I didn't explain it well, I meant that if the wife were a Basic member, and SE is using a cert to upgrade the wife, the wife gets no priority at all. In previous years the companion got SE priority in this case, since it was the SE exercising his status benefits.

What makes it particularly ridiculous this year it's happened at the same time as making certs non-transferrable. I wouldn't support it in the first place, but it's crazy to say the very frequent flying SE, presumably generating lots of revenue, has to split up from his/her spouse on the occasional trip together (by "has to" I mean the spouse gets no priority and thus little likelihood of an upgrade). It's an SE's benefit and should be given SE priority.

=aw