It's interesting how several people have tried to define which types of companions are acceptable (spouses, friends) and which types are not acceptable (co-workers). This change does nothing to impact the type of companions - it simply take the reservation agent out of the process. If you're on the same PNR, you get upgraded...if not, you don't. This is all about keeping the process automated and keeping folks from calling into reservations.

There are many reasons why people who are traveling together aren't on the same PNR (using an E-TUV, for example), as well as agents who don't know how to use "Name Select" when ticketing a PNR, and the web site doesn't allow multiple forms of payment. It's unfortunate this change was instituted without notice to those customers who are impacted by it. I would encourage folks to write in if they are unhappy with the change, I did.