Originally Posted by
NickDakota
I’m quite late to the party, but while searching for details around splitting a PNR I came across this thread and was shocked (Shocked, I tell you!!) to see that no one called this comment out as incorrect.
It’s my understanding that medallion status is determined by the highest level on PNR’s of two or less people, but on three or more, the status is determined by the LOWEST status holder…
In this case, isn’t the OP trying to split off because they know that they’ll be dragged down by the lowest status carrier in the group and they’re trying to avoid that specifically?
I’m booking reward flights for my family of three and I typically book myself, my wife, and my under 16 son with points, then split out my son and I (I’m diamond), and keep my wife, whom I gift gold, on her own. In a pinch, they can “steal” my seat if only my boy and I get the upgrade (I’m an old fashioned chivalrous gentleman… lol) and I can take her seat in main.
Am I making a mistake?
Yes, you are somewhat confusing different benefits. It's only complementary upgrades (to Comfort+ and FC) that are restricted to a single companion (and where you need to split the PNR so that each Medallion only has a single companion on same PNR). For other benefits like checked luggage, priority check-in/TSA screening line access, boarding priority, and comp access to Preferred/Exit row seats, the benefits are extended to all companions on the same PNR as the Medallion even if there is more than one. These are the shared benefits the poster you were replying to was referring to.