Nov 8, 2015, 12:01 pm
Last edit by: drewguy
For complimentary premier upgrades, United explains how they are handled for itineraries with more than one passenger:
If a reservation includes three or more travelers, and only one is not a Premier member, the Complimentary Premier Upgrades will be processed according to the lowest Premier status level in the reservation. If two or more travelers on the reservation are not Premier members, it will not be processed automatically. In these cases, Premier members should call the Premier Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves and the eligible companion.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly.../upgrades.html
For elites, an itinerary for multiple passengers will remain together until ~T-24. If the upgrades clear before then, the PNR remains together. If they have not cleared by then, the PNR will be "split" when you check in for purposes of upgrades, with waitlist priority in accordance with above. Note: If there are only two passengers on the PNR, then United no longer splits the reservation automatically, and instead only if one (or both) of the passengers are upgraded. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...-upgraded.html
The splitting has consequences regarding eligibility for "inherited status" - i.e., baggage allowances, upgrade priority, boarding priority for passengers with lower status than the highest status passenger. I.e., as a formal matter the benefits of inherited status are lost (although E+ seats are usually retained or can be gotten back, baggage is usually granted, one can board with highest priority passenger). This also matters for the return.
This thread explains various scenarios and considerations as to whether it is desirable to split the PNR before T-24 and the consequences of having it happen.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you mind if not all passengers are upgraded? If you are willing to have some people remain in coach, then splitting increases your chances of an upgrade before T-24 because sometimes only one upgrade seat becomes available at a time. In such scenarios a group of 2+ will be skipped. If you can't be separated, don't split until forced to do so. If you really can't be separated, consider a call to UA to ask to be marked not for upgrades.
2) Once you get inside T-24 your PNR will be split, unless you make a special request that it not be. Each passenger will be placed on the upgrade list in accordance with the above. This doesn't matter much on the outbound flight unless there are IRROPS, in which case it may be tougher to get accommodation for all passengers.
3) On the return flight(s) the companions may no longer have the highest level of status of all passengers, including baggage allowances (E+ seats are usually retained). However, some recent reports are that companions retain the status of the highest passenger on the original PNR, even after it is split.
related threads
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2039553-no-more-splitting-pnrs-get-upgrade-list-but-still-split-if-upgraded.html
Splitting up partner airline award reservation
Archive thread : To split or not to split PNR {Archive}
Companion policy
One companion traveling on a paid ticket on the same reservation as a Premier member is eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select flights, and may be confirmed with the same priority as the Premier member, even on the day of departure. If the companion is a Premier member, the upgrade will be processed according to the highest Premier status level in the reservation.If a reservation includes three or more travelers, and only one is not a Premier member, the Complimentary Premier Upgrades will be processed according to the lowest Premier status level in the reservation. If two or more travelers on the reservation are not Premier members, it will not be processed automatically. In these cases, Premier members should call the Premier Priority Desk to request a separate reservation for themselves and the eligible companion.
For elites, an itinerary for multiple passengers will remain together until ~T-24. If the upgrades clear before then, the PNR remains together. If they have not cleared by then, the PNR will be "split" when you check in for purposes of upgrades, with waitlist priority in accordance with above. Note: If there are only two passengers on the PNR, then United no longer splits the reservation automatically, and instead only if one (or both) of the passengers are upgraded. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...-upgraded.html
The splitting has consequences regarding eligibility for "inherited status" - i.e., baggage allowances, upgrade priority, boarding priority for passengers with lower status than the highest status passenger. I.e., as a formal matter the benefits of inherited status are lost (although E+ seats are usually retained or can be gotten back, baggage is usually granted, one can board with highest priority passenger). This also matters for the return.
This thread explains various scenarios and considerations as to whether it is desirable to split the PNR before T-24 and the consequences of having it happen.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you mind if not all passengers are upgraded? If you are willing to have some people remain in coach, then splitting increases your chances of an upgrade before T-24 because sometimes only one upgrade seat becomes available at a time. In such scenarios a group of 2+ will be skipped. If you can't be separated, don't split until forced to do so. If you really can't be separated, consider a call to UA to ask to be marked not for upgrades.
2) Once you get inside T-24 your PNR will be split, unless you make a special request that it not be. Each passenger will be placed on the upgrade list in accordance with the above. This doesn't matter much on the outbound flight unless there are IRROPS, in which case it may be tougher to get accommodation for all passengers.
3) On the return flight(s) the companions may no longer have the highest level of status of all passengers, including baggage allowances (E+ seats are usually retained). However, some recent reports are that companions retain the status of the highest passenger on the original PNR, even after it is split.
related threads
The stupid PNR auto-splitting at T-24 needs to stop
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2039553-no-more-splitting-pnrs-get-upgrade-list-but-still-split-if-upgraded.html
Splitting up partner airline award reservation
Archive thread : To split or not to split PNR {Archive}
To split or not to split PNR
May 22, 2024 | 6:18 am
#166
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 6,079
As a solo traveler, I'm not too familiar.
Parents traveling ORD-SFO-HKG-SFO-ORD. 1K + member, no status
They both get upgraded at the gate for ORD-SFO and PNR is split. (I thought it was only split if one person is upgraded but the other isnt).
In the past, I recall if a reservation is split, the nonmember can no longer select e+ seats.
However, now, in the 1K member account, both PNRs are listed and e+ can be selected on both.
On the no status account, just one PNR is listed and e+ can be selected.
Did UA improve something?
The higher BG# person can usually board with the lower BG# person.
Parents traveling ORD-SFO-HKG-SFO-ORD. 1K + member, no status
They both get upgraded at the gate for ORD-SFO and PNR is split. (I thought it was only split if one person is upgraded but the other isnt).
In the past, I recall if a reservation is split, the nonmember can no longer select e+ seats.
However, now, in the 1K member account, both PNRs are listed and e+ can be selected on both.
On the no status account, just one PNR is listed and e+ can be selected.
Did UA improve something?
The higher BG# person can usually board with the lower BG# person.
Jul 7, 2024 | 11:57 pm
#167
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 96
I'm flying with a group of six PAX originally on one PNR. One 1K, one gold, and four general.
The PNR was split with one group with two PAX, 1K and gold, and one group with four PAX, four general
On the two PAX PNR the flight status page no longer says CPU requested. Is this how the page display now? I could have sworn that it said CPU requested when I've done this before.
Goal is to only get two seats CPU'd.
The PNR was split with one group with two PAX, 1K and gold, and one group with four PAX, four general
On the two PAX PNR the flight status page no longer says CPU requested. Is this how the page display now? I could have sworn that it said CPU requested when I've done this before.
Goal is to only get two seats CPU'd.
Aug 14, 2024 | 3:43 am
#168
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YVR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,010
Have a trip with parents:
Should I split their PNR now and hope they upgraded at some point?
- Parents on a different tix
- Outboud late Aug. No upgrades applied to their outbound segments.
- Same TPAC flight on return (mid Sept) - that's the one I want to upgrade them on
- Applied Plus Points to my own ticket and theirs too
- I just got upgraded and they did not
- Flight is currently P9/PN3/PZ0. Best I can tell PZ never opened
- I called UA and was told they are #2 and #3 with about 24/60 booked; agent advised no further upgrades will be processed until gate (which I don't think is true) so no need to split
Should I split their PNR now and hope they upgraded at some point?
Last edited by kevflyer; Aug 14, 2024 at 4:28 am
Aug 14, 2024 | 5:26 am
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 37,409
Aug 14, 2024 | 5:55 am
#170
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium, LTP; IHG Platinum
Posts: 7,942
Have a trip with parents:
Should I split their PNR now and hope they upgraded at some point?
- Parents on a different tix
- I called UA and was told they are #2 and #3 with about 24/60 booked; agent advised no further upgrades will be processed until gate (which I don't think is true) so no need to split
Should I split their PNR now and hope they upgraded at some point?
Sound like SFO-PVG (if the agent gave the advice based upon his/her experience).
Feb 16, 2025 | 9:32 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Chase Club Infinite, Amex Plat
Posts: 50
Ive got an upcoming PNR w/ 3 pax seated in PP and using an instrument waitlisted to Polaris. Does anyone know if its standard United policy to skip over entire PNRs if the pax total is larger than the remaining seats (ie., 3 pax but 2 J remaining) or gate agents will split the reservation to accommodate the upgrades for 2/3?I keep getting mixed messages from United customer service on what will happen at T24.
Feb 16, 2025 | 9:45 pm
#172
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,686
Ive got an upcoming PNR w/ 3 pax seated in PP and using an instrument waitlisted to Polaris. Does anyone know if its standard United policy to skip over entire PNRs if the pax total is larger than the remaining seats (ie., 3 pax but 2 J remaining) or gate agents will split the reservation to accommodate the upgrades for 2/3?I keep getting mixed messages from United customer service on what will happen at T24.
Feb 16, 2025 | 9:49 pm
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,778
Ive got an upcoming PNR w/ 3 pax seated in PP and using an instrument waitlisted to Polaris. Does anyone know if its standard United policy to skip over entire PNRs if the pax total is larger than the remaining seats (ie., 3 pax but 2 J remaining) or gate agents will split the reservation to accommodate the upgrades for 2/3?I keep getting mixed messages from United customer service on what will happen at T24.
Feb 16, 2025 | 10:10 pm
#174
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Chase Club Infinite, Amex Plat
Posts: 50
So youre saying that if a multi pax PNR is not split by T24 (3 pax at the top with 2 seats, lets say) it will freeze any upgrades on existing list? Id like to assume that even with the split post check-in, pax retain their spot on the list if they were on the higher end because a companion with a higher status (thats now on their own PNR).
Feb 16, 2025 | 10:16 pm
#175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 25,686
Did something change recently? For a long time, UA wouldnt auto-split for CPUs but would for instrument upgrades, on the assumption that you wouldnt have listed the instrument unless you wanted the upgrade.
Feb 16, 2025 | 10:48 pm
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,778
Interesting. I obviously know about PNR splitting with relation to CPUs, but I never experienced an auto-split when using upgrade instruments for a multi pax PNR at check-in.
So youre saying that if a multi pax PNR is not split by T24 (3 pax at the top with 2 seats, lets say) it will freeze any upgrades on existing list? Id like to assume that even with the split post check-in, pax retain their spot on the list if they were on the higher end because a companion with a higher status (thats now on their own PNR).
So youre saying that if a multi pax PNR is not split by T24 (3 pax at the top with 2 seats, lets say) it will freeze any upgrades on existing list? Id like to assume that even with the split post check-in, pax retain their spot on the list if they were on the higher end because a companion with a higher status (thats now on their own PNR).
Mar 20, 2025 | 7:21 am
#177
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: LAX
Posts: 302
Apologies if this has been covered - I searched a few keywords on this thread and couldnt find an answer.
Upcoming short domestic flight in a few days, Im GS and partner does not have status, currently on the same PNR. Our CPUs to F have already cleared. I may need to change my flight to later in the day, but my partner will keep the original flight that weve already been cleared on.
Is there a best time to split the PNR where hell be able to keep the upgrade that has cleared and not be downgraded?
Im assuming I shouldnt split now (although the fare difference for me to switch is small so thats an option). Are the chances best for him keeping it if weve already checked in (ex at T-24, or a little later so I can SDC once split)? Or should I wait for that magic T-3hr period of years past (not sure if that logic still holds today) to split?
Upcoming short domestic flight in a few days, Im GS and partner does not have status, currently on the same PNR. Our CPUs to F have already cleared. I may need to change my flight to later in the day, but my partner will keep the original flight that weve already been cleared on.
Is there a best time to split the PNR where hell be able to keep the upgrade that has cleared and not be downgraded?
Im assuming I shouldnt split now (although the fare difference for me to switch is small so thats an option). Are the chances best for him keeping it if weve already checked in (ex at T-24, or a little later so I can SDC once split)? Or should I wait for that magic T-3hr period of years past (not sure if that logic still holds today) to split?
Mar 20, 2025 | 10:25 am
#178
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,499
Got a 4 pass resi, I am the only one with status..Silver, msp-den route. 5 days out. F is wide open, not a soul in there as of today. Likely not an elite heavy route being non hub to hub. If I choose to split myself and one of my non status family members, what are the chances both of us get cpu'd on this one? Or safer just to split myself for better cpu chance? Flt 2041 on 3/26.
