Last edit by: WineCountryUA
previous thread UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Experiences [Archive]
Related thread: Economy Plus Essentials and Economy Plus Enhanced Q&A [CONSOLIDATED]
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Economy Plus Subscriptions -- Q&A, issues, ....
Economy Plus price - Is it Fixed or is the Pricing Dynamic?
UA Premier Silvers have free access to E- at check-in for themselves and 1 companion
UA Premier Gold have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and 1 companion
Related thread: Economy Plus Essentials and Economy Plus Enhanced Q&A [CONSOLIDATED]
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Economy Plus Subscriptions -- Q&A, issues, ....
Economy Plus price - Is it Fixed or is the Pricing Dynamic?
UA Premier Silvers have free access to E- at check-in for themselves and 1 companion
UA Premier Gold have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and 1 companion
o If Silvers or Golds have more than one companion on their PNR, they will need to call to get their allowed access or split their PNR
UA Premier Platinum, 1Ks and GS have free access to E+ at booking for themselves and up to 8 companion
If the companions are off-PNR, it will require a call. Additionally, you will need to watch the companions' setas because they may be moved to E- on schedule/aircraft changes.
If the companions are off-PNR, it will require a call. Additionally, you will need to watch the companions' setas because they may be moved to E- on schedule/aircraft changes.
UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Worth It?/Experiences [Consolidated]
#46
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
Gold can book E+ Seats at no charge - what's the policy?
Hi all-
I just booked a flight for 4, from DEN to BKK connecting at NRT. Normally when I book through United.com I can get seats in E+ without charge. I think at Gold, I can put one companion into e+, too. But on this reservation, it asked for a fee to grab any E+ seats.
Anyone know what, exactly, the policy is there?
I just booked a flight for 4, from DEN to BKK connecting at NRT. Normally when I book through United.com I can get seats in E+ without charge. I think at Gold, I can put one companion into e+, too. But on this reservation, it asked for a fee to grab any E+ seats.
Anyone know what, exactly, the policy is there?
Last edited by PaxALotl; May 10, 2018 at 11:32 pm Reason: error
#49
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Continental OnePass
Posts: 856
Yeah, my guess is that the IT isn't smart enough to see a reservation for 4 and realize that a gold member can choose E+ for themselves plus 1 of the others, it probably just sees 4 > 2 thus no free E+.
#50
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
I always try to avoid splitting when I've got the whole family, though. Some odd things have happened ,for example on we had IRROPS and half of us got rebooked on a different flight. Stuff like that.
For this one, I think I might pick up the phone and break out my best please and thank you!
For this one, I think I might pick up the phone and break out my best please and thank you!
#51
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I always try to avoid splitting when I've got the whole family, though. Some odd things have happened ,for example on we had IRROPS and half of us got rebooked on a different flight. Stuff like that.
For this one, I think I might pick up the phone and break out my best please and thank you!
For this one, I think I might pick up the phone and break out my best please and thank you!
For IRROPS also, it's easier to accommodate groups of 2 instead of a group of 4. And with one adult in each group, you should be fine.
#52
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
Your best bet is to split the reservation in 2: you with one kid, your spouse with one kid. Then you can decide if you want to pay to get Economy + seats for the two in the other reservation.
For IRROPS also, it's easier to accommodate groups of 2 instead of a group of 4. And with one adult in each group, you should be fine.
For IRROPS also, it's easier to accommodate groups of 2 instead of a group of 4. And with one adult in each group, you should be fine.
#53
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,298
No, you don't have to split the reservation. It will let you select E+ seats for free for two of the travelers and then puts the $ amount for the remaining ones. It takes a bit of clicking if you want to pick exactly which of the travelers get the E+ seats. My strategy in these cases is to grab the aisle and window and hopefully the middle will stay open so one of us could move in at 24h (I'm Silver, my spouse is Gold) or be able to switch with somebody. And same reservation or separate, a phone agent can always put the correct number of companions into E+.
#54
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
That's a good point. But with 2 passengers on the one Gold reservation, that's 4 pieces of luggage up to 70 lbs. If the 2 kids are of the young kind, it's a lot of pain to deal with 8 pieces + the carry-on cabin luggage.
The main issue is still the potential IRROPS. If it's just that one flight, it should be less problem fitting a family of 4 on another flight. If it's a system meltdown with hundred of flights cancelled, then it may take days to fit a family of 4 in the same flight.
The main issue is still the potential IRROPS. If it's just that one flight, it should be less problem fitting a family of 4 on another flight. If it's a system meltdown with hundred of flights cancelled, then it may take days to fit a family of 4 in the same flight.
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,421
OP: Are you platinum or gold? Your original post asks about the platinum allowance in the title and the gold allowance in the body. As you can see, it makes a difference. If you're platinum, you may be running into a glitch that happens sometimes when E+ eligible travelers are listed as having to pay. That can happen sometimes if the flight is very far in the future, as well as at other random times that nobody seems to be able to define, and it will sometimes clear up on its own but can definitely be taken care of with a phone call.
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,421
In that case, the advice from others should carry, including the possibility of calling to request assignments if the app and website aren't cooperating.
#58
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
Your best bet is to split the reservation in 2: you with one kid, your spouse with one kid. Then you can decide if you want to pay to get Economy + seats for the two in the other reservation.
For IRROPS also, it's easier to accommodate groups of 2 instead of a group of 4. And with one adult in each group, you should be fine.
For IRROPS also, it's easier to accommodate groups of 2 instead of a group of 4. And with one adult in each group, you should be fine.
No, you don't have to split the reservation. It will let you select E+ seats for free for two of the travelers and then puts the $ amount for the remaining ones. It takes a bit of clicking if you want to pick exactly which of the travelers get the E+ seats. My strategy in these cases is to grab the aisle and window and hopefully the middle will stay open so one of us could move in at 24h (I'm Silver, my spouse is Gold) or be able to switch with somebody. And same reservation or separate, a phone agent can always put the correct number of companions into E+.
I called UA and told them the situation, and they sorted it out for me so we have 2 in e+ and two not. But, it looks like my wife will make Silver in the next month or so and I should be able to call back in and grab two more e+ seats at that time.
Evidently this is a known issue on the website, not because it's a 4-pax reservation but because there is some oddity in the NRT connections or ANA codeshares thats screws up the system. Or so said the rep.
#59
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: WAS/TYO
Programs: AA PPro, TP Gold, UA Silver, Bonvoy/Hilton Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 296
On another trip, on a NH stock ticket booked via a third-party website, ANA's system automatically checked me in for an ANA flight, and the following UA flight before the T-24 hour window for the latter (I was still Silver); the NH website couldn't handle changing my seat into E+, and the UA website couldn't touch the reservation either.
Fortunately there was a 5 minute window once I landed at my connection airport until the T-1 hour window for the UA flight, when I was finally able to quickly change my assignment on the UA app.
#60
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,665
Hi all - family emergency and had to purchase a last minute set of 4 tickets RT ATL to SIN via the LAX -> SIN flight. It's L class revenue. Due to last minute purchase (departure 6/6) we have some terrible seats. Last row, and 2 kids separated from parents, kind of challenging for a 17h55m flight. Mobile app shows $189 apiece to upgrade just the LAX -> SIN leg to E+ and for the leg back too.
Is this a reasonable price, or should we wait a bit closer to departure? FWIW Polaris is $2600 ea ouch!
Is this a reasonable price, or should we wait a bit closer to departure? FWIW Polaris is $2600 ea ouch!