Originally Posted by
zorn
In addition to:
in fact, the status pax can stay in Y and use only one cert for the companion. There is no requirement for the status pax to sit up front.
The status pax could be on a non-upgradable fare or a Y award ticket. The only requirement is to be on the same flight.
If you are traveling as one status passenger and one companion, and only one ticket is upgradeable (i.e. common scenario of one reward ticket and one paid ticket), it's a good strategy to always put the upgradeable ticket in the status pax's name. This increases the odds of an upgrade and gives status miles to the person who needs them. This strategy also works well when you get one reward ticket via AE and one via an upgradeable reward program (such as DC).
When you get on the plane, just swap boarding passes. I've done this several times without issue - the FA shouldn't care as long as you don't try to "share" the J seat by switching mid-flight (that's neither permitted nor polite).
Also, if you booked using two different methods don't forget to call AC and get your companion's seat moved next to yours at the front of the plane before the upgrade gets processed. That way if your ticket gets upgraded and you give it to your companion, you won't be stuck in their non-status seat at the back of the back of the bus.