Originally Posted by
ESpen36
The agent was correct. If you are using miles from an EXP account, but an EXP member is not traveling on the same PNR, then the phone/airport ticketing fees apply. It has always been that way, at least since I became EXP. I often use my miles for family members, and I'm always charged the ticketing fee if I'm not traveling with them.
This policy has been slightly amended in the last year or so. At the time of booking, if the EXP and the companion share at least one segment on their individual itineraries, there is no phone ticketing fee.
In this scenario, it also does not matter if one passenger is on an award travel and the other is on a paid fare. Sharing a segment is all that is required to avoid the phone ticketing fee for the non-elite.