Thank you for this clear explanation. We do not have any status (first time traveling UA in decades!!!). I assume we won't clear then and will prepare ourselves to be in E+ for the return flight. I'm grateful that at least we cleared for business on the way there!

Just wanted to update that we DID clear the waitlist at about 27 hours beforehand. However, there is only ONE seat in Business so only DH has a confirmed seat number. We have subsequently lost our E+ seats, but in another thread I started, other users said we should get confirmed seats once the gate agents upgrade others to F. We will go early to the gate and I am keeping my fingers crossed that they can manage to find 2 seats together (so my kids sit together) or we can convince other passengers to switch seats so my kids aren't next to strangers.

To split or not to split?
 

There are 4 of us on a 4 leg trip. Two are gold and the two kids are GM. Our flight on Easter (leg #2 ) is empty. It shows R8 and the map has 10 F seats available. Right now there are only 6 people in E+ (and we are 4 of them). Do I need to split the PNR into 2 PNR's, one gold and one GM each? If I dont clear at 48hr's and ask to be split, do the 2 children get prioritized as Gold, or as a GM? Does this have any downside to the return legs?

Thanks
Ploo

I've applied two RPUs to an upcoming trip with Mrs. Wombat. We are travelling on the same PNR and Mrs. Wombat doesn't have UA Status. Our preference is for both of us to be upgraded or neither of us rather than for just one of us to be upgraded. Is it simply a matter of declining any offers to split our PNR or do we need to be more proactive?

Just leave it the way it is. You will either both clear the upgrade on your status, or not clear at all.

I'm not sure what happens at checkin. The system might split automatically.

Correct, just don't split the PNR. You may need to proactively un-check some boxes when checking in online.

I've got 3 RPU's applied to SFO-HNL on 7/19. I'm 1K, wife/son are GM. Right now, flight is showing F6. It's ok if only some of us get upgraded. If I understand the process, better to split the PNR now, correct? Or should I wait until checkin?

If partial upgrading is acceptable, splitting now is best.

It will create a small issue if bag waiver is needed, bt that can be resolved at checkin.
Additionally on the return the non-status passagner will not be eligible for CPU. And you will need to make sure all stay in E+ if a schedule change happens.

Thanks!! One more question - since the upgrade is via Instrument/RPU (ie NOT CPU), does wife/son inherit my 1K priority after we split the PNR? Or will their priority revert back to GM (ie after all other 1K/Platinum/Gold/Silver have upgraded via instruments)?

As for bag waiver, that's NA, since we're carryon only. And for return, that's also NA, since we're returning via different route/airline. The only concern is if a schedule change occurs, since aircraft is coming from EWR on 7/18.

They would keep your status priority after the split for this RPU.

This is sort of a question I had.

For a flight last month, UA revenue management had apparently been on holiday over the weekend and never bothered to update a Monday night flight ex-BOM.

The next day (Tuesday night) with the same biz buckets and seatmap was showing R9.

However, I ended up being split from my daughter (under age 15) and she was never upgraded until T-4 hours, but luckily got an upgrade at the last minute.

Now, on our return sector, we are all waitlisted.

Flight is in mid-August and there are apparently many seats free at this time.

UA never bothers to upgrade on the EWR-BOM-EWR sectors in advance for some reason - maybe only 3-4 days befor the flight.

Although the pax inherits the status of the 1K GPU holder - how would she fare as a UA*S, when still separated from me as a 1K, also WL'd with a GPU? (She was originally on the same PNR, now has another)

Pretty awful if it's EWR-BOM or vice-versa. But perhaps it's a slow time of year.

Note that it's not always 100% she inherits the 1K "prioritization" when the PNR splits. It should and does often, but also that prioritization fails other times.

Hi All,
I've done my research and I think I understand what I need to do for an upcoming trip EWR-HKG-SIN but I'd appreciate the guru's blessing my plan! Right now I booked a ticket for myself and work companion on a single PNR. I'd like to apply GPUs for both of us. I don't mind if only I clear (I'd probably give it to him). I think I should split the PNR to have a better chance of at least 1 upgrade being processed. I then understand that he *should* retain my 1K status after being split out, correct?

For my understanding a few questions:

1. If R1 opens anytime between now and my trip, would the system automatically skip over me and my companion if we stay on the same PNR and go to the next single reservation in the queue?
2. Should I apply the GPU before splitting or after? Does it matter?

Thanks so much!

Yes. This is the disadvantage of a multiple passenger PNR.

You should apply the GPU first. This makes the system more likely to correctly maintain your companion's priority after splitting.

So we cleared the upgrade LAX-LHR this Sunday. We go on from LHR to JNB. When we check in at LAX, will the system automatically split our PNRs? Will that affect our SA records at all?

We have already been upgraded on the return LHR-LAX, if it makes a difference.