Originally Posted by
tomtaylor23
I'm a PP and my companion just got Gold and we are both flying on the same PNR. I know that companions without elite status can get upgrades if I have 500 mile stickers. But if the companion has status and is traveling within the same PNR, do they get my upgrade priority? If so, do I need stickers for their upgrade?
Yes, but you need to be careful how you do it... see below.
Originally Posted by
355F1
They are supposed to inherit your status. But you have to do it manually once you get to the airport.
Stickers can be pulled from either account and you’ll have problems checking in if you don’t have enough in YOURS.
AA is the only airline that can’t figure out how to automatically have someone inherit your status.
The biggest issue when you both have status, as noted in the quoted post, is that there is a real risk (and near certainty once you're on the airport list) that the companion will be listed with their own status.
The best (and really only) way around this that I've found is to
avoid putting the companion's AAdvantage number in the reservation when you book. It will show that you'll have to use 500 mile upgrades, but you can just ignore that for the purposes of the upgrade request itself.
Your companion will inherit your priority and, if you clear before checking in, you can just add the companion's number in once you're both upgraded, and you won't have to use any stickers. If you're not upgraded by check-in time, you'll want to enter the companion's number to avoid having to purchase 500 mile upgrades, and then an agent can re-link you on the list at the airport.