QUOTE:... did you split the PNR very far in advance?......

Split about 10 days before the flight. Plat was assigned the new locater. I kept checking the seating for a "new" reservation to judge the chances of an upgrade and noticed Mrs. KenfromDE's coach seat next to mine was now empty. My son had the exact same thing happen on a flight with 2 separately made reservations about a month ago. The only common factor is we both have a K in our name and the Golds don't. LOL.

QUOTE.......I wonder if the person who is taken off of the original PNR and given a new one does not automatically get the original time/date stamp...........

Even if the purchase time/date were changed, how would that explain a Gold trumping a Platinum?