Mar 21, 2013, 8:17 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
FAQ: "Linking" or Combining of Separate PNRs / Itineraries / Tickets
Q. Can we have our bookings / reservations / awards merged to have them on the same PNR?
A. No; it's generally not possible unless you cancel what you have and get it all done on one PNR. Some agents may be able to merge PNRs if one has contiguous paid and award tickets on hold.
Q. Can I have separate PNRs merged so I can Through-check baggage? No. And with separate PNRs, baggage can not be through-checked.
Q. Can I have PNRs linked so status benefits can be shared?
No. But notes can be added to the OSI field, and status linking can occur for upgrades, etc.
Q. Can I "link" my partner's and my PNRs (so we can sit together, stay together in OSO / IROPS, check luggage through, etc.)?
A. "Linking" (or combining) PNRs is not actually possible. There is no way of establishing a "hard" electronic link between PNRs.
Q. What can the airline do in this regard?
A, Requesting "linking PNRs" causes a note to be entered into the PNR OSI (Other Service Information) field (usually a TCP (To Complete Party) note). There is no physical or other actual connection to one's PNR; the field must be read by an airline agent for requested actions to be implemented. (See hillrider's post #9 and link below.)
Q. How can that help?
A. In case of OSO (IROPS/IRROPS) an agent can read the reference and work to keep the parties together when reaccommodating in OSO.
GLOSSARY (specifically for airline use)[/color]
Q. Can we have our bookings / reservations / awards merged to have them on the same PNR?
A. No; it's generally not possible unless you cancel what you have and get it all done on one PNR. Some agents may be able to merge PNRs if one has contiguous paid and award tickets on hold.
Q. Can I have separate PNRs merged so I can Through-check baggage? No. And with separate PNRs, baggage can not be through-checked.
Q. Can I have PNRs linked so status benefits can be shared?
No. But notes can be added to the OSI field, and status linking can occur for upgrades, etc.
Q. Can I "link" my partner's and my PNRs (so we can sit together, stay together in OSO / IROPS, check luggage through, etc.)?
A. "Linking" (or combining) PNRs is not actually possible. There is no way of establishing a "hard" electronic link between PNRs.
Q. What can the airline do in this regard?
A, Requesting "linking PNRs" causes a note to be entered into the PNR OSI (Other Service Information) field (usually a TCP (To Complete Party) note). There is no physical or other actual connection to one's PNR; the field must be read by an airline agent for requested actions to be implemented. (See hillrider's post #9 and link below.)
Q. How can that help?
A. In case of OSO (IROPS/IRROPS) an agent can read the reference and work to keep the parties together when reaccommodating in OSO.
GLOSSARY (specifically for airline use)[/color]
- IROPS / IRROPS: Irregular Operations - see OSO
- OSI: Other Supplementary / Service Information- PNR field for supplemental information; low-priority messages usually used for information purpose only.
- OSO: Off Schedule Operations - when schedules are disrupted by various factors
- PNR: itinerary reference "handle", six letters with AA; temporary, as PNRs recycle - only ticket numbers are permanent
- TCP: To Complete Party - a note indicating passenger is traveling with another, etc.
FAQ: TCP, "Linking" / link / merge itineraries / PNR (master thread)
Sep 14, 2025 | 10:29 am
#302
Join Date: Jun 2025
Location: ABQ
Programs: AA
Posts: 54
Will AA combine two PNRs?
Using points from separate accounts, we have booked 2 seats on AA133 from DUB to DFW. Hence two different PNRs.
Two questions: 1) Is there any advantage to combining these two and 2)will AA do this?
Two questions: 1) Is there any advantage to combining these two and 2)will AA do this?
Sep 14, 2025 | 10:33 am
#303
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,945
Sep 14, 2025 | 10:38 am
#304
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA EXP, LT Plt, 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,792
Dec 19, 2025 | 6:06 pm
#306
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: San Francisco area
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott T
Posts: 507
Combining 2 award tickets?
I was able to snag DEL-HEL in AY couple of months ago as nothing was open to US destinations in miles, then couple of days ago found HEL-JFK-SFO and booked that immediately. Now I have 2 award tickets costing 42+57=99k miles. Could I try my luck calling EXP desk to see if they could combine these into one ticket that should only cost 70k?
Dec 19, 2025 | 6:31 pm
#307
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 46,111
Pretty much no chance
You have 2 separate bookings and each is charged as per that booking
You would have to cancel the existing bookings for India-Europe and for Europe-North America and then book a new award for India-North America
You have 2 separate bookings and each is charged as per that booking
You would have to cancel the existing bookings for India-Europe and for Europe-North America and then book a new award for India-North America
Dec 20, 2025 | 8:18 am
#308
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA, UA, Marriott
Posts: 2,384
You can try but it will not work. Arguably the award "should" not cost 70k if not all segments were available on the journey together.
I think the partner awards still operate under the older AA award rules.
While those awards permit adding/dropping segments, they cannot change the award type. India to Europe and India to North America are different awards so wanting to combine them to take advantage of lower pricing would require cancel/redeposit/having the same inventory available for rebooking.
I think the partner awards still operate under the older AA award rules.
While those awards permit adding/dropping segments, they cannot change the award type. India to Europe and India to North America are different awards so wanting to combine them to take advantage of lower pricing would require cancel/redeposit/having the same inventory available for rebooking.
Feb 3, 2026 | 9:52 pm
#309
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,724
I am AA Gold, can I link PNRs if they have the same outbound but a different return? I want to assign seats for my travel companions as we booked Basic Economy on an Int'l itin. Can I link more than one PNR? We have 3 PNRs for a total of 6 travelers.
Feb 4, 2026 | 6:11 am
#310
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 15,127
However there might be issues with this when the separate PNR companions are in basic economy (I'm not 100% sure). Sometimes BE doesn't play nice in scenarios like this.
Feb 6, 2026 | 10:05 pm
#311
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,724
Yes, as always you're not really "linking" the PNRs but rather just getting companions seated next to you for no charge. You can do this for as many companions as you wish and the # of PNR's doesn't matter nor does it matter that their return flights may be different.
However there might be issues with this when the separate PNR companions are in basic economy (I'm not 100% sure). Sometimes BE doesn't play nice in scenarios like this.
However there might be issues with this when the separate PNR companions are in basic economy (I'm not 100% sure). Sometimes BE doesn't play nice in scenarios like this.