Nov 8, 2015, 12:01 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
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. 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
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. 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
Splitting up partner airline award reservation
Archive thread : To split or not to split PNR {Archive}
To split or not to split PNR
Jun 6, 2023, 2:34 pm
#106
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 209
Jun 6, 2023, 2:49 pm
#107
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: 66,850
Everyone on a PNR must be in the same cabin, Once you got upgraded, that required you would have to be on a different PNR. Same think when the companion was upgraded. At the gate they upgrade one person at a time.
Jun 6, 2023, 9:44 pm
#108
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Marriott Titanium; UA 1K; Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 441
I have a one way ticket booked for my husband and me. I am 1K and he has no status. I attached PlusPoints to our reservation and are #6 and #7 on the upgrade list with six seats open. If I separate our reservations, am I more likely to get upgraded? We are fine if only one of us gets upgraded…
Jun 6, 2023, 9:47 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
I have a one way ticket booked for my husband and me. I am 1K and he has no status. I attached PlusPoints to our reservation and are #6 and #7 on the upgrade list with six seats open. If I separate our reservations, am I more likely to get upgraded? We are fine if only one of us gets upgraded…
Splitting your PNR would increase your chances minutely if a whole bunch of people cancel. It's not likely to matter otherwise.
Jun 6, 2023, 9:56 pm
#110
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: Marriott Titanium; UA 1K; Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 441
Thanks jsloan. Flight is Friday so guessing less than 5% chance since more people will probably buy 1st. Surprised how many people are using PlusPoints on the flight since it is short. Must be because they are expiring soon.
Jun 6, 2023, 9:58 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Jul 4, 2023, 3:54 am
#112
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
Lots of talk about CPU but I don't see hardly anything about pluspoints. Is there a thread about companions and pluspoints being split up?
Here's my situation:
I'm 1k, traveling with wife and 2 kids who have no status, all on same PNR, and we are all in e+ due to my status. I requested pluspoints upgrades for us at booking (months ago).
Flight is IAD-GCM in less than 2 weeks and showing 4 seats in First remaining.
questions: 1) how likely we will all get upgraded, and 2) will they split us up with partial upgrades? (And if yes they will split us up, can we decline after a partial upgrade and get our e+ sears back?)
Here's my situation:
I'm 1k, traveling with wife and 2 kids who have no status, all on same PNR, and we are all in e+ due to my status. I requested pluspoints upgrades for us at booking (months ago).
Flight is IAD-GCM in less than 2 weeks and showing 4 seats in First remaining.
questions: 1) how likely we will all get upgraded, and 2) will they split us up with partial upgrades? (And if yes they will split us up, can we decline after a partial upgrade and get our e+ sears back?)
Jul 4, 2023, 4:25 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Lots of talk about CPU but I don't see hardly anything about pluspoints. Is there a thread about companions and pluspoints being split up?
Here's my situation:
I'm 1k, traveling with wife and 2 kids who have no status, all on same PNR, and we are all in e+ due to my status. I requested pluspoints upgrades for us at booking (months ago).
Flight is IAD-GCM in less than 2 weeks and showing 4 seats in First remaining.
questions: 1) how likely we will all get upgraded, and 2) will they split us up with partial upgrades? (And if yes they will split us up, can we decline after a partial upgrade and get our e+ sears back?)
Here's my situation:
I'm 1k, traveling with wife and 2 kids who have no status, all on same PNR, and we are all in e+ due to my status. I requested pluspoints upgrades for us at booking (months ago).
Flight is IAD-GCM in less than 2 weeks and showing 4 seats in First remaining.
questions: 1) how likely we will all get upgraded, and 2) will they split us up with partial upgrades? (And if yes they will split us up, can we decline after a partial upgrade and get our e+ sears back?)
2) Yes
2a) If the seats are still available, yes.
To avoid being split up on a PlusPoints reservation, you’d need to remove the PlusPoints prior to the time the automated process takes over, around 24 hours prior to departure.
Jul 4, 2023, 6:22 pm
#114
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA PLT (MM), UA 1K, Marriott Ti, IHG Diamond
Posts: 929
Thanks. So the plan should be to keep the pluspoints active until within the 72 hour upgrade window to see if I get lucky, but don't let it get closer than T-25 when we may get split up and also lose the ability to withdraw pluspoints?
Jul 4, 2023, 7:35 pm
#115
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: 66,850
Jul 25, 2023, 6:38 am
#117
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
I've never flown with companions before. I asked in another CPU thread what happens if I checkin and don't opt out. Would I be split immediately? and the answer was Yes.
However reading some reports above, this does not seem to be the case so I am confused.
The PNR has two 1K and one GM. If I do not opt out, at what point might the reservation get split? at checkin? If one or two but not three gets upgraded (after checkin)?
From skimming the thread, It sounds like the best move usually is to wait and check in as late as possible and opt out if it looks like the chances are low (since you risk the GM's chances on the return)
However reading some reports above, this does not seem to be the case so I am confused.
The PNR has two 1K and one GM. If I do not opt out, at what point might the reservation get split? at checkin? If one or two but not three gets upgraded (after checkin)?
From skimming the thread, It sounds like the best move usually is to wait and check in as late as possible and opt out if it looks like the chances are low (since you risk the GM's chances on the return)
Aug 6, 2023, 11:43 am
#118
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 289
Apologies if I've missed a prior post (tried to read thru this whole thing).
I have applied plus points to an entire round trip itinerary that has a domestic leg and then an international leg (and vice versa). First leg (domestic) only has 3 seats open and I have a group of 5. Second leg (international) has 7 seats open so I'm just waiting for PP to clear (hopefully). I don't want the reservation to get split since no one has status but me and there's chance of IRROPs coming up due to weather as well as upgrade/luggage issues on the return leg. Is there any way to block upgrades on the first leg only but still allow the 2nd? I'm worried if I reject upgrades for the first leg, it will also remove my upgrade for the 2nd leg...
I have applied plus points to an entire round trip itinerary that has a domestic leg and then an international leg (and vice versa). First leg (domestic) only has 3 seats open and I have a group of 5. Second leg (international) has 7 seats open so I'm just waiting for PP to clear (hopefully). I don't want the reservation to get split since no one has status but me and there's chance of IRROPs coming up due to weather as well as upgrade/luggage issues on the return leg. Is there any way to block upgrades on the first leg only but still allow the 2nd? I'm worried if I reject upgrades for the first leg, it will also remove my upgrade for the 2nd leg...
Aug 9, 2023, 3:20 pm
#119
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titan., Hilton Diamond, Hertz Pres
Posts: 143
Just another data point for others. 4 pax on same PNR one-way IAD-RSW. 1K, no-status, & 2 minors. PP applied to all. About two months before departure, upgrade space reaches PZ2. I call and split to one adult and one minor each on two different PNRs. 1K and one minor clear that night. About three weeks later, space reaches PZ2 again and no status adult and other minor clear. All 1K benefits carried to both adults and both minors on the flight.
I don't know that it ever would have reached PZ4 so we may well have been in the back without the split. Being on a one-way helped with decision as well since there were no concerns about privilege loss on the return.
I don't know that it ever would have reached PZ4 so we may well have been in the back without the split. Being on a one-way helped with decision as well since there were no concerns about privilege loss on the return.
Aug 9, 2023, 3:26 pm
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Your PNR will be split automatically if the upgrade hasn't been cleared by ~T-24 prior to your first flight.
When are you flying? Trying to clear 5 with 7 seats available seems problematic unless the flight leaves very soon.