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
Nov 22, 2016, 2:28 pm
#1051
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Just experienced this for the first time, and can't wait to try to explain it to my wife.
Details:
Any recourse at this point?
Details:
- Flying p.s. tomorrow on the same PNR
- 2 RPUs waitlisted, nothing clears prior to check-in
- At some point after check-in, I notice that reservation has been split (without my consent) and I'm upgraded while she isn't
- Just checked again and BF is now full, while she's still sitting on the waitlist
Any recourse at this point?
Nov 23, 2016, 9:27 am
#1052
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: AA PLT; UA PLT
Posts: 120
Ugh, I wish I'd read this thread before I accepted to be put on the UG list on a DCA-IAH flight I knew I'd never clear (Gold, new to traveling on UA with a companion on my PNR). I didn't notice my husband had been split off until I didn't see him on my record when re-printing my bp after checking my bag. I had the agent print his, noticed he didn't have pre-check (which he has always gotten when booked with me), and remember seeing this thread (but never reading it).
If I'm reading this thread correctly, now that we're split, he won't have a chance to clear on our flight home until the gate (we're on an intl configure 757 IAH-IAD on the day after Thanksgiving that still looks pretty open--I know it's still not super likely as a Gold, but still..), though I might clear at the window. He also seems to have lost premier access and the ability to change economy plus seats for free (if I call in, will they add premier access back?).
It would be nice if the app was a bit more explicit about what you're really doing when you ask to be put on the UG list, as I wouldn't have done it otherwise!
If I'm reading this thread correctly, now that we're split, he won't have a chance to clear on our flight home until the gate (we're on an intl configure 757 IAH-IAD on the day after Thanksgiving that still looks pretty open--I know it's still not super likely as a Gold, but still..), though I might clear at the window. He also seems to have lost premier access and the ability to change economy plus seats for free (if I call in, will they add premier access back?).
It would be nice if the app was a bit more explicit about what you're really doing when you ask to be put on the UG list, as I wouldn't have done it otherwise!
Nov 23, 2016, 9:32 am
#1053
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Ugh, I wish I'd read this thread before I accepted to be put on the UG list on a DCA-IAH flight I knew I'd never clear (Gold, new to traveling on UA with a companion on my PNR). I didn't notice my husband had been split off until I didn't see him on my record when re-printing my bp after checking my bag. I had the agent print his, noticed he didn't have pre-check (which he has always gotten when booked with me), and remember seeing this thread (but never reading it).
If I'm reading this thread correctly, now that we're split, he won't have a chance to clear on our flight home until the gate (we're on an intl configure 757 IAH-IAD on the day after Thanksgiving that still looks pretty open--I know it's still not super likely as a Gold, but still..), though I might clear at the window. He also seems to have lost premier access and the ability to change economy plus seats for free (if I call in, will they add premier access back?).
It would be nice if the app was a bit more explicit about what you're really doing when you ask to be put on the UG list, as I wouldn't have done it otherwise!
If I'm reading this thread correctly, now that we're split, he won't have a chance to clear on our flight home until the gate (we're on an intl configure 757 IAH-IAD on the day after Thanksgiving that still looks pretty open--I know it's still not super likely as a Gold, but still..), though I might clear at the window. He also seems to have lost premier access and the ability to change economy plus seats for free (if I call in, will they add premier access back?).
It would be nice if the app was a bit more explicit about what you're really doing when you ask to be put on the UG list, as I wouldn't have done it otherwise!
If you had kept it together, neither of you would be eligible. Aspects like baggage, premier access and E+ are easily manageable by agent or redcoat interactions/flashing your BP.
I always split, and always give the upgrade (if only one) to the better half. Never understood why folks want to sit aisle/middle, when one can be in F and the other aisle.
Nov 23, 2016, 9:46 am
#1054
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: AA PLT; UA PLT
Posts: 120
On the way home, instead of being behind you immediately, he would be the last on the list of Gold members.
If you had kept it together, neither of you would be eligible. Aspects like baggage, premier access and E+ are easily manageable by agent or redcoat interactions/flashing your BP.
I always split, and always give the upgrade (if only one) to the better half. Never understood why folks want to sit aisle/middle, when one can be in F and the other aisle.
If you had kept it together, neither of you would be eligible. Aspects like baggage, premier access and E+ are easily manageable by agent or redcoat interactions/flashing your BP.
I always split, and always give the upgrade (if only one) to the better half. Never understood why folks want to sit aisle/middle, when one can be in F and the other aisle.
) And yes, if I get the upgrade, I will be giving it to him.Also, when I look at his record, I get an offer to buy an upgrade for $193 (hard pass). No such offer on my record
Nov 23, 2016, 9:46 am
#1055
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
Nov 23, 2016, 11:37 am
#1056
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
Nov 23, 2016, 12:20 pm
#1057
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Avis President's Circle
Posts: 408
Frustrating, because I couldn't easily figure out the new PNRs for my two children, making it difficult to reprint boarding passes at ORD.
Nov 23, 2016, 1:46 pm
#1058
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Thanks for this! If we hadn't split, would we have still been eligible to be upgraded together at the window for the return if space had been available? (I know this isn't really a realistic problem for a Gold to worry about ) And yes, if I get the upgrade, I will be giving it to him.
Also, when I look at his record, I get an offer to buy an upgrade for $193 (hard pass). No such offer on my record
) And yes, if I get the upgrade, I will be giving it to him.Also, when I look at his record, I get an offer to buy an upgrade for $193 (hard pass). No such offer on my record
Nov 24, 2016, 4:24 pm
#1059
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: AA PLT; UA PLT
Posts: 120
On the way home, instead of being behind you immediately, he would be the last on the list of Gold members.
If you had kept it together, neither of you would be eligible. Aspects like baggage, premier access and E+ are easily manageable by agent or redcoat interactions/flashing your BP.
I always split, and always give the upgrade (if only one) to the better half. Never understood why folks want to sit aisle/middle, when one can be in F and the other aisle.
If you had kept it together, neither of you would be eligible. Aspects like baggage, premier access and E+ are easily manageable by agent or redcoat interactions/flashing your BP.
I always split, and always give the upgrade (if only one) to the better half. Never understood why folks want to sit aisle/middle, when one can be in F and the other aisle.
Nov 29, 2016, 4:32 pm
#1060
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Various tier levels of frequent flyer/hotel plans received for bellyaching about minor flaws in the service I received.
Posts: 610
Small data point - when this happened to me Sunday on a LAX-IAD flight the 1K phone agent told me "you agreed to split your reservation when you checked in on Saturday." She used this as the reason she couldn't reseat us. Not sure why she gave me that excuse first crack out of the barrel. I can only assume she'd had a bad day. The honest reason was that the flight was overbooked and no one could move. That reason would have made me a lot less irritated than one that implied I'd consented to the split.
Dec 3, 2016, 4:16 pm
#1061
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 102
I'm a little confused by this.
I'm flying SFO-IAD tomorrow with a companion, and I had requested a MP upgrade for both of us. The upgrade hasn't (and won't) clear.
I checked in for us online, and was never asked anything about splitting or upgrades. But my companion's reservation is now separate. She's been demoted to Boarding Group 4, with a baggage charge.
I'm flying SFO-IAD tomorrow with a companion, and I had requested a MP upgrade for both of us. The upgrade hasn't (and won't) clear.
I checked in for us online, and was never asked anything about splitting or upgrades. But my companion's reservation is now separate. She's been demoted to Boarding Group 4, with a baggage charge.
Dec 3, 2016, 4:35 pm
#1062
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I'm a little confused by this.
I'm flying SFO-IAD tomorrow with a companion, and I had requested a MP upgrade for both of us. The upgrade hasn't (and won't) clear.
I checked in for us online, and was never asked anything about splitting or upgrades. But my companion's reservation is now separate. She's been demoted to Boarding Group 4, with a baggage charge.
I'm flying SFO-IAD tomorrow with a companion, and I had requested a MP upgrade for both of us. The upgrade hasn't (and won't) clear.
I checked in for us online, and was never asked anything about splitting or upgrades. But my companion's reservation is now separate. She's been demoted to Boarding Group 4, with a baggage charge.
Dec 3, 2016, 4:42 pm
#1063
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,027
Dec 22, 2016, 12:09 pm
#1064
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
This auto split is new to me!
I checked in an award ticket reservation with three passengers today. One of the passengers is eligible for CPU (Chase CC holder), who is split out from the reservation. This is a one-way ticket. I thought that only round-trip tickets got split for the return segments. Anyway, unrelatedly, the split-out passenger did not get TSA Pre, while a non-status passenger with the original reservation got TSA Pre. And so is his 1K companion on this reservation. 
Dec 22, 2016, 12:26 pm
#1065
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I checked in an award ticket reservation with three passengers today. One of the passengers is eligible for CPU (Chase CC holder), who is split out from the reservation. This is a one-way ticket. I thought that only round-trip tickets got split for the return segments. Anyway, unrelatedly, the split-out passenger did not get TSA Pre, while a non-status passenger with the original reservation got TSA Pre. And so is his 1K companion on this reservation.
The good news is that if the auto-split occurred on a one-way ticket, then your return ticket (if you have one) did not get auto-split. That is one reason (among several) why I book one way tickets when there is no fare difference compared to a round trip booking.