Originally Posted by AvidFlyer1990

AFAIK, if you (a medallion member) is not on the reservation, your family (immediate or extended) will not be able to take advantage of your PM benefits (even if the miles are used from your account). The only way pax, who are non-medallions, can enjoy medallion benefits is if a medallion is on the same reservation.

Another way is, suppose you book yourself on a separate PNR (presumably to have a better shot at UGs) and your family on a different PNR (but exact same itinerary, same flights, etc.), you can call the PM desk, and ask them to have the two PNRs tied together, so that the non-medallions can select C+ at the time of booking. But, you have to call for that. However, in the two scenarios that I mentioned, you have to be travelling.

I might be wrong, but DL never had the 'grand-fathered' status (is that what it's called?), where, your status is inherited by the pax (for the itinerary), for whom you use your miles! UA had that, they don't anymore!!

FT'ers with more experience can chime in!