Aug 13, 2013, 12:23 am
Last edit by: Guate87
What is this whole PNR auto-splitting thing about?
First, you need to realize there are two separate upgrade waitlists. There's the advance upgrade waitlist, which runs periodically from your applicable upgrade window until about four hours before departure, and the airport waitlist, which is manually cleared by the gate agents about 30 minutes before departure.
The first waitlist can handle an elite and a companion automatically. If you're next in line for an upgrade and there are at least two upgradeable seats available, you'll both get the upgrade.
The second waitlist (the airport one) can only handle upgrading one traveler on a PNR. If there is more than one person in your reservation when you check in, you'll be asked if you want to either split the reservation if waitlisted for CPU or stay on the same reservation and decline being on the gate waitlist. For supported waitlisted upgrades (PPs or Miles) you will not be asked and it will split (without choice) at check-in.
Next, you need to be familiar with United's "auto-check-in" feature. If you select this option when you check in for your original outbound flight (depending on how you check in, it may automatically default to selecting this), then shortly after 24 hours before your return flight segment, you'll automatically be checked in and boarding passes will be electronically delivered to you. discontinued
If you opt for this and the system automatically checks you in, and if you have two people in your reservation, the system will automatically split your reservation. You and your companion will now be on two separate reservations, and you'll be waitlisted for an upgrade and your companion won't.
Why might splitting be bad?
[color=#000000]If your companions are not elite, they will no longer qualify for the elite benefits they inherited from you. That means no free baggage (including credit card companion bag benefit), no Economy Plus seating access (although they won't be booted out of E+ if they're already seated in it, barring irregular operations), no Premier Access, and potential issues in irregular operations as a result of being on a separate reservation (they may be rebooked on a separate flight from you without agent intervention). If you have TSA pre-check your family traveling with you on the same PNR can use the precheck line - which they cannot do if you split. And if you are traveling with children
First, you need to realize there are two separate upgrade waitlists. There's the advance upgrade waitlist, which runs periodically from your applicable upgrade window until about four hours before departure, and the airport waitlist, which is manually cleared by the gate agents about 30 minutes before departure.
The first waitlist can handle an elite and a companion automatically. If you're next in line for an upgrade and there are at least two upgradeable seats available, you'll both get the upgrade.
The second waitlist (the airport one) can only handle upgrading one traveler on a PNR. If there is more than one person in your reservation when you check in, you'll be asked if you want to either split the reservation if waitlisted for CPU or stay on the same reservation and decline being on the gate waitlist. For supported waitlisted upgrades (PPs or Miles) you will not be asked and it will split (without choice) at check-in.
Next, you need to be familiar with United's "auto-check-in" feature. If you select this option when you check in for your original outbound flight (depending on how you check in, it may automatically default to selecting this), then shortly after 24 hours before your return flight segment, you'll automatically be checked in and boarding passes will be electronically delivered to you. discontinued
If you opt for this and the system automatically checks you in, and if you have two people in your reservation, the system will automatically split your reservation. You and your companion will now be on two separate reservations, and you'll be waitlisted for an upgrade and your companion won't.
Why might splitting be bad?
[color=#000000]If your companions are not elite, they will no longer qualify for the elite benefits they inherited from you. That means no free baggage (including credit card companion bag benefit), no Economy Plus seating access (although they won't be booted out of E+ if they're already seated in it, barring irregular operations), no Premier Access, and potential issues in irregular operations as a result of being on a separate reservation (they may be rebooked on a separate flight from you without agent intervention). If you have TSA pre-check your family traveling with you on the same PNR can use the precheck line - which they cannot do if you split. And if you are traveling with children
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
Mar 12, 2013, 6:16 pm
#391
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I don't think the question was whether the two reservations remain "stuck" together and only get upgraded together. The question, as I understood it, was whether the split-off PNR still has the higher status and can be pre-OLCI-CPU'd based on it. The fact that one of you got CPU'd and one of you didn't doesn't answer that question, so far as I can tell.
Mar 12, 2013, 7:36 pm
#392
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
I rarely travel with anyone on the PNR with me but will soon. My question: Does splitting occur when on an award itin?
Mar 12, 2013, 9:35 pm
#393
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: UA 1K, AA PLT, SPG PLT
Posts: 1,612
Not hard to know. The answer is no.
Late March last year, first post-merger trip - split record on the outbound. Wife and I came home - I was a gold at the time, she was silver. I got upgraded for both flights at T-48. She got upgraded for the first segment at T-24 and not beforehand for the connecting segment. I had to add her as a companion (and actually, had to do it at the connecting airport because the PMUA staff at the origin didn't know how). Wife went up several spots to 1 on the airport lost and got the last F seat.
In Dec last year split on the outbound. Return on New Year's Day flight, wife had made plat and i was still gold. She got upgraded on the last segment by herself, I was number 5 or something at the airport. Wife downgraded per her own wishes.
Late March last year, first post-merger trip - split record on the outbound. Wife and I came home - I was a gold at the time, she was silver. I got upgraded for both flights at T-48. She got upgraded for the first segment at T-24 and not beforehand for the connecting segment. I had to add her as a companion (and actually, had to do it at the connecting airport because the PMUA staff at the origin didn't know how). Wife went up several spots to 1 on the airport lost and got the last F seat.
In Dec last year split on the outbound. Return on New Year's Day flight, wife had made plat and i was still gold. She got upgraded on the last segment by herself, I was number 5 or something at the airport. Wife downgraded per her own wishes.
UA.sux seems to write their verbiage about how great companion upgrades are, but the truth is above.
Once the PNRs are split, you will not be getting a CPU on a companion (assuming no status for companion) until you get to the airport and have an agent add your companion to your status - and by then, it's likely too late to matter. It's as simple as that.
I've had my share of experiences like 'emcampbe' and had the upgrade after boarding fiasco as well - with my wife sitting next to me...I laughed and had the woman who's seat I was sitting in (she had just cleared standby) take the F seat, while I stayed in Y next to my wife.
Awful systems indeed and UA really needs to be honest and come clean on UA.sux.
-jeremy
Mar 13, 2013, 12:07 pm
#394
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Boulder, CO and Waimea, HI
Programs: UAL 1K MM
Posts: 748
How about when using GPUs?
Still a little confused here and a quick search didn't answer my question. Wife and I are flying IAH-LHR. We're both 1Ks and are waitlisted with GPUs.
Should I split into two itineraries so we don't get passed over 1 released-RN seat at a time? Will my GPUs flow with her on her new reservation?
What happens if they don't clear ahead of time?
Should I split into two itineraries so we don't get passed over 1 released-RN seat at a time? Will my GPUs flow with her on her new reservation?
What happens if they don't clear ahead of time?
Mar 13, 2013, 1:03 pm
#395
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I'm going to take a stab at summarizing people's experience on these issues and organizing the discussion, since it can be really hard to figure out exactly people are saying, about which kind of upgrade, etc. I've named the various categories and subcategories, and will try to use those names when I post in this thread.
For this purpose, I'm ignoring award itins and assuming that the companion has no status. Award itins and companions with their own status seem to complicate matters, per reported experiences. I am also ignoring the possibility of getting an agent to fix things for you, but as a practical matter (especially with the airport list), this does often seem possible. I'm also limiting it to free (non-instrument-supported) upgrades.
I've attempted to estimate the relative likelihood of each outcome, based on reports here, out of five total +'s. Where I wasn't able to estimate, I've used a question mark.
This is just a first shot at this. Please let me know if you have any counterexamples or you think I'm wrong on any of these points. Also consider reporting your experience in the experience-reporting thread
I. Outbound Flight (OUT)
For this purpose, I'm ignoring award itins and assuming that the companion has no status. Award itins and companions with their own status seem to complicate matters, per reported experiences. I am also ignoring the possibility of getting an agent to fix things for you, but as a practical matter (especially with the airport list), this does often seem possible. I'm also limiting it to free (non-instrument-supported) upgrades.
I've attempted to estimate the relative likelihood of each outcome, based on reports here, out of five total +'s. Where I wasn't able to estimate, I've used a question mark.
This is just a first shot at this. Please let me know if you have any counterexamples or you think I'm wrong on any of these points. Also consider reporting your experience in the experience-reporting thread
I. Outbound Flight (OUT)
A. Pre-Split / No Split (ONE-PNR)
1. Pre-Gate CPU (PRE-CPU)
i. >2 Invisible CPU Inventory
- Upgraded together (++++)
- No upgrade (+)
ii. 1 Invisible CPU Inventory
- Neither passenger upgraded (+++++)
2. Gate Upgrade List (GATE)
- Neither passenger on list (+++++)
B. After Split (SPLIT)
II. Inbound (Return) Flight (RETURN)1. Pre-Gate CPU (PRE-CPU)
i. Elite Passenger (ELITE)
- Upgraded if available (+++)
- Skipped for upgrade (++)
ii. Non-Elite Companion (COMP)
- Upgraded if available (+)
- Skipped for upgrade (++++)
2. Gate Upgrade List (GATE)
i. Elite Passenger (ELITE)
- In expected position (+++)
- In lower than expected position (+)
- Not on list (+)
ii. Non-Elite Companion (COMP)
- Adjacent to the elite (+)
- After all others in the relevant status group (+++)
- Not on list (+)
A. Reservation Never Split (ONE-PNR)
- Same likelihoods as OUT ONE-PNR above (?)
- No possibility of any upgrade (?)
B. After Split (SPLIT)
1. Pre-Gate CPU (PRE-CPU)
- Same likelihoods as OUT SPLIT PRE-CPU above (?)
- No possibility of upgrade (?)
2. Gate Upgrade List (GATE)
i. Elite Passenger (ELITE)
- In expected position (++++)
- Not on list (+)
ii. Non-Elite Companion (COMP)
- Not on list (++++)
- In expected position (+)
Last edited by mgcsinc; Mar 13, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Mar 13, 2013, 1:04 pm
#396
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Still a little confused here and a quick search didn't answer my question. Wife and I are flying IAH-LHR. We're both 1Ks and are waitlisted with GPUs.
Should I split into two itineraries so we don't get passed over 1 released-RN seat at a time? Will my GPUs flow with her on her new reservation?
What happens if they don't clear ahead of time?
Should I split into two itineraries so we don't get passed over 1 released-RN seat at a time? Will my GPUs flow with her on her new reservation?
What happens if they don't clear ahead of time?
Mar 13, 2013, 1:22 pm
#397
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
Thanks for this. My companion has been adjacent to me most of the time or top of the list where I cleared in advance and she didn't. That said I tend to travel on deep discount coach, so it wouldn't always be obvious if she was at the bottom of the 1K list incorrectly and I was the last of the real 1Ks. That said I did have an experience last year where despite her being at the top of the visible list, others (on the list) cleared ahead of her, this led to an apology from UA and some miles in my wife's account.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
Last edited by alex_b; Mar 13, 2013 at 1:53 pm Reason: Removed large block quote.
Mar 13, 2013, 1:33 pm
#398
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I'm going to take a stab at summarizing people's experience on these issues and organizing the discussion, since it can be really hard to figure out exactly people are saying, about which kind of upgrade, etc. I've named the various categories and subcategories, and will try to use those names when I post in this thread.
It would almost be better to create a guide that tells people what they should do in any one of the many scenarios that could occur.
For example, if you are traveling on a roundtrip, and your first leg looks like it probably won't clear, but your return does look good, it would be better to NOT split on checkin, and then call to remove the flag for the return leg, so that you can possibly still CPU. Whether to split or not also depends on what your goals are - for example if you want to make SDC or E+ selections for your companion it's better not to split if the upgrades don't look good anyway.
Mar 13, 2013, 1:47 pm
#399
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Thanks for this. My companion has been adjacent to me most of the time or top of the list where I cleared in advance and she didn't. That said I tend to travel on deep discount coach, so it wouldn't always be obvious if she was at the bottom of the 1K list incorrectly and I was the last of the real 1Ks. That said I did have an experience last year where despite her being at the top of the visible list, others (on the list) cleared ahead of her, this led to an apology from UA and some miles in my wife's account.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
If you get a chance, would you mind editing your post to remove the full-text quote? That way people don't read the quote instead of the full post, which I'll be editing.
I actually thought about doing something similar for this but I think it's kinda confusing right now and in some cases repetitive.
It would almost be better to create a guide that tells people what they should do in any one of the many scenarios that could occur.
For example, if you are traveling on a roundtrip, and your first leg looks like it probably won't clear, but your return does look good, it would be better to NOT split on checkin, and then call to remove the flag for the return leg, so that you can possibly still CPU. Whether to split or not also depends on what your goals are - for example if you want to make SDC or E+ selections for your companion it's better not to split if the upgrades don't look good anyway.
It would almost be better to create a guide that tells people what they should do in any one of the many scenarios that could occur.
For example, if you are traveling on a roundtrip, and your first leg looks like it probably won't clear, but your return does look good, it would be better to NOT split on checkin, and then call to remove the flag for the return leg, so that you can possibly still CPU. Whether to split or not also depends on what your goals are - for example if you want to make SDC or E+ selections for your companion it's better not to split if the upgrades don't look good anyway.
It is an unfortunate fact of life that this has to be repetitive because very similar situations produce quite different results, and I'm trying to capture that variation. If you have a suggestion for reorganizing it, I'm all ears.
Mar 13, 2013, 1:49 pm
#400
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 396
Thanks for this. My companion has been adjacent to me most of the time or top of the list where I cleared in advance and she didn't. That said I tend to travel on deep discount coach, so it wouldn't always be obvious if she was at the bottom of the 1K list incorrectly and I was the last of the real 1Ks. That said I did have an experience last year where despite her being at the top of the visible list, others (on the list) cleared ahead of her, this led to an apology from UA and some miles in my wife's account.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
As for the Non-elite companion always being not on the list on the return if split, I have a few examples of where this hasn't happened and without intervention my wife was correctly placed on the list during mobile checkin at T-24.
I actually thought about doing something similar for this but I think it's kinda confusing right now and in some cases repetitive.
It would almost be better to create a guide that tells people what they should do in any one of the many scenarios that could occur.
For example, if you are traveling on a roundtrip, and your first leg looks like it probably won't clear, but your return does look good, it would be better to NOT split on checkin, and then call to remove the flag for the return leg, so that you can possibly still CPU. Whether to split or not also depends on what your goals are - for example if you want to make SDC or E+ selections for your companion it's better not to split if the upgrades don't look good anyway.
It would almost be better to create a guide that tells people what they should do in any one of the many scenarios that could occur.
For example, if you are traveling on a roundtrip, and your first leg looks like it probably won't clear, but your return does look good, it would be better to NOT split on checkin, and then call to remove the flag for the return leg, so that you can possibly still CPU. Whether to split or not also depends on what your goals are - for example if you want to make SDC or E+ selections for your companion it's better not to split if the upgrades don't look good anyway.
Mar 13, 2013, 1:55 pm
#401
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
Mar 13, 2013, 1:59 pm
#402
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Boulder, CO and Waimea, HI
Programs: UAL 1K MM
Posts: 748
Mar 13, 2013, 2:03 pm
#403
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 396
Well if you split on outbound and your non-elite companion was on list for return then that is indeed very interesting because pretty much all the posted data on FT has been the opposite.... In fact someone replied the other day (I think it was channa?) that they were convinced if you split on outbound you lose upgrade opportunity on return for non-elite companion.
Mar 13, 2013, 2:06 pm
#404
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Well if you split on outbound and your non-elite companion was on list for return then that is indeed very interesting because pretty much all the posted data on FT has been the opposite.... In fact someone replied the other day (I think it was channa?) that they were convinced if you split on outbound you lose upgrade opportunity on return for non-elite companion.
Mar 13, 2013, 2:06 pm
#405
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: North Wales, PA
Posts: 253
It does feel like there should be some sort of strategy card like in Blackjack because nothing made sense in this...