I had read in another thread that if a 1K purchases tickets for himself and a companion with no status, and applies PlusPoints to both persons, that if the ticket is ultimately split even before check in, that the companion without status keeps the 1k status with plus points applied. I am guessing this is beneficial for International flights where if PZ1 keeps opening up months in advance one at a time it doesn't skip two people together at the top of the list.