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 16, 2018, 7:53 pm
#1321
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
Your reservation WILL be split, despite what CS tells you.
Note that keeping your reservation together could work against you on waitlists. If only R1 becomes available, someone below you on the list will be upgraded. You will only be upgraded if R2 is released with your combined PNR. YMMV.
Dec 17, 2018, 4:36 pm
#1322
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Quick question I hope I can get some help with. 1 PNR currently. 2 MP gold and 1 MP general member. Flight in question is domestic and has plenty of PN / PZ space (not sure which one is really the one I am concerned with). Currently within 48 hour CPU window. Flight shows as "CPU requested". Called an agent and asked if he could process the CPU but said he could only process if the reservation was split. Since there are two MP Gold members would it make sense to split the reservation into 1 MP gold / 1 MP gold + general member to automatically process all 3 upgrades? All gold benefits would carry to all members in this case. Also, if PNR is split would it affect any previous seat selections with partner (star alliance or non star alliance) on the same reservation? The general member is a child so we would want to stay together.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Dec 17, 2018, 5:07 pm
#1323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
The reservation shows CPU Requested -- you already have a CPU pending. Splitting won't really help (absent a specific case of fewer than 3 but greater than 0 seats available for upgrade). Note that PZ space does not necessarily mean that they will CPU anyone.
Dec 17, 2018, 7:05 pm
#1324
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1.95MM, HH G, Hertz PC
Posts: 4
I am Gold MM so my wife is also Gold. When we travel with our son, we have gotten 3 upgrades several times since those trips tend to be around holidays with much less business travelers.
After PNR split, sometimes I am higher on the list, sometimes my wife is, and invariably only one (if any) gets an upgrade. This complicates seat selection as we try to get aisle-aisle-window on 6 across seating. Does anyone know if there is rhyme or reason to the upgrade list order for split PNRs in this situation?
After PNR split, sometimes I am higher on the list, sometimes my wife is, and invariably only one (if any) gets an upgrade. This complicates seat selection as we try to get aisle-aisle-window on 6 across seating. Does anyone know if there is rhyme or reason to the upgrade list order for split PNRs in this situation?
Dec 17, 2018, 7:17 pm
#1325
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Despite several hypothesis and a lot of data collection, I have not been able to find any rhyme or reason to the ranking of ostensibly-equivalent upgrade requests originating from a split PNR. Others may have different opinions, but I gave up when the same PNR split resulted in my companion and I being ordered differently on different segments.
Dec 17, 2018, 7:32 pm
#1326
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 14
Thank you kind stranger. I will hold (and hold my breath) for the 3x upgrade!
Dec 22, 2018, 4:30 pm
#1327
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
I have a PNR for a RT itinerary containing one UA Silver and two GMs (and not me), with an outbound flight that departs in a couple days. I think an UG for the Silver is possible on the outbound leg, and possibly the inbound also (though too early to say for sure).
I've noticed recently on OW itineraries that if I'm travelling on the same PNR as GM pax and select one of those pax as my UG companion, (i) we still get split off onto separate PNRs but (ii) the GM companion retains all the rights and privileges of being my companion (SDC for free, appears on the UG list even after SDC, can select E+, etc.).
If the Silver traveller tomorrow selects one of the GMs as their companion, I expect the resultant OLCI split to produce three PNRs (one for each traveler), and the Silver and their designated companion will appear on the list. My question is: will the designated companion appear on the list and retain the same rights on the return journey (which is ~1 week after the outbound)? Or does the system 'forget' the status inheritance / UG rights after the outbound is flown?
I've noticed recently on OW itineraries that if I'm travelling on the same PNR as GM pax and select one of those pax as my UG companion, (i) we still get split off onto separate PNRs but (ii) the GM companion retains all the rights and privileges of being my companion (SDC for free, appears on the UG list even after SDC, can select E+, etc.).
If the Silver traveller tomorrow selects one of the GMs as their companion, I expect the resultant OLCI split to produce three PNRs (one for each traveler), and the Silver and their designated companion will appear on the list. My question is: will the designated companion appear on the list and retain the same rights on the return journey (which is ~1 week after the outbound)? Or does the system 'forget' the status inheritance / UG rights after the outbound is flown?
Dec 22, 2018, 9:26 pm
#1328
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1.95MM, HH G, Hertz PC
Posts: 4
I've noticed recently on OW itineraries that if I'm travelling on the same PNR as GM pax and select one of those pax as my UG companion, (i) we still get split off onto separate PNRs but (ii) the GM companion retains all the rights and privileges of being my companion (SDC for free, appears on the UG list even after SDC, can select E+, etc.).
If the Silver traveller tomorrow selects one of the GMs as their companion, I expect the resultant OLCI split to produce three PNRs (one for each traveler), and the Silver and their designated companion will appear on the list. My question is: will the designated companion appear on the list and retain the same rights on the return journey (which is ~1 week after the outbound)? Or does the system 'forget' the status inheritance / UG rights after the outbound is flown?
Dec 23, 2018, 6:25 am
#1329
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
I don't know what all gets carried through, but I have seen after splitting that my GM son loses group 1 on his boarding pass.
If I recall correctly, splitting on the outbound orphans the GM on the return. If I am buying tickets for my family and its the same price for round trip or two one ways, I make separate one way transactions so that after splitting the outbound, we are back together for the return - at least initially.
If I recall correctly, splitting on the outbound orphans the GM on the return. If I am buying tickets for my family and its the same price for round trip or two one ways, I make separate one way transactions so that after splitting the outbound, we are back together for the return - at least initially.
Jan 1, 2019, 8:02 am
#1330
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 880
So my son's PNR was split - how do I find his new PNR? He put his companion first on the joint PNR, so hers hasn't changed..
Perhaps that is why she couldn't get E+ without a phone call. Should he have put himself first on the PNR?
thanks
Perhaps that is why she couldn't get E+ without a phone call. Should he have put himself first on the PNR?
thanks
Jan 1, 2019, 8:31 am
#1331
Join Date: May 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, WN A+, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,126
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.
Jan 1, 2019, 8:41 am
#1332
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
I dont think it makes makes a difference who is first or not on the PNR. Over the years, I can’t determine a pattern of why’ve i get the new PNR, vs. wife. I thought maybe it was by whose account intiated the check in (i.e, that person would keep the PNR), but the system seems to have proved that wrong in the past as well. May just be random - at least that’s all I seem to be able to figure out
Jan 1, 2019, 12:58 pm
#1333
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,844
Jan 2, 2019, 9:28 pm
#1334
formerly sahiljain22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS;NYC;YVR;YYZ;DEL;BOM
Programs: Amex Plat; HH Diamond; SPG Plat; Hyatt Diamond; United 1K; National EE; HSBC Premier
Posts: 532
Jan 3, 2019, 7:40 am
#1335
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: United 1K,CX GOLD,SPG GOLD, Club Carlson GOLD, Accor PLAT, Amex PLAT
Posts: 219
Flying SFO>LAS one way with 5 people on one PNR, me (1K) and 4 non-status.
If I want to roll the dice with a CPU and split the PNR into 2 (Me 1K and 1 Gm) and then the remaining 3 seperated, will the remaining three keep the baggage allowance, group 1, etc?
Was planning to call ahead and have them split before reaching the 96 hour window, any reason why I should or shouldn't do this? I'd rather get a seat or two up front, than nothing for such a short flight but do need the baggage allowance.
If I want to roll the dice with a CPU and split the PNR into 2 (Me 1K and 1 Gm) and then the remaining 3 seperated, will the remaining three keep the baggage allowance, group 1, etc?
Was planning to call ahead and have them split before reaching the 96 hour window, any reason why I should or shouldn't do this? I'd rather get a seat or two up front, than nothing for such a short flight but do need the baggage allowance.