Hi All

Had 3 very confusing conversations with completely different answers (HUCA burned me this time) and wanted to get some straight answers. I've also searched the forums and can't figure this out. Briefly:

I just made DM for the 3th year in a row and am unlikely to ever attain status again due to a major career change effective March 2015 (went from 80% travel to 0% travel). Between Jan-Dec 2015, My wife (currently no status, does not fly alone) and I are planning 1 international RT (LAX-JFK-CPH), 1 "domestic" trip (LAX-KOA or LAX-SEA-ANC), and I'll alone have 3 LAX-MSP RTs.

My primary objective is to maximize upgrade probability for both of us when flying together on the routes above using either my 4 GUCs for CPH or 4 RUCs for KOA/ANC. Thus, I'm leaning toward selecting the 4 GUCs + 25k SkyPesos for the DM gift, and then the 4 RUCs for the PM gift.

Stupid questions follow:

1. Should I be looking at gifting GM status to her instead? Since she doesn't travel alone I thought this would be a waste on the routes above but I think I don't understand whether or not my wife's (non) status plays any role at all in processing GUCs and/or RUCs or if my DM status is the only thing that matters when using an instrument (since she's my companion)? If we are on the same PNR I know I can give up on getting upgraded traveling together without using instruments...and splitting may ensure an upgrade for me but doesn't do anything for her.

2. I feel good about my chances for a complimentary upgrade on LAX-KOA as a DM. However, since I won't be going alone, what strategy should I employ to significantly increase the likelihood for her as well? This is probably coupled to the first question.

3. Provided we don't do any of these trips and I still have my GUCs or RUCs in Feb 2016 with no status at all can I still use them? Should I not expect them to clear given my then non-status or is this insignificant?

This may all just stem from the fact that I really don't understand where GUCs/RUCs sit on the priority list with a companion vs. without (and then also whether or not the companion has status).

Thanks for any help/insight...much appreciated and happy to answer further questions!

ab_initio