WineCountryUA

FYI to readers. the rule on companions change in 2021
New statement on companions
one companion is now included

dbldwn02

I don't think companions are included. My wife didn't make it to the upgrade list...same booking. I'm number 1 for tomorrow's flight with available seats. I had to call to try to get removed. She told me it's system generated and can't be removed. She can only put a note there and then I can hope they don't upgrade me and give away my seat next to my wife. The rep blamed me for not calling to request "no-upgrade" before I booked. SMH...What a cluster.

Edit: Looking at the United website, it looks like they posted that 1 companion is eligible...
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...des-types.html
"This benefit only extends to one companion traveling on an award ticket. The companion must be traveling on the same PNR as the primary Cardmember."

dbldwn02

This is a cluster.
Wife and I were both CPU Eligible on the same PNR. (Award Ticket) The system auto-split the PNR, upgraded me and left her in econ. You wants a divorce?...that's how you get a divorce! Now they can't put me back because, blah blah blah,,it's the system...it's too close to leaving...blah blah.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

You can certainly give the seat to your wife. If you keep the F seat - yes, you are in trouble. Even if she says, "No, you take it" - you better not.

Edit: Now that I think about it - you couldn't have been on the same PNR - it had to be split for you to get the upgrade. Upgrade is only for eligible card holder who used card to make the purchase. One of you was CPU-eligible, NOT both. Only one of you ever had a chance to get the upgrade, so you should have called and asked to be removed from CPU consideration if you wanted to stay together.

jsloan

Based on this thread, it appears that UA's marketing team has changed the benefit but neglected to tell the team that handles the day-of-flight waitlists.

dbldwn02

We were on the same PNR and we BOTH showed CPU Eligible. See my post above from a few months months ago, with screenshots.

United changed CPU Eligibility on Award Flights. Primary cardholder and one guest get CPU Eligible. However, when the 5 days before departure came, "the system" split the reservation and upgraded only me. She never showed on the upgrade list but she still showed CPU Requested on her new PNR.

​​​​​​6 Months ago I would have agreed with you on eligibility, because it's been that way for years. But I promise you, this is the way "the system" works now.

leftysauce

i was on an award ticket with my companion on another paid ticket but luckily the check-in agent was able to add him to the upgrade list and we both got upgraded. Def an exception/luck though

on a different note, I had a similar experience with the split issue but on a paid ticket. I opted in for split during check-in but we were still both on the upgrade list. I then did a same-day change and even though we were still both on the same PNR, my companion was not on the list. I chatted and called the premier desk and of course was repeatedly told the same thing that the list is system-generated and cannot be modified. HUCA a few times and was connected to a "local" agent and she (or I asked?) escalated to a supervisor. Eventually they split our reservations and "fixed" it by manually adding us as MUA upgrades.

dhammer53

It's been a while since I posted here.

I have a trip booked LGA/DEN using miles. I'm Million Miler. I noticed that my res says this is eligible for an upgrade. Is that true?

I have another itn booked for my wife using miles. She has gifted Gold status. Her reservation has no notation about an upgrade. Which of these are a glitch?

Thanks for the assist.

dh

Kmxu

If you have an eligible credit card (eg, Chase Explorer) to pay for taxes, you will be eligible for CPU. If your wife is not a primary card holder, she is not eligible for CPU.

Kacee

You do not have to pay with the Chase card to be eligible for the CPU benefit on awards. If you hold an eligible card, the benefit applies regardless how taxes/fees were paid.

WineCountryUA

No need to use the card for taxes and one PNR companion is now included

MDFFlyer

Hi;

I am Premier 1K. Bought an award ticket in economy. Going LAX-EWR-YUL.

I am not appearing on the "upgrade eligible customer list". I spoke to agent and they said (Award tickets are not eligible for CPUs):

Is this true?! Any other way I can upgrade my ticket?

jhayes_1780

You can only upgrade awards if:

You are GS with an PP
You are on a domestic (including Canada/carribean... think non long haul or PS) award and have one of the UA Charge Cards that allows it (Used to be called Explorer or United Club Card... not sure of the nomenclature now).
You are offered an upgrade for cash at somepoint (typically check in).

jsloan

Award tickets are not available for CPUs unless you hold a qualifying United-branded Chase credit card.

LAX-EWR isn't eligible for CPUs in the first place, so you'd only be talking about EWR-YUL.

You may be offered a cash buy-up at check-in, or you can change to a business class award.

mduell

You have to have the card, and use it to pay for some part of the reservation.