I called to link with a PLT for upgrade. During the process, the agent asked, "If only 1 upgrade is available, would you like to split up and process the upgrade?" I said sure.

My upgrade cleared within the PLT window. The PLT did not clear. I waited for about an hour and called in. When the agent pulled up the reservation, she said the PLT had been upgraded. I thanked her and went back to check and sure enough the other upgrade had processed.

I do not have any stickers in my account. When I go to check in (I have another segment before the segment together with the upgrade on the PNR), I was able to check in. So could the PLT.

Question, whose account are the stickers coming out of? I remember from an earlier incident that if we link together, the stickers will come out of my account unless we go to the airport as ask for it. It actually did not let us check in. Now, since we are able to check in, is it safe to say that stickers are coming out of the PLT account? Slightly confused because the system let us both check in, when it should not since I dont have any in my account.

UPDATE: We both checked in fine at our different originating airport. At ORD, no problems boarding the flight. So, stickers did come out of the PLT account.

NEW UPDATE (1/8): The rules have now changed, and linked elites will have stickers taken out of individual accounts automatically. This includes both elites on the same PNR and ones on different PNRs linked together. Not sure when exactly the change happened, but seems like its been in effect for a couple of months or so.