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 5, 2017, 8:53 am
#1096
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
If you're not pushing for an UG, I'm surprised the PNR is split. Never had that happen on a non-CPU eligible or non-instrument supported itinerary.
Mar 5, 2017, 10:01 am
#1097
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
"YOU ARE NOT CHECKED IN
Why didn't I get a boarding pass?
Your documentation must be verified at the airport before a boarding pass can be issued.THIS IS NOT A BOARDING PASS"
Mar 5, 2017, 12:41 pm
#1098
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 102
The reservation can definitely be split without being asked if you want to be on the upgrade list. I just flew a segment of an award flight, and (I assume) because I alone was CPU-eligible, my companion was split onto a new reservation when I checked in via the mobile app. Was never asked if I wanted to be on the upgrade list or if I wanted to split the reservation.
Hopefully she will be able to take advantage of free baggage on the return, even though her new reservation lists a baggage fee.
Hopefully she will be able to take advantage of free baggage on the return, even though her new reservation lists a baggage fee.
Mar 5, 2017, 9:37 pm
#1099
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,761
This will be a problem and will agent the check-in agent to research the record to see it was split. This will not happen usually without some gentle pushback and preferably you being there at checkin.
Mar 5, 2017, 9:42 pm
#1100
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 102
I forgot that as a Plat, I can check all our bags on my reservation. So won't be a problem!
Mar 6, 2017, 10:55 am
#1101
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 109
Not sure if it was said before. The record will be split WITHOUT asking in some circumstances. It happened to us the other day when we had requested a domestic upgrade with miles and one of the two segments were waitlisted.
Also, when split (no matter when) my companion has always retained my status thought the rest of the flights (even the return).
But, I have had an auto re-booking situation after a misconnect (I was automatically assigned a new flight and my companion was not). I had to ask the gate agent to fix my companions ticket. He snarkely asked why I was asking about somebody else and I told him our records had been split. He then proceeded to help me.
Also, when split (no matter when) my companion has always retained my status thought the rest of the flights (even the return).
But, I have had an auto re-booking situation after a misconnect (I was automatically assigned a new flight and my companion was not). I had to ask the gate agent to fix my companions ticket. He snarkely asked why I was asking about somebody else and I told him our records had been split. He then proceeded to help me.
Mar 6, 2017, 11:44 am
#1102
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
So after the PNR splitting we had two different reservation numbers. I got my pre-check but
Mrs. EX did not. If we check in under a single PNR she always gets "pre" with me. Agent
says "pre" showed on the record but would not print out on the boarding pass and there was
nothing she could do. She murmured : "It's Trump.". Beats me.
Mrs. EX did not. If we check in under a single PNR she always gets "pre" with me. Agent
says "pre" showed on the record but would not print out on the boarding pass and there was
nothing she could do. She murmured : "It's Trump.". Beats me.
Mar 6, 2017, 1:07 pm
#1103
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,761
So after the PNR splitting we had two different reservation numbers. I got my pre-check but
Mrs. EX did not. If we check in under a single PNR she always gets "pre" with me. Agent
says "pre" showed on the record but would not print out on the boarding pass and there was
nothing she could do. She murmured : "It's Trump.". Beats me.
Mrs. EX did not. If we check in under a single PNR she always gets "pre" with me. Agent
says "pre" showed on the record but would not print out on the boarding pass and there was
nothing she could do. She murmured : "It's Trump.". Beats me.
The companion no longer on same PNR has been spotty for quite some time.
Mar 30, 2017, 12:04 pm
#1104
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 12
Does this apply to reservations using GPUs that didn't clear? I got a notice at T-24 saying the upgrades could not be confirmed and I would be added to the airport list. It looks like my reservation was split.
Does this mean that reservations with instruments that don't clear will always be split?
Does this mean that reservations with instruments that don't clear will always be split?
Mar 30, 2017, 1:00 pm
#1105
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ORD/IND
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Preferred, Hertz PC, Hyatt Discoverist , Marriott Titanium
Posts: 742
Does this apply to reservations using GPUs that didn't clear? I got a notice at T-24 saying the upgrades could not be confirmed and I would be added to the airport list. It looks like my reservation was split.
Does this mean that reservations with instruments that don't clear will always be split?
Does this mean that reservations with instruments that don't clear will always be split?
As a side note I believe the same holds true for standing by on a flight. If you wish to standby because you can't be confirmed then your reservation will also be split.
Mar 31, 2017, 2:16 am
#1106
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
You have to hold open inventory if you have less seats available than the number of people in the next reservation on the upgrade list.
That means you can't let anyone else sneak in and grab the inventory (say, with an instrument). But maybe you do want to let them sneak in with a TOD.
It also means that at some point, you have to allow the GA to either force split the reservation OR skip the next reservation in the queue if they know, for sure, they will only have X free seats and >X people on the next reservation in the queue. And they should probably record people's preferences as to whether they want to split and upgrade less than everyone or skip and stay together and let the next person on the list upgrade.
And, if they DO prefer one person upgraded and one not, then they have to split the reservation anyway since you can't have seats in multiple cabins on the same PNR.
All that said, it's still no excuse for auto-splitting.
May 18, 2017, 8:00 pm
#1107
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 2,956
Was just auto-split without my permission on a mixed carrier, mixed cabin award itinerary using mobile app.
We were waitlisted for domestic F since we had a J award. I tried web check in earlier today but no dice due to passport check. But, .bomb told me I could use the mobile app and scan passports and would be blessed with a successful check in replete with boarding passes.
Did the mobile app checkin with passport scan which was accepted but still no dice, doc check required at airport so you lose. No BP for you.
Oh, by the way we split ur PNR without asking or telling you that we did it. I just happened to notice I was the only one left on the reservation.
We were waitlisted for domestic F since we had a J award. I tried web check in earlier today but no dice due to passport check. But, .bomb told me I could use the mobile app and scan passports and would be blessed with a successful check in replete with boarding passes.
Did the mobile app checkin with passport scan which was accepted but still no dice, doc check required at airport so you lose. No BP for you.
Oh, by the way we split ur PNR without asking or telling you that we did it. I just happened to notice I was the only one left on the reservation.
May 19, 2017, 1:03 am
#1108
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,214
With all the issues that people have with this, and I have been one of them and it is bad when you travel with people with lower status, especially children, why has UA not made it an option so you can say at check-in you do not want the reservation split? Most of the time I would not care but the times I do care it has gone south very quickly, very badly mainly due to MX issues and although I was protected my flying companions have not been even though original reservation was all under one reservation. And what it does when you add in non-UA flights is a horrific experience (based on my past travel experiences ).
I am not a programmer but I do not understand why this cannot be made an option at check-in. Default being what they currently do since this seems to be the preferred option for UA.
I am not a programmer but I do not understand why this cannot be made an option at check-in. Default being what they currently do since this seems to be the preferred option for UA.
May 20, 2017, 12:36 pm
#1109
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canada! eh?
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 386
I split my reservation recently, on my return flight, I found that my companion was freely to do whatever he wanted on the mobile app without charge: SDC, E+ seating, etc.. etc.. It also show'd that he was CPU eligible for the 96 Hour 1K window.
It seems like it's working like it should now?
It seems like it's working like it should now?
May 20, 2017, 12:50 pm
#1110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
I split my reservation recently, on my return flight, I found that my companion was freely to do whatever he wanted on the mobile app without charge: SDC, E+ seating, etc.. etc.. It also show'd that he was CPU eligible for the 96 Hour 1K window.
It seems like it's working like it should now?
It seems like it's working like it should now?
