WineCountryUA

The major advantage to checking in at T-24 is to get an earlier time stamp (actually lower sequence number) for upgrade priority but the odds of another 1K with the same fare class is small, so the time stamp is probably a non-issue. So given that, I would wait to check-in. You can look at how the list (removing those also on the economy list) and unsold seats look like to decide if you want to drop the upgrade request (if you truly mean both or none) or not before check-in.

extreme_panda

Thanks WineCountryUA. So the risk of checking in at T-24 is that we'd both be listed on the standby waitlist for business, but listed separately, so one could possibly clear without the other? (and then we'd have to ask for a downgrade).

Just to confirm my understanding, I need R=2 (at least) to happen sometime between now and T-3 in order for us both to be upgraded together?

jsloan

Actually, I don't know if we've determined whether or not instrument-supported upgrades split automatically at T-24 or not. If you don't clear, you'll get an email saying that you'll be added to the standby list; at that point, the reservations may already be split.

Yes, you need R >= 2 to get upgraded (watch it, and call if you see it; they haven't always been processing upgrades immediately). And, yes, if the PNR is split, you risk having one person upgraded and the other not.

You cannot decline splitting the PNR during the check-in process when using an instrument. The only way to prevent the PNR from being spilt is to call and remove the upgrade request before the split occurs.

findark

I believe that the PNR is tagged at T-24 with the SSR code, which means it will not split until you actually check in, but avoiding the split becomes much more difficult if you don't cancel the waitlist before the tag sweep.

itsMoe

This is now my 3rd occurrence. It was my understanding that if you travel with a companion, and you're waitlisted but not cleared for an upgrade, during OLCI the PNR will be split if you wish to remain on the upgrade list. To that end, you're asked during OLCI, and your options are to either decline being on the upgrade list (and stay with your companion(s)), or opt in and have the PNR split.

First off, that option seems to be gone. I'm no longer asked during OLCI either via the app or via the web.

Secondly, even if you call in and have an agent remove you from the upgrade list, OLCI seems to still split the PNR.

1kvoice said they'd look into it and even sent a few miles as an apology, which by the way is very nice of them, but I'm just wondering if others have experienced the same issue?

Kacee

If you are waitlisted using an instrument, the PNR auto-splits at check-in.

If you are waitlisted for a CPU, the system gives you the choice at check-in whether you want to split the PNR.

Octopodes

Hey everyone,

I think I've read the whole thread now and am still not quite sure what's going to happen in my specific scenario:
--1K traveling with one no-status companion
--Flying IAD-DEN tomorrow (less than 24 hrs out), then DEN-HNL two days later (hence not a connection, a separate trip with separate RPUs applied), then some travel in Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines, then UA back home OGG-DEN-IAD. Everything is currently on the same PNR.
--RPUs requested for all UA flights
--DEN-HNL cleared, nothing else is
--Not going to clear upgrade for IAD-DEN since there's only one seat left.
--I want to avoid the split.

1K desk has assured me on two separate occasions that as long as I pay attention at check-in for IAD-DEN and don't click the wrong box, we won't split, and therefore will be fine all the way through until return, at which point we'll have to be careful again to avoid the split then. But what I've read here suggests that if I don't remove the RPUs for IAD-DEN before checking in, I won't have an option and it will split anyway. So, a few questions:

1. Should I call and remove the RPUs now, or is my fate sealed at this point since it's under 24 hours? It's still showing as one PNR online.
2. If I manage to avoid the split during that first checkin process, will I be able to checkin normally for DEN-HNL (for which we've already been cleared into First), or will that trigger a split too? Put another way, will having cleared RPUs in the reservation also cause an autosplit?
3. If we do get split, what's the best way to manage things on the return so that my companion doesn't lose free bags, group 1, etc?

Thank you for any advice.

jsloan

1 - Yes, call.
2 - Yes (no split)
3 - You'll need to take care of it at the airport -- or just hope the RPUs clear.

findark

Specifically, if you call about IAD-DEN, I would try to make sure that the agent is able to remove the "SSR" (special service request) from the PNR -- this is what triggers the system to split your PNR and add your the upgrade standby list with instrument-supported priority. I'm not 100% sure how the computer works here, but I believe there was a sweep just before T-24 to add that code to your PNR that was concurrent with the "we could not confirm your upgrade" e-mail you usually receive. It is the presence/absence of that code which will cause the PNR to auto-split at check-in. You will not see a check-box for this.

If the PNR splits, everything except bags should be easy to keep manually. Your companions may physically accompany you through all relevant Premier Access things, and you can call if there is a sweep that kicks them out of E+ (unlikely). The easiest solution for bags is just to check all of them on your record; if you have more than 3 bags then just allocate an extra 10 minutes to explain the situation at the counter.

PATRLR

I managed to get myself to MP Silver this year. On an outbound flight BOS-DEN my wife and I were on same PNR and unbelievably we both got upgraded via CPU. Now when I look at my reservation my wife is no longer on the same reservation. I thought I might have seen something flash by when checking in for the outbound about upgrades and separate PNRs but I didn't really pay attention.

One of my return legs is again very lightly loaded with lots of first class seats open. But if my wife is now on a separate PNR, then, she's not going to get on the upgrade list with me, is she? Is there a way to correct this? I'm on hold waiting for reservations now.

aacharya

Dont bother. She most likely will have to added when you check bags in.

Nothing that can be done to add the pnrs back.


Look up auto-splitting here for the thread.

PATRLR

"auto-splitting" - hadn't thought to search on that. Searched a bunch of other stuff. thanks.

Edited: Dang - there's a Wiki on it! Mod's please feel free to close or delete this thread.

emcampbe

PATRLR

It may or may not be auto splitting, but, auto splitting is the right thing to search for. You see, aacharya's reply was focused on providing the answer to the question that was asked. Thank you for your response though.

PATRLR

I'm silver, wife GM. Wife and I were on same PNR, split PNR at outbound checkin to get on the upgrade list becuase it looked like we had a chance. We both got upgraded (BOS-DEN early on a Saturday morning). Life is good.

For the return, I learn/realize the split PNR situation. OK, it's the price we pay for getting upgraded on the outbound. I look up my wife's new PNR and I notice it says CPU requested (this is roughly T-32). She has no status. So when she checks in, is she actually going to get put on the upgrade list? Everything I was reading indicated she would not get on the list until I asked at the airport.

I can't believe this is related, but I'll share it just in case. While reading up on this split PNR stuff, I called Premier reservations and the agent said he was going to "cross reference" the two PNRs. I hung up thinking that was nice but probably not going to help.