Premier benefits for companions on separate tickets, " off-pnr " [Consolidated]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Wayne, NJ USA
Programs: UA Million Miler, Lifetime United Club member
Posts: 2,174
Premier benefits for companions on separate tickets, " off-pnr " [Consolidated]
So as Gold I have my flight booked and now my son can join me. Is there a way to book him on the same flight and combine PNR's so he gets the E+ benefit flying with me?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,271
How to add my son to my existing EWR-MCO reservation to get E+?
Nope; however, if you use your miles to book his flight, he can get free E+ and other Gold perks.
#3
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
#5
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 707
#7
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 6
Premier benefits for companions on separate tickets, " off-pnr " [Consoldiated]
Hey Guys,
Thought I would ask the forum about an infuriating situation I had last week. I was traveling to SLC with my fiancee. Due to work reasons, I booked her ticket first, and mine the next day after I confirmed with my work when I would be flying to the client location. She was booked under my account, but since the itinerary wasn't with me, she wasn't assigned Premier Access.
Once I noticed this, I called up United, and the agent was able to move her seats into Economy Plus with me. I was told she should be able to check bags for free, but that would be taken care of at the airport.
So a few days later, I got to the airport, checked my bags (with an Airserv rep - didnt notice he wasnt United), and then was told to talk to Customer Service about my fiancees bags. They were rude, unhelpful, and acted like I was trying to scam the airline (their tone made it sound like I stealing money from them personally). I told the Customer Service Rep that she was traveling with me on the same flight (and standing right next to me), and we have traveled with free bags several times. The rep claimed that I was a liar, and she has been doing that 25 years and never heard of such a thing. I dont want to go into all the details, but suffice it to say, the agents were very rude and unhelpful. Through all of this, I was very polite, realizing yelling at them wont get my way.
I called United, tried to have them combine itineraries, they said they did, and it should be fine. Apparently they only added a note that we were traveling, which was not good enough for the agent. At this point, 45 mins of back and forth between the airport folks, and United call center had passed, and I was about to be late for my flight. I paid the fee, and just decided if I was in the right, I could just file a chargeback.
So who was right here? Do the Customer Service Agents have the ability to override the itinerary when we are clearly together? Or am I wrong for not having the tickets combined to begin with? I guess I normally would let this go, but the experience was so bad (I was told that as a gold member, I should "know better" and something about a PNR (I have no idea what she was talking about)), and the agents were so rude. I got the impression that I somehow personally offended them, and that they were just refusing to help me in any way, despite their ability to do so.
Thought I would ask the forum about an infuriating situation I had last week. I was traveling to SLC with my fiancee. Due to work reasons, I booked her ticket first, and mine the next day after I confirmed with my work when I would be flying to the client location. She was booked under my account, but since the itinerary wasn't with me, she wasn't assigned Premier Access.
Once I noticed this, I called up United, and the agent was able to move her seats into Economy Plus with me. I was told she should be able to check bags for free, but that would be taken care of at the airport.
So a few days later, I got to the airport, checked my bags (with an Airserv rep - didnt notice he wasnt United), and then was told to talk to Customer Service about my fiancees bags. They were rude, unhelpful, and acted like I was trying to scam the airline (their tone made it sound like I stealing money from them personally). I told the Customer Service Rep that she was traveling with me on the same flight (and standing right next to me), and we have traveled with free bags several times. The rep claimed that I was a liar, and she has been doing that 25 years and never heard of such a thing. I dont want to go into all the details, but suffice it to say, the agents were very rude and unhelpful. Through all of this, I was very polite, realizing yelling at them wont get my way.
I called United, tried to have them combine itineraries, they said they did, and it should be fine. Apparently they only added a note that we were traveling, which was not good enough for the agent. At this point, 45 mins of back and forth between the airport folks, and United call center had passed, and I was about to be late for my flight. I paid the fee, and just decided if I was in the right, I could just file a chargeback.
So who was right here? Do the Customer Service Agents have the ability to override the itinerary when we are clearly together? Or am I wrong for not having the tickets combined to begin with? I guess I normally would let this go, but the experience was so bad (I was told that as a gold member, I should "know better" and something about a PNR (I have no idea what she was talking about)), and the agents were so rude. I got the impression that I somehow personally offended them, and that they were just refusing to help me in any way, despite their ability to do so.
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,293
It's the separate reservations (two PNRs) that hosed you as you technically need to be on the same reservation (one PNR), but I've always had UA employees kind enough to override it. Sounds like a double whammy of this problem combined with the Airserv factor.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hertz 5*, Emerald Executive, SPG Gold
Posts: 288
1) There is no way to combine PNRs - when you booked your tickets separately, you got 2 different 6 character codes that reference the 2 separate itineraries, and no agent can combine them. The only thing they can do is put a note in the itinerary that says you're traveling together with your fiancee.
2) Strictly speaking, your fiancee was not entitled to free baggage according to: http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/trav...geChecked.aspx
Having said that, it's possible that a friendly/accommodating agent would have allowed your fiancee's bags for free, and it certainly doesn't excuse any rudeness from agents.
2) Strictly speaking, your fiancee was not entitled to free baggage according to: http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/trav...geChecked.aspx
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.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Dayton
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, National Emerald Exec
Posts: 240
If you had purchased her ticket with miles from your account you would have been golden as she would have inherited all your benefits regardless (however this is going away this year..) Purchasing a ticket with real dollars for someone else under your account is pretty much meaningless unless you are also on the same PNR.
Strictly speaking the agent was correct and your wife was not entitled to the baggage allowance. In actuality I don't think the phone agent needed to place your wife in E+ for free either so I think you got a favor in that regard. All that said I would think the agent should just make this work for you, however I suspect the initial dealings with Airserv shot you in the foot to start with. I probably would not pursue a refund here since it wasn't a benefit you were actually entitled to, but you could certainly provide feedback about how you were treated during the situation.
Did you have 3 bags? If not why not just put her bag(s) under your name?
Strictly speaking the agent was correct and your wife was not entitled to the baggage allowance. In actuality I don't think the phone agent needed to place your wife in E+ for free either so I think you got a favor in that regard. All that said I would think the agent should just make this work for you, however I suspect the initial dealings with Airserv shot you in the foot to start with. I probably would not pursue a refund here since it wasn't a benefit you were actually entitled to, but you could certainly provide feedback about how you were treated during the situation.
Did you have 3 bags? If not why not just put her bag(s) under your name?
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Hey Guys,
Thought I would ask the forum about an infuriating situation I had last week. I was traveling to SLC with my fiancee. Due to work reasons, I booked her ticket first, and mine the next day after I confirmed with my work when I would be flying to the client location. She was booked under my account, but since the itinerary wasn't with me, she wasn't assigned Premier Access.
Once I noticed this, I called up United, and the agent was able to move her seats into Economy Plus with me. I was told she should be able to check bags for free, but that would be taken care of at the airport.
So a few days later, I got to the airport, checked my bags (with an Airserv rep - didnt notice he wasnt United), and then was told to talk to Customer Service about my fiancees bags. They were rude, unhelpful, and acted like I was trying to scam the airline (their tone made it sound like I stealing money from them personally). I told the Customer Service Rep that she was traveling with me on the same flight (and standing right next to me), and we have traveled with free bags several times. The rep claimed that I was a liar, and she has been doing that 25 years and never heard of such a thing. I dont want to go into all the details, but suffice it to say, the agents were very rude and unhelpful. Through all of this, I was very polite, realizing yelling at them wont get my way.
I called United, tried to have them combine itineraries, they said they did, and it should be fine. Apparently they only added a note that we were traveling, which was not good enough for the agent. At this point, 45 mins of back and forth between the airport folks, and United call center had passed, and I was about to be late for my flight. I paid the fee, and just decided if I was in the right, I could just file a chargeback.
So who was right here? Do the Customer Service Agents have the ability to override the itinerary when we are clearly together? Or am I wrong for not having the tickets combined to begin with? I guess I normally would let this go, but the experience was so bad (I was told that as a gold member, I should "know better" and something about a PNR (I have no idea what she was talking about)), and the agents were so rude. I got the impression that I somehow personally offended them, and that they were just refusing to help me in any way, despite their ability to do so.
Thought I would ask the forum about an infuriating situation I had last week. I was traveling to SLC with my fiancee. Due to work reasons, I booked her ticket first, and mine the next day after I confirmed with my work when I would be flying to the client location. She was booked under my account, but since the itinerary wasn't with me, she wasn't assigned Premier Access.
Once I noticed this, I called up United, and the agent was able to move her seats into Economy Plus with me. I was told she should be able to check bags for free, but that would be taken care of at the airport.
So a few days later, I got to the airport, checked my bags (with an Airserv rep - didnt notice he wasnt United), and then was told to talk to Customer Service about my fiancees bags. They were rude, unhelpful, and acted like I was trying to scam the airline (their tone made it sound like I stealing money from them personally). I told the Customer Service Rep that she was traveling with me on the same flight (and standing right next to me), and we have traveled with free bags several times. The rep claimed that I was a liar, and she has been doing that 25 years and never heard of such a thing. I dont want to go into all the details, but suffice it to say, the agents were very rude and unhelpful. Through all of this, I was very polite, realizing yelling at them wont get my way.
I called United, tried to have them combine itineraries, they said they did, and it should be fine. Apparently they only added a note that we were traveling, which was not good enough for the agent. At this point, 45 mins of back and forth between the airport folks, and United call center had passed, and I was about to be late for my flight. I paid the fee, and just decided if I was in the right, I could just file a chargeback.
So who was right here? Do the Customer Service Agents have the ability to override the itinerary when we are clearly together? Or am I wrong for not having the tickets combined to begin with? I guess I normally would let this go, but the experience was so bad (I was told that as a gold member, I should "know better" and something about a PNR (I have no idea what she was talking about)), and the agents were so rude. I got the impression that I somehow personally offended them, and that they were just refusing to help me in any way, despite their ability to do so.
If the airline allowed what you tried to do then there would be a flood of people trying to connect with 1K passengers and pretending they are together in order to avoid the baggage cost (just like the UC entrance situtation; you'll see a whole thread about that).
You weren't on the PNR so no reason to believe that you were travelling together. Maybe your fiancee is quite nice looking and they thought you were making play for her by sponsoring her baggage.
Bottom line, you made a mistake and now you know better in the future. The rep was right in that she knows that your fiancee doesn't get free bags when she's not on your PNR. You may have been right that she got free bags before, but she would have been on the same PNR.
As an aside, telling a customer service rep "I do this all the time, you don't know what you're talking about" doesn't improve your chances of getting them to help you. Particularly when you were the one who was mistaken.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Northern VA
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 63
This is a huge frustration for me, going forward. I fly 150K/yr, and if I book my wife with me on miles, she won't be able to check even one bag or get into E+. Basically, UA doesn't care if their customers fly a lot until they fly 1MM.
#14
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: 66,783
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,125
No problem with E+ (they've always allowed companions on another PNR), and unless you're already checking three bags yourself, the bags aren't an issue either.