Kacee

Yes, they use exactly the same "on the reservation" language. And don't worry, they'll tighten it up when they cut the benefit

JDS747

It's not the same at all... As I already stated up-thread. How it's worded on the E+ benefit could easily mean; do you get 8 companions or 1, and do you get to move them up at time of booking or T-24? It could also just mean that if you have a 1K AND a GM on one PNR then you get the 1K benefits instead of no benefits like a GM, or any other combination of elites/GMs/elites on a PNR. No where does it say "companions must be traveling on the same reservation to receive the complimentary E+ benefit."

If they are going to change it then yes they would need to tighten up the wording to make it the same as the companion upgrade wording. That is very clear and can't really be construed any other way.

flyingnosh

Lots of disagreement about #3 on this board. All I can say is this. I travel with someone who is not on the same PNR several times per year. I always put myself into an E+ seat that has an empty seat next to it. Then I call UA and have them move the other person into the empty seat. Never a problem at all.

If by any chance you are eligible for a CPU, put yourself in the middle seat. Otherwise, you might find yourself stuck in a middle seat while your wife sits up front.

Baze

I see you have your priorities straight

milypan

Wait, what? You're saying that - absent the language "Complimentary Economy Plus access is determined by the highest Premier status of the travelers on the reservation" - you'd think that if a Kettle is traveling with a Silver, the Silver could get the Kettle a free E+ seat prior to T-24, even though she herself needs to wait until T-24 to get her own free E+ seat. How would that make any sense at all?

To me it is unambiguous that they are saying both travelers need to be on the same PNR. Otherwise, if the Kettle is on a separate reservation, his E+ access is "determined by the highest Premier status of the travelers on the reservation,", i.e., him. Thus he does not have free access.

Yes, I know that agents will frequently waive this policy over the phone, but that doesn't mean the policy doesn't exist.

manoaflyer

I was able to get good seats with no baggage fee for my family members while flying on my miles (not accompanying me). It seems on 4/15/2015, United put a stop to it (saying they cannot get free baggage or economy plus seats unless I travel with them). It is getting harder to get good deals these days. Since I travel with paid thickets and the family members travel on miles, how can we be both in the same reservation?

Second, I cancelled an award ticket and redeposited the miles at the United Web site (without calling 1K desk). I was charged $200/passenger for the deposit fee. I had to call the desk to receive credit. Is this a new bug in the web page or this is done intentionally so that folks must call 1K desk?

phospho

bug in page - they knew about it when I called... I didn't bother paying the fee - just had them cancel it and refund/redeposit everything.

emcampbe

To be on the same reservation, or PNR, you need to change the way you book. You can only do this if you are all in the same fare class - you need to be on the same exact flights, fare class (I.e. All tickets will cost the same), in the same cabin, etc. This is how airline ticketing works pretty much with any carrier. And you can't add an additional passenger to that reservation, even if all those requirements are met, after the ticket is issued.

If you want to be on the same PNR, the only way is to book everyone together at the same time, either all paid, or all award.

qisu

A paid ticket and an award ticket cannot be on the same PNR. To get your elite perks, you and your family do not need to be on the same PNR, you and your family member just need to be booked on the same flight.

To get your family member into economy plus for free, you need to call in and ask the phone agent to move your family member who is on the same flight as you. To get free checked luggage, you need to check in with them. To get priority boarding, just have them board with you in group 1 and tell the gate agent scanning boarding passes that you are traveling together.

Kacee

Generally correct, but note that companions are technically not entitled to free baggage unless they are on the same PNR:

Customers traveling with MileagePlus Premier members or dependents traveling with active U.S. military personnel will have the same exemption as the customer whose status provides for the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.

Checked Bags

EliteNewbie

Has United upgraded their system to allow an award and revenue ticket (1 pass, 2 legs, 2 methods of payment) on the same itin?

WineCountryUA

nope -- not sure I am aware of anyone that allows mixing paid tickets with award tickets on the same PNR in any form.
An award ticket with mixture miles + cash has been an option in the past.

EliteNewbie

shucks, ok thanks

Asiatraveler15

Probably a very stupid question (would not be the first time) but what is the advantage of them officially offering this?

magemarq

Convenience. Not exactly same scenario but I just booked 2 hotel rooms on hilton, one purchase and one with points. If United were generous they would allow a round trip purchase with one way being miles and the other way being purchase but charging half the round trip fare instead of the one way fare which is usually higher.