lifetime WorldClubs
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by channa
It offers you no such protection.
- Martin
Oct 11, 2006 | 10:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AMEX Plat, FPC Plat, SPG Gold, NW Silver
Posts: 261
If it were me, I thnk that I would call several different agents and try. I am always amazed at how one person can find a task impossible and another seems readily able to fufill my request. It may well be impossible, but why not back that up with 3 or 4 refusals before accepting it?