Buddy Pass Rules
 

Is the buddy pass rule still in effect, the one in which you have to travel with your buddy from international destinations? I seem to recall an announcement rescinding that rule but not sure.

Thanks

Yes and no.

The rule is going to be recinded but has not been done yet.

The announcement said it would go into effect this summer. No exact date was given.

More importantly, only give buddy passes to people you do not really like very much. And make sure to use their credit card for payment. Lessons learned...

+1. I'd +2 it if that made sense. I have given away 2 buddy passes to a friend and her daughter and it was an absolute nightmare. I ended-up shelling out over a grand out of my own pocket to get them home just to have it over.

Technique. Do the second spouse thing, or whatever it's called. I registered my very independent and responsible adult nephew three years ago, got him his own logon, and he uses it and has never called me to help. The side benefit is that you lose all your buddy passes. "Sorry, don't have buddy passes anymore."

Where do you go to create a login for someone else to use the passes?

employeeRes, Quick Links, Employee Profile. Anybody you've registered will be listed. Just tap "activate" and it walks you through setting up a personalized logon ID and password for them, plus any alerts you want to get when they're using the system. It's actually very well designed. They can only make reservations for themselves, not you or any of your other pass riders.

Here's the guide,

https://employeerespss.coair.com/emp...iderAccess.pdf

A friend of mine and his wife are listed as a buddies. They are going to a wedding and wanted to try despite my repeated attempts to tell them it is not a good idea. I used their credit card to pay for it but I read something on the pass travel site where it may be considered imputed income and tax withholding can happen. Will that come out of my check or will they just bill my friends card? There are over 15 seats available today for his flight so I am not too concerned...

The imputed income tax does come out of your check.

New hire question: Is this how to get the in-laws into the air (I actually like them!) or is there a better way?

A great deal depends on how well they understand flying standby. My elderly in-laws tried it once and they didn't make it out the first day and went back home and then canceled the visit. Leaving the house to get groceries is a big deal to older folk, much less packing and driving an hour to the airport and then not flying.

I researched the change to international travel recently....got very vague answers...."sometime this summer".

Word of caution when "prepaying with a credit card": they are "stuck" with that routing. ie difficult to change which hub they traverse.

international buddy pass
 

I am scheduled to fly internationally on a buddy pass. My friends husband has worked for United for over 30 years. Is it true if anything happens where my friend can't go...I will still be able to travel without her?

This is a three year old thread.

For specifics on the current policy have your friends look up the rules on United's internal website. There are full details there.