Feb 21, 2017, 12:20 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA CPU 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.
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.
Companions on separate PNR are not explicitly discussed but some GAs will add them at the Gate.
While elites may be eligible (with the right credit card) for award upgrades, companions are explicitly excluded.
Related threads
Questions About Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPU) on UA
Understanding the United Upgrade List Comprehensively
To split or not to split PNR
Archive of earlier posts: Comprehensive Companion CPU Questions [ARCHIVE]
Comprehensive Companion CPU Questions
Feb 17, 2019, 6:24 am
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
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Update: Companion upgrade on separate PNR
Does anyone have any recent experience with companion upgrades on separate PNR's?
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport?
In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport?
In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
Feb 17, 2019, 8:44 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 235
I thought that I would update this with my recent experience, on our first segment there were no available F seats on the A319, however on our connection at IAH the ERJ-175 had 6 open seats with only 2 on the standby list. I had received an upgrade at the 96 hour window.The agent at the United Club was unable to help, she could only find upgrade options using miles or $. At the gate the agent was not able to process the upgrade, however she referred me to an agent at a nearby gate. He was able to add my wife to the list with a few keystrokes, returning to the gate the upgrade was cleared before boarding. The fact that I was on a reward ticket was never raised as an issue.
Feb 17, 2019, 9:12 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,409
To be clear for anyone reading through this thread later: companions on award miles are not eligible for CPU. These experiences do not represent policy.
Feb 17, 2019, 9:40 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Does anyone have any recent experience with companion upgrades on separate PNR's?
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport?
In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport?
In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
I thought that I would update this with my recent experience, on our first segment there were no available F seats on the A319, however on our connection at IAH the ERJ-175 had 6 open seats with only 2 on the standby list. I had received an upgrade at the 96 hour window.The agent at the United Club was unable to help, she could only find upgrade options using miles or $. At the gate the agent was not able to process the upgrade, however she referred me to an agent at a nearby gate. He was able to add my wife to the list with a few keystrokes, returning to the gate the upgrade was cleared before boarding. The fact that I was on a reward ticket was never raised as an issue.
Anyway, good to be clear about policy vs. exception. ^
Feb 17, 2019, 9:43 am
#5
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,288
I will report what happens on our return flights next week.
Feb 17, 2019, 11:37 am
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,409
In the case Old Gold reported, since the companion was on a paid fare and only the 'primary' elite was on an award, would the policy allow for a companion upgrade? I'm not clear on what is the actual policy for separate reservations.
Anyway, good to be clear about policy vs. exception. ^
Anyway, good to be clear about policy vs. exception. ^
Mar 5, 2019, 8:30 am
#7
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,288
Update: Companion upgrade on separate PNR
Does anyone have any recent experience with companion upgrades on separate PNR's
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport? In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
I am 1K traveling on a reward ticket eligible for upgrade with Explorer card. Wife is traveling on same itinerary with a paid G fare. What are the chances of adding her to the upgrade list at the airport? In the good ol' CO days it wasn't a problem, even for companions on the same flight but a different ultimate destination.
I, a 1K with Explorer card traveling on a reward ticket was upgraded on three of four flights. My wife received an upgrade on one of four flights. (We swapped seats, of course) We were able to have her added to the upgrade standby list for three of the flights. As others have posted, finding an agent with the knowledge to process the upgrade standby on another PNR can be a problem. On our final flight, less than an hour before departure with F booked full with 11/12 checked in I was #1 on the standby list. At IAH an agent at the Terminal E club added my wife to the list. I dropped to #2 and my wife became #1 . The last F passenger checked in before boarding began.
The fact that I was traveling on a reward ticket was never raised as an issue.
Last edited by Old Gold; Mar 5, 2019 at 8:36 am
Mar 30, 2019, 5:37 pm
#9
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: 66,854
Apr 30, 2019, 9:19 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 114
I'm flying from LA to Hawaii in a couple days with a companion who is Premier Silver. We are on separate itineraries, and I've already been upgraded. If they are not upgraded until check-in, can I call in so that they have 1K priority for their CPU? If not, can I ask the GA at the gate to move them up on the upgrade list?
Apr 30, 2019, 9:23 pm
#11
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 66,854
I'm flying from LA to Hawaii in a couple days with a companion who is Premier Silver. We are on separate itineraries, and I've already been upgraded. If they are not upgraded until check-in, can I call in so that they have 1K priority for their CPU? If not, can I ask the GA at the gate to move them up on the upgrade list?
May 1, 2019, 7:35 am
#13
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No, the PNR will be split at check-in (unless you decline), after which you will both be upgrade-eligible individually.
May 1, 2019, 7:46 am
#15
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There is a lot of uncertainty as to exactly where you companion would be prioritized if the PNR is split; I believe for a CPU it should be after everyone with your status and before everyone with lower status (so between a Gold on an X fare and a Silver on a Y fare).