Sounds like BA staffers making it up...unless the Gold is on the same booking, or a separate but linked booking on the same flight, there is no transfer of benefits to other members of the HouseHold Account...

as a Gold, you can book award space in the "extra" availability classes and also on "double Avios" Gold Priority basis for anyone you like, but they have to be on you HHA members or "friends" if you are part of a HHA - I have done this many times - but still no extra benefits transfer unless I travel