Jul 26, 2013, 11:35 am

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Two separate PNRs cannot be merged into one.
This includes: two similar PNRs for separate passengers or two separate PNRs for the same passenger
Combining PNRs on ua.com in "Manage your reservation" is for viewing pleasure only. It has no effect on benefits, IRROPS or anything else.

May I check bags through on two PNR's? Yes, bag interline is discussed in UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)
Elite bag allowance generally will not be offered to off-PNR companions, but you can ask (YMMV)
You can bring 1-8 people into E+ (depending on your status) by calling or at the gate.
They do not have to be on the same PNR. This has changed from 2012
For CPU prior to the gate, you must be on a common PNR (at most one that was split). See companion policy. However, it may be possible (YMMV) to request an off-PNR companion upgrade at the gate. Comprehensive Companion CPU Questions
So-called "linking" PNR, has no practical impact on PNRs or benefits -- usually is just a comment in one or more PNRs as a note for a human agent. Computers do not use the comment field.

Combine reservations into one PNR? Can not be done. "Linking" PNRs, no benefit.

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Feb 8, 2019, 8:28 pm

#211

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,783

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

....
Had a question. I booked a trip for the Mrs. HKG-EWR -HKG ...

This does not appear to be a two PNR query (which can not be combined in the first place)
But unclear on a couple of things
-- is this a paid or award ticket?

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

....and got confirmed upgrade on both the legs! Yippie! I now want to add on a flight from EWR- MUC on the same day (after a 4 hour layover) in EWR. ...

what is the full new itin? How are you getting from MUC back to EWR? and then to HKG??

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

.... 1) Can I add the new legs to this itinerary? Or will it price the whole trip and I will lose my upgrades? ..

it will surely reprice. O/Ds are priced, not segments. The keeping of the confirmed upgrades could happen but doubt most agents could do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

....2) Can I use the same GPU from HKG - EWR - MUC?

-- theorically yes, but there are many other hurddles before you get there

Feb 8, 2019, 9:29 pm

#212

UALFLYER1

Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 205

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

This does not appear to be a two PNR query (which can not be combined in the first place)
But unclear on a couple of things
-- is this a paid or award ticket? ...

It is a paid ticket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineCountryUA

...
what is the full new itin? How are you getting from MUC back to EWR? and then to HKG??
it will surely reprice. O/Ds are priced, not segments. The keeping of the confirmed upgrades could happen but doubt most agents could do it.
-- theorically yes, but there are many other hurddles before you get there

I currently have HKG-EWR-HKG booked; want to add EWR - MUC - EWR to this

So I presume...buying a new ticket EWR-MUC-EWR and then adding that to this original HKG-EWR-HKG itn.

Does that make sense? Sorry...I am so long winded!

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 8, 2019 at 9:46 pm Reason: repaired quote

Feb 8, 2019, 9:32 pm

#213

mpiotrow

Join Date: Oct 2013

Location: DEN

Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)

Posts: 1,272

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

Unless I'm missing something, as the Wiki says above: "Two separate PNRs cannot be merged into one"

Xyzzy likes this.

Feb 8, 2019, 9:44 pm

#214

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,783

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

Ok, understand but the two PNRs can not be merged into a single PNR and a GPU can not be used across two PNRs -- so No & No to the original questions.

UALFLYER1 likes this.

Feb 8, 2019, 11:54 pm

#215

jsloan

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: Austin, TX

Posts: 21,370

Quote:

Originally Posted by UALFLYER1

It is a paid ticket.
I currently have HKG-EWR-HKG booked; want to add EWR - MUC - EWR to this

So I presume...buying a new ticket EWR-MUC-EWR and then adding that to this original HKG-EWR-HKG itn.

Does that make sense? Sorry...I am so long winded!

I feel compelled to point out that GPUs can be used on LH (although, you'd need one GPU per flight segment -- one for HKG-MUC and another for MUC-EWR). :-) It sounds like you've got a plan in mind, but HKG-EWR-MUC is way out of the way -- you fly 16 hours and you're nearly as far away from MUC as you started.

Also, with two separate tickets, you wouldn't necessarily be protected in the case of IRROPS, although UA does generally have a good reputation for helping out when you're flying all on UA metal. And paying the change fee to add EWR-MUC to your existing flight is going to be much, much more expensive than booking two separate tickets, so that's not really a solution.

Anyway, not sure if this helps, but thought I should mention it in case the ability to get upgrades was factoring into your planning.

Xyzzy and UALFLYER1 like this.

Feb 16, 2019, 9:40 am

#216

UALFLYER1

Join Date: Nov 2002

Posts: 205

Thanks Wine Country and Jsloan...appreciate your input.

Feb 24, 2019, 9:27 am

#217

PDXpress

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: MFR

Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 714

What's the best practice for a family traveling on multiple PNRs in case of IRROPS?

Family of 4 on 4 PNRs. I'm thinking I should print out the 4 names and PNRs so I can just hand that to an agent if it gets ugly at/going to SFO on Tuesday. Anything else?

Feb 24, 2019, 2:28 pm

#218

WineCountryUA

Moderator: United Airlines

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: SFO

Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat

Posts: 66,783

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXpress

What's the best practice for a family traveling on multiple PNRs in case of IRROPS?...

If in a line, try a phone agent also while waiting.

Feb 24, 2019, 2:34 pm

#219

threeoh

Join Date: Sep 2014

Posts: 2,531

If two adults and two children, know ahead of time whether you'd be willing to be split into two groups (one adult + one child in each group) and if so have carry-on essentials split into two bags so you can split up quickly if needed.

If not willing to be split up, say so.

Mar 2, 2019, 12:05 pm

#220

elitefreak

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Wayne, NJ USA

Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member

Posts: 2,174

Should I combine PNR's?

Booked two separate tix (one paid by company, one by me) EWR-LAS in glorious Row 21. We are both*G. To prevent UA from separating us with their random seat whammies, should/can I combine these into 1 PNR? I don't think it hurts our upgrade chances.

Thanks.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 2, 2019 at 3:40 pm Reason: moved to consoldiated thread

Mar 2, 2019, 12:08 pm

#221

wxguy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK

Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB

Posts: 4,388

PNRs cannot be combined. They can reference each other in notes, that's all.

Mar 2, 2019, 12:09 pm

#222

mduell

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2007

Location: Houston

Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold

Posts: 12,686

Well you literally can't, so no.

Also being on the same res does nothing to avoid the SHARES seat scrambler.

Mar 2, 2019, 12:50 pm

#223

elitefreak

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Wayne, NJ USA

Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member

Posts: 2,174

Quote:

Originally Posted by mduell

Well you literally can't, so no.

Also being on the same res does nothing to avoid the SHARES seat scrambler.

Thanks.

Mar 3, 2019, 9:46 pm

#224

pregabalin

Join Date: Aug 2018

Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist

Posts: 113

My friend and I are booked on separate PNRs on the same flight in the same fare class (XN) using my miles. Can they use my luggage benefit (I'm 1K) if we check-in together? I don't want to rebook the flight because the saver mileage fare isn't available anymore.

Mar 3, 2019, 9:56 pm

#225

Aussienarelle

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: SAN

Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM

Posts: 3,215

Quote:

Originally Posted by pregabalin

My reservations are always being split from people I travel with (auto split). I have them check in with me and if the issue of a baggage fee arises I just add their bag to my reservation because 1K gets three bags and I usually only have one.

I ensure their reservation is handled first at check-in