Premier benefits for companions on separate tickets, " off-pnr " [Consolidated]
Jul 7, 2023, 1:52 pm
#256
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: 66,857
So i switched my flight to a flight with a friend and his family so we have different pnrs. I am silver so i get to choose economy plus at check in. Via chat i tried to get them upgraded but agent wouldn't do it.
Called the premier hotline and they did it no questions asked other than their pnr and confirmation of their name and birthday for security reasons. Was really surprised they upgraded all 3 to e+
Called the premier hotline and they did it no questions asked other than their pnr and confirmation of their name and birthday for security reasons. Was really surprised they upgraded all 3 to e+
Note as a Silver, you can quest multiple passengers any time into the preferred seats.
Neither E+ or Preferred seats are considered an upgrade. The ticket is unchanged, it is the same cabin, same seat, same service levels and these are just seats with access fees for extra leg space.
Jul 7, 2023, 6:42 pm
#257
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: Chase and American Express
Posts: 260
As a Silver, you are only allowed to guest a single companion into E+. If you asked for multiple companions, the first agent was right and the second exceeded the policy. Don't expect that to happen again.
Note as a Silver, you can quest multiple passengers any time into the preferred seats.
Neither E+ or Preferred seats are considered an upgrade. The ticket is unchanged, it is the same cabin, same seat, same service levels and these are just seats with access fees for extra leg space.
Note as a Silver, you can quest multiple passengers any time into the preferred seats.
Neither E+ or Preferred seats are considered an upgrade. The ticket is unchanged, it is the same cabin, same seat, same service levels and these are just seats with access fees for extra leg space.
Might not be an official upgrade but its still better than nothing. Definitely a nice gesture after all the recent delayed flights they been making me sit through these past several months.
Aug 10, 2023, 9:37 am
#258
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK
Posts: 8
Status perks when travelling alongside someone on different PNR
Apologies if this has been asked before - if I have status with United and I'm travelling alongside my partner who's on a different PNR, can we still share the companion based benefits?
For example, priority check in, complimentary upgrades, access to economy plus etc?
We're on separate PNRs as we had an Amex offer when booking flights which made sense for us to book our individual tickets on our Amex's respectively.
For example, priority check in, complimentary upgrades, access to economy plus etc?
We're on separate PNRs as we had an Amex offer when booking flights which made sense for us to book our individual tickets on our Amex's respectively.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 10, 2023 at 11:23 am Reason: Moved to master thread on off-PNR benefits
Aug 10, 2023, 9:56 am
#259
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,551
Assuming partner has no UA status...
Priority check-in: yes
Complimentary upgrade: no
Access to Economy Plus: yes (must call or ask at check-in desk or gate)
Boarding: yes (just mention partner is traveling with you)
Priority check-in: yes
Complimentary upgrade: no
Access to Economy Plus: yes (must call or ask at check-in desk or gate)
Boarding: yes (just mention partner is traveling with you)
Aug 10, 2023, 11:24 am
#260
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: 66,857
From this thread's wiki summary
May be possible, ask at the airport / gate. But nowadays keep expectation low. But travel to/from some smaller outstations have a slim chance.
Originally Posted by wiki
These off-PNR benefits are limited to when you are also a traveler on the same flight/
An elite, if in E+ on the same flight, can guest a companion (a Plat & higher can do up to 8) into E+ for no extra fee, will require a phone call.
An elite, if in sitting in "preferred seats" on the same flight, can guest up to 8 companions into "preferred seats", for no extra fee, will require a phone call. Note this will not override Basic Economy restrictions.
The companion can accompany the elite thru check-in, security, and boarding.
If traveling international, one companion can accompany the Gold or higher elite to a lounge
On CPU flights, the elite can request a single off-PNR companion, on a paid ticket, to be added by the GA (only) to the gate list for upgrades (at elite's status) Not a formal policy but a practice some GAs will do - a carryover from pmCO days.
The things that will be, YMMV,
1) the check-in bag allowance. Sometimes the UA bag counter agent may extend the elite allowance, others per policy, will not. If originally on a common PNR, the policy allows extending the bag allowance, Check as many bags as allowed on the elite PNR.
2) Onboard, the food & beverage benefit for 1K/GSs is occasionally extended to the companion but this would not have been a benefit even on a common PNR.
An elite, if in E+ on the same flight, can guest a companion (a Plat & higher can do up to 8) into E+ for no extra fee, will require a phone call.
An elite, if in sitting in "preferred seats" on the same flight, can guest up to 8 companions into "preferred seats", for no extra fee, will require a phone call. Note this will not override Basic Economy restrictions.
The companion can accompany the elite thru check-in, security, and boarding.
If traveling international, one companion can accompany the Gold or higher elite to a lounge
On CPU flights, the elite can request a single off-PNR companion, on a paid ticket, to be added by the GA (only) to the gate list for upgrades (at elite's status) Not a formal policy but a practice some GAs will do - a carryover from pmCO days.
The things that will be, YMMV,
1) the check-in bag allowance. Sometimes the UA bag counter agent may extend the elite allowance, others per policy, will not. If originally on a common PNR, the policy allows extending the bag allowance, Check as many bags as allowed on the elite PNR.
2) Onboard, the food & beverage benefit for 1K/GSs is occasionally extended to the companion but this would not have been a benefit even on a common PNR.
Feb 11, 2024, 1:42 am
#262
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 151
Booking Strategy UA Gold & Silver
Hello all,
I am a United Airlines Gold Mileage Plus member but I will be traveling to Europe in April with a Silver member. I would like to have us both assigned Economy Plus seats at time of booking but the person I am traveling with will return 4 or 5 days later than me. So, should I book our flights together and get our Economy Plus seats together and then change his return to a different flight a few days later. My goal is to have our E+ seats together for the first flight when we travel together. I realize that he will have to wait until T-24 check-in to possibly get E+ seats for his return flight. I understand that a schedule change could mess this up, but we are looking at traveling in April which I am hoping that the schedule is fairly set.
Also, we would be trying to upgrade on the outbound flights to Europe, so I would hope that both of our upgrades would be processed with my status as a Gold member versus being on two different PNRs.
Thanks for your insights.
misterfuss
I am a United Airlines Gold Mileage Plus member but I will be traveling to Europe in April with a Silver member. I would like to have us both assigned Economy Plus seats at time of booking but the person I am traveling with will return 4 or 5 days later than me. So, should I book our flights together and get our Economy Plus seats together and then change his return to a different flight a few days later. My goal is to have our E+ seats together for the first flight when we travel together. I realize that he will have to wait until T-24 check-in to possibly get E+ seats for his return flight. I understand that a schedule change could mess this up, but we are looking at traveling in April which I am hoping that the schedule is fairly set.
Also, we would be trying to upgrade on the outbound flights to Europe, so I would hope that both of our upgrades would be processed with my status as a Gold member versus being on two different PNRs.
Thanks for your insights.
misterfuss
Last edited by misterfuss; Feb 11, 2024 at 1:54 am Reason: Added info re: upgrades on outbound flights.
Feb 11, 2024, 2:22 am
#263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
BTW — even if your upgrades fail to clear, note that you’ll both be able to use the United Club on your outbound flight, as he can enter as your guest.
Apr 7, 2024, 9:52 pm
#264
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 562
apparently a PCMS SSR is added for companions: "PCMS............** STATUS COMP **MP NUMBERFIRST LASTNAME" after check-in and still stays on after PNR split.
does this do anything at all? Companion's BP still shows their own status
does this do anything at all? Companion's BP still shows their own status
Apr 17, 2024, 6:04 am
#266
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Programs: SPG/Marriott Lifetime Gold, Amtrak Guest Rewards, UA Silver
Posts: 536
I am currently United Silver Premier. I am accompanying my partner (not a Premier member) to a conference in a few weeks; her company purchased United tickets for her and her co-workers (same record locator). I purchased my own ticket separately on the same itinerary. How might my partner and I link our reservations to possibly get an Economy Plus upgrade when I check-in? The flights are all domestic US.
Apr 17, 2024, 9:27 am
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I am currently United Silver Premier. I am accompanying my partner (not a Premier member) to a conference in a few weeks; her company purchased United tickets for her and her co-workers (same record locator). I purchased my own ticket separately on the same itinerary. How might my partner and I link our reservations to possibly get an Economy Plus upgrade when I check-in? The flights are all domestic US.