Hmm. This is the part of your story that is new to PMUA. Who was on a PMUA PNR was set at booking, everyone had to have the same flights for the entire itinerary and the same method of payment. Once the tickets were bought, there was no way to change who was on a PNR. Hence, when I hear that my companion needs to be on my PNR, this tells me that my companion can't get E+ in any of the following circumstances:

1. I am on a work paid ticket and companion is on a personally paid ticket. (Separate credit cards->separate PNRs)
2. I am on a work paid ticket and companion is on a miles ticket (Separate forms of payment->separate PNRs)
3. I am on a W fare for possible use of my last SWU and companion is on an S fare (separate fare codes->separate PNRs)
4. I am on a roundtrip flight with departing Sunday and companion is on a roundtrip flight departing Wednesday to meet up with me after my meeting; on the Saturday return flight on which my companion is my companion... (Separate itineraries->separate PNRs)

If it is possible in SHARES to take such separately booked tickets and put then on the same PNR for E+ benefit purposes, that would reduce (but not eliminate) the impact of this devaluation.