Originally Posted by
KARFA
I think firstly stuff may need to be clarified a bit when it comes to Household Accounts, F&F lists, and Travel Companion lists. They are three distinct things.
HHA
This is where you join up members of the same household in order to pool avios, this isn't what the OP is talking about. I assume the OP isn't in a HHA, but if they are it would be useful to know.
F&F list
Everyone has this although for some they may never have added anyone, it is a list of up to 5 people. If nominating someone for a partner card they need to me one of the people in your F&F list, Also if you have a HHA one of the restrictions is you can only book reward flights for someone either in your HHA or in your F&F list, if you are not in a HHA you can book reward flights for anyone - they do not have to be in your F&F list or even your Travel Companions list, you can book for whoever you want.
Unless something changes when you reach Gold or GGL, I think you're wrong to say F&F lists are for everyone. AFAIK as I know you only have one if you're in a HHA, so the OP does seem to be in an HHA and that is part of their problem (and potentially the answer).
My mum's account for example is not in a HHA and her F&F pages says:
You cannot create a Family and Friends list yet
First of all you will need to create a Household Account and then you can create a Family and Friends list.