Aug 23, 2018, 8:41 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
The elite benefit to guesting companions into E+ is clear IF on the same PNR
Silver - 1 companion at check-in
Gold - 1 companion at booking
Plat/1K/GS -- up to 8 companions at booking
What is the story if the companion(s) are not on the same PNR, so-called "off-PNR"?
There is no known published policy for this. It was there for pmUA but it disappeared after the merge and there were rumors it was gone.
Since then, elites have generally been able to get the same equivalent benefit even if the companions are not on the same PNR.
There are a few general requirements
-- The elite and companions need to on the same flight (this is essentially an absolute)
-- The elite and companions need to be in the same cabin at the time of the request (there has been some reported wiggly room on this but best to assume it is a hard requirement)
------ in the distant past, at one time, pmUA required the elite to be seated adjacent to the companions, that requirement disappeared years before the merger.
-- If a seat sweep occurs (due to an aircraft change and in some cases a schedule change) the companions may lose their E+ seats -- but the elite can call and get them re-assigned
Occasionally, an agent will claim this is not policy. Don't push it, as there is no written policy, but HUCA
Related threads Economy Plus for Companions: Now must be on same PNR -while this was first reported after the merger and turned out not to be true, it was likely pmCO agents or confusion do the lack of a published policy
Silver - 1 companion at check-in
Gold - 1 companion at booking
Plat/1K/GS -- up to 8 companions at booking
What is the story if the companion(s) are not on the same PNR, so-called "off-PNR"?
There is no known published policy for this. It was there for pmUA but it disappeared after the merge and there were rumors it was gone.
Since then, elites have generally been able to get the same equivalent benefit even if the companions are not on the same PNR.
There are a few general requirements
-- The elite and companions need to on the same flight (this is essentially an absolute)
-- The elite and companions need to be in the same cabin at the time of the request (there has been some reported wiggly room on this but best to assume it is a hard requirement)
------ in the distant past, at one time, pmUA required the elite to be seated adjacent to the companions, that requirement disappeared years before the merger.
-- If a seat sweep occurs (due to an aircraft change and in some cases a schedule change) the companions may lose their E+ seats -- but the elite can call and get them re-assigned
Occasionally, an agent will claim this is not policy. Don't push it, as there is no written policy, but HUCA
Related threads Economy Plus for Companions: Now must be on same PNR -while this was first reported after the merger and turned out not to be true, it was likely pmCO agents or confusion do the lack of a published policy
Economy Plus for Companions if on separate PNR [Consolidated]
Mar 28, 2019, 12:34 pm
#91
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Mar 28, 2019, 12:44 pm
#92
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
You are 1K, correct? If so, fare *price* doesn't matter, as long as the same fare CLASS is available. For example, if you're in a G fare, and there's a G fare on the new flight before 2:10, then you can switch to that flight for free. Or, maybe I'm missing something and not understanding your question...
Mar 28, 2019, 1:02 pm
#93
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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In a quick survey, most alternatives on Friday are sold out in economy or all zeros for fare classes below H, probably best to get on the phone and hopefully an agent can find somthing. Ultimate getting to the 2:0 Friday non-stop looks challenging as it is H1 and then all zeros.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 28, 2019 at 1:09 pm
Apr 5, 2019, 4:36 pm
#94
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: LEX..err formerly DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 7
Is there a United rule defining "companion" for E+ purposes?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
Apr 5, 2019, 4:39 pm
#95
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: United Premier Plat
Posts: 36
HUACA
Is there a United rule defining "companion" for E+ purposes?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
Apr 8, 2019, 11:11 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
Is there a United rule defining "companion" for E+ purposes?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
Today I called the premier line to move my colleague into E+, who is on the same itinerary, but different PNR, as I am. The agent lectured me telling me that companions must be family members, not friends or colleagues. The agent made the change, but made a big deal about waiving the E+ fee "just this one time" and that as a Platinum I "should know better" and should only call in to move family members into E+.
I think the agent was totally mistaken, perhaps from the Continental-side and is somehow...it's 2019 now...still unfamiliar how the companion rule works.
Anyone else get push back from phone agents when moving people into E+, but not sitting next to them?
restriction on who your companion for upgrading to E+ must be. The agent should know better.
Apr 8, 2019, 11:17 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
Can you so this at check-in or is it better to call in? I ask as I have a companion travelling on different PNR but same flights. I applied an RPU for them so I suspect they will be upgraded as I normally get a CPU for the flight and would rather just ask at the airport.
Apr 8, 2019, 3:32 pm
#98
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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You can do this any time you are eligible for E+ access on the same flight. At purchase, before travel, at the airport.
You will need to talk to an agent to do this and if done early, you may need to check from time to time if there has been a seating sweep and the non-elite was pushed back to E-.
The later you wait may limit access to "better" seats.
You will need to talk to an agent to do this and if done early, you may need to check from time to time if there has been a seating sweep and the non-elite was pushed back to E-.
The later you wait may limit access to "better" seats.
Sep 11, 2019, 5:59 pm
#100
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Dec 8, 2019, 3:20 pm
#101
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
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Posts: 17,399
Just to make sure - I'm planning to call in at T-24 to change both my and my companion (on a different PNR) to E+. 2 flights, both flying & connecting together.
do we
a) both need to be checked in first to be able to assign E+ or can we check in later?
b) can we change seats for both flights on our itinerary at T-24 or do we have to call again once our second, connecting flight reaches T-24? I'm hoping to just call in once to assign all 4 seats for the 2 flights.
EDIT: Only UA Silver atm hence the check-in for E+ restriction.
do we
a) both need to be checked in first to be able to assign E+ or can we check in later?
b) can we change seats for both flights on our itinerary at T-24 or do we have to call again once our second, connecting flight reaches T-24? I'm hoping to just call in once to assign all 4 seats for the 2 flights.
EDIT: Only UA Silver atm hence the check-in for E+ restriction.
Last edited by Smiley90; Dec 8, 2019 at 5:35 pm
Dec 9, 2019, 1:31 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,399
Just to make sure - I'm planning to call in at T-24 to change both my and my companion (on a different PNR) to E+. 2 flights, both flying & connecting together.
do we
a) both need to be checked in first to be able to assign E+ or can we check in later?
b) can we change seats for both flights on our itinerary at T-24 or do we have to call again once our second, connecting flight reaches T-24? I'm hoping to just call in once to assign all 4 seats for the 2 flights.
EDIT: Only UA Silver atm hence the check-in for E+ restriction.
do we
a) both need to be checked in first to be able to assign E+ or can we check in later?
b) can we change seats for both flights on our itinerary at T-24 or do we have to call again once our second, connecting flight reaches T-24? I'm hoping to just call in once to assign all 4 seats for the 2 flights.
EDIT: Only UA Silver atm hence the check-in for E+ restriction.
A) No we didn't need to be checked in
B) could assign seats for the second flight even though it was >T-24
However the agent said she was making "an exception" and that UA doesn't provide free E+ for companions on separate PNRs. Not sure how accurate that was but ALAS.
Aug 8, 2022, 4:47 pm
#104
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 66,855
Do watch the seat assignment because this is not a hard assignment and during aircraft changes an off-pnr companion can be moved back to regular economy.