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
Jan 3, 2019, 11:24 am
#1336
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No to the baggage allowance and Group 1, but you can have them board with you and either check in together (explain the situation) or put all the bags on your PNR (unless you have more than 6 bags). I would split before T-96 if trying to get the upgrade.
May 3, 2019, 11:02 am
#1337
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Not really sure if this is the correct thread, but recently did standby on a flight (wasn't successful), and my PNR was split. There was no warning screen like when you are checking in and getting battle field upgrade. Both my traveling partner and I were already upgraded (therefore I wouldn't have split our reservation knowingly because now on the return leg we are not together on same PNR).
Anyone else experience this? Anything I can do to get them on same PNR again?
Anyone else experience this? Anything I can do to get them on same PNR again?
May 3, 2019, 11:10 am
#1338
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No.
May 3, 2019, 12:06 pm
#1339
Join Date: May 2009
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Pretty sure my partner maintained my 1K status when we split the PNR last weekend on our return flights. She was right after me on the upgrade list as a gold. Hard to believe there was no one in between, especially on an L fate with 18 people on the upgrade list (not standbys). This would be a nice change.
Jun 7, 2019, 7:15 pm
#1340
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, BA Gold
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How to prevent autosplitting on an RPU
3 of us travelling on a two-leg itinerary with RPU applied. Upgrade on the first leg cleared, but not on the second one. I intend to call to prevent auto-splitting upon checkin. What are the magic words I should use, add "do not upgrade flag"? If they add that flag will that prevent auto-splitting or do they need to somehow cancel the upgrade request? It's a 1-hour connection so really want to avoid the split.
When is the best time to call? Currently it shows 14/20 booked in flight status. I figure that at T(second leg)-24hrs we will either clear or there will be less than 3 seats available.
When is the best time to call? Currently it shows 14/20 booked in flight status. I figure that at T(second leg)-24hrs we will either clear or there will be less than 3 seats available.
Jun 7, 2019, 9:59 pm
#1341
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Why do you need to stop autosplitting?
Not sure why the connection time matters.
The reservation is split not the itinerary.
Not sure why the connection time matters.
The reservation is split not the itinerary.
Last edited by aacharya; Jun 8, 2019 at 5:58 am
Jun 7, 2019, 10:27 pm
#1342
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Jun 7, 2019, 10:47 pm
#1343
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Jun 7, 2019, 11:51 pm
#1344
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Jun 8, 2019, 2:58 am
#1345
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Anyway, call in at least 25 hours prior to departure, just to be on the safe side. Ask to have the RPU removed from the second leg but preserved on the first leg. Just indicate that you want to make sure you're not upgraded separately due to the child on the reservation. If they argue, say that it's happened to you in the past and you don't want it to happen again; if they argue a second time, hang up politely and call again; some arguments aren't worth winning.
It's challenging for an agent to remove the "split for upgrade at checkin" instruction once it's in place, so it's better to call before your record is annotated in the first place.
Jun 8, 2019, 6:01 am
#1346
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There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to want to split a PNR. This is one of them.
Anyway, call in at least 25 hours prior to departure, just to be on the safe side. Ask to have the RPU removed from the second leg but preserved on the first leg. Just indicate that you want to make sure you're not upgraded separately.
Anyway, call in at least 25 hours prior to departure, just to be on the safe side. Ask to have the RPU removed from the second leg but preserved on the first leg. Just indicate that you want to make sure you're not upgraded separately.
Jun 8, 2019, 9:57 am
#1347
Moderator: United Airlines
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There is a lot of "fear" of split PNRs. They can lead to issues but those are generally handleable without much effort (for elites). The best reason not to split is, IMO, you do not want to sit in separate cabins -- all or none for the upgrades.
Jun 8, 2019, 3:49 pm
#1348
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Any reason for the 25 hrs? I waited until T-24, because a bunch of seats open up and it paid off this time. But just curious what happens at T-24 that will make it harder to prevent autosplitting (assuming of course that I don't check in). I know you can't apply an instrument within 24hrs, but can you not remove one either?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 8, 2019 at 6:57 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Jun 8, 2019, 5:39 pm
#1349
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Any reason for the 25 hrs? I waited until T-24, because a bunch of seats open up and it paid off this time. But just curious what happens at T-24 that will make it harder to prevent autosplitting (assuming of course that I don't check in). I know you can't apply an instrument within 24hrs, but can you not remove one either?
Jul 12, 2019, 4:45 pm
#1350
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 156
1K flying with my non-status SO tomorrow, IAD-YYZ. We have not cleared at T-24, and there is only 1 seat in first available, so there doesn't seem to be any reason to delay check-in. While we don't mind sitting separately in case the upgrade clears, are there any risks/considerations on the return if she doesn't have status? *G Fast Track or anything else like that, that may not be printed on her boarding pass?