I'm getting married on September 9. We were going to wait until the summer of 2001 to officially tie the knot because I'd already blown all of my vacation for this year on a long-planned trip to China and we wanted to plan a nice honeymoon, but...the date was open at the place we wanted to get married, I figured it would be cool to be a bride in 2000 and we both felt fine with postponing our honeymoon to next February.

Before I got engaged in March, I'd already committed to speaking at an industry conference in Chicago that runs from Sept 10-12, which means that that's where my betrothed and I will be spending our first post-nuptials week. I bought my UA ticket through my corporate travel agency, and bought his at a UA airport counter (because I'm not allowed to book any personal travel -- his or mine -- through our corporate agency without major paperwork/set of higher-level approval signatures).

Tonight I called United to request that they assign him a seat next to mine in the Premier Zone for our flight from PDX to ORD on Sept 11. (Since 1993, I've had PremEx or better status on UA.) I explained that I knew this wasn't standard policy, since we're traveling on different records, but that agents had bent this particular set of rules for me before, and anyway, we will be newly wed! The agent put me on hold for a few minutes while she checked to see if this could be done after warning me that "they are getting very strict about these things recently." Turns out THEY WON'T DO IT!!! They'll be happy to seat us together in the back of the plane, but they will not open up a seat next to me in the exit or bulkhead rows (where my 6'6" fiance is most comfortable). I'll bet that trying to upgrade him using my 500 mile upgrades certs is out of the question, too, but I didn't bother asking. Funny thing is, if I had booked his travel as an award ticket (vs. a revenue ticket), they would have happily opened up a Premier Zone seat next to me to accomodate him. Go figure. I deliberately go out of my way to fly United to get to my job in the Silicon Valley (via SFO) every week, and this is the thanks I get! I plan to try my plea again tomorrow with a different, hopefully more understanding cast of characters at the Premier desk. Any other suggestions for me out there?

Never call the Premier desk for anything, and try not to call the 1K desk for anything. Call the PremEx desk, which has the most knowledgeable staff; and if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

I second violist. Try again with the 1P desk. If that doesn't work call the regular number. If that doesn't work call 1P again..............until you get what you want. It's a hassle but at the end of the day it's worth it.

There's no reason they shouldn't do what you want. Keep calling back.

LOL. UA's phone service is the worst of any airline. After my experience yesterday, I have decided I will never call to ask for anything, because it is just a waste of time.

Everytime I call, it turns into an argument, even when I am following rules to the letter, because the agents either have bad information in their computer or are poorly trained. Have found airport staff to be MUCH more helpful!

Hmmm, UA has always been very good at tying two records together so my travelling partner and I could be in the P zone together. In fact,recently we were travelling most of the way together except for the final leg. UA had no seats to give him for that leg. I said to UA, "He already feels like a second class citizen with UA as he has no status. This will only further those sentiments if he can't get a seat."

UA then bent the rules and found a seat. I truly appreciated it, because they did not have to do it at all.

I am surprised if you are both on the same flights both over and back (it seems so from what you say) that the two seperate re-locs can't be then linked under "comments".

On that basis, I'd be surprised if your firned is not then deemed as a passenger travelling WITH you, and so qualify for use of the 500 mile certs?

Technically should both be on same pnr, but with your corporate restriction, surely this kinda thing happens a lot?

ORRRRRRRRRRR ... as per another thread, the Premier Zone seats seem "up for grabs" more often than not.

YOU simply insist on seat next to you being " Premier blocked" and simply have your husband move up after take off! If you both have SAME surname at time of flights, (?) you really should have no problem when you check in BOTH getting Premier Zone or u/g.



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 07-27-2000).]

Your request is not unreasonable. The agent is correct that UA is getting very stringent on Premier Zone seats for passengers traveling on 2 separate records. With regards to exit row seats, really you can forget it. If they are not on the same PNR then they will not receive exit row seating prior to checkin.
With regard to the 500 mile certs: When a Premier level passenger is travelling with a non-Premier on a separate PNR, they can waitlist for the upgrade and if the upgrade clears, they are allowed to bring one non-Premier into the upgraded class of service with them ***as long as another upgrade seat is immediately available when the Premier calls in***. If one is not, then the Premier can actively waitlist their non Premier partner.
das- If you don't like then answer you get, hang up and call the 1P number again. usually, unless your request is absurd someone will eventualy see your point. If it turns into an argument the agent is likely going to document what you have been advised in your record and you have just worked against yourself. That's a whole other thread...

I am a loss - you know you are asking for the rules to be broken, they won't, so what is the problem? You already know the solution, go to the back of the plane with your partner.

I wanted to use my upgrade on CO, my girlfriend was with me and I wanted to upgrade her too. I knew before asking that it was not policy to transfer upgrade coupons. I asked, they said I could upgrade but she couldn't, so I went to the back with her. I don't think it hurts to ask, but to complain when someone won't break the rules? I think you should just accept it.

Aubie .. UACHRIS works for UA in res. I think he is just telling it like it is.

This is NOT breaking the rules. UA policy allows a guest travelling with a premeir to use those seats. When the pax have separate records, it is harder to do it, but it is not against policy.

zrs70 is correct: you (with status on UA) can upgrade ONE partner (and the same rules apply for your partner as for you).

Aubie: probably UA is different from CO on this. No breaking of any UA rules here.

Rudi and zrs70 are correct, provided that:

A. The seat being requested is not in an exit row (only available to 1P and companion booked on same PNR).

***and/or***

B. The companion is not travelling on a free (Mileage Plus Purchased) ticket.

UAChris (or anyone who knows!) - are exits only pre-allocateable to 1P and above? I had a feeling all Premiers could ask for that?

Exit Rows and all United Shuttle pre-assign: Premier Executive and 1K only.