Jan 23, 2016, 6:13 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Companion upgrade issues
For general questions about 500 mile upgrades and upgrade protocols, please see this thread:Sticker / 500-mile Electronic Upgrades Protocols (as of 2009, consolidated)
For specific questions about the new upgrade priority and policy, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Upgrade Priority Change to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Began 20 May 2017
Upgrade priority is now based on Status held first, then by rolling Elite Qualifying Dollar spend over the last 365 days within upgrade types; see below for new upgrade priority listing and companion policies.
As of May 20 2017 upgrade prioritization is:
Elite status
WAIT LIST, SAME PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list
WAIT LIST, SEPARATE PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list
AIRPORT LIST, SAME PNR:
AIRPORT LIST, SEPARATE PNR:
Splitting and "Linking" of PNRs
Splitting PNRs: If two people on one PNR request an upgrade, they will not get upgraded (even if they hold higher priority than others on the upgrade list) unless two or more seats become available. Some choose to split their PNR at the airport so the first available single seat will go to one of them. But please note the Companion retains the "borrowed" status only on 500 mile upgrades and the newly split PNRs must be "linked".
Linking PNRs: PNRs can not be recombined nor actually strictly linked as we usually think of it. The "linking" is actually a "TCP note" ("To Complete Party" note) placed as an annotation in the OSI (Other Supplemental Information) field to each PNR. For the note to be useful, an agent must open the PNR and read it.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html.
hillrider Googled and found some public info at http://hualin58.blogspot.com/2011/05...ay-delete.html
Older posts relating to policies in effect prior to 20 May 2017 may be read here: ARCHIVE: Companion upgrade issues including "link" / split PNR, etc. (<20 May 2017)
Updated 9 June 2017 by JDiver
For general questions about 500 mile upgrades and upgrade protocols, please see this thread:Sticker / 500-mile Electronic Upgrades Protocols (as of 2009, consolidated)
For specific questions about the new upgrade priority and policy, see Upgrade Priority Changes to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Spend May 20 2017
Upgrade Priority Change to Status, Rolling 365 Day EQD Began 20 May 2017
Upgrade priority is now based on Status held first, then by rolling Elite Qualifying Dollar spend over the last 365 days within upgrade types; see below for new upgrade priority listing and companion policies.
As of May 20 2017 upgrade prioritization is:
Elite status
- Concierge Key
- Executive Platinum
- Platinum Pro
- Platinum
- Gold
- Miles and copay award upgrades and systemwide upgrades (SWU)
- Business Extra and some other instruments
- 500 mile upgrades on purchased tickets
- 500 mile upgrades on upgrade eligible awards)
- Booking class
- Time of request"
- Through passengers no longer receive priority over originating passengers
WAIT LIST, SAME PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status, but breaks at airport; must be re-established.
- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status. (BX is unsure, stated as least of priorities, likely to up D-24 only)
- Award travel (only available on 500 mile upgrade flights): lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
WAIT LIST, SEPARATE PNR: Prior to upgrade request going to airport list
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger DOES NOT "borrow" higher status under any circumstance
- Award travel (only available on 500 mile upgrade flights): lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
AIRPORT LIST, SAME PNR:
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status. (BX is unsure, but is least of priorities, likely to up D-24 only)
- Award travel (only available on 500 mile upgrade flights): lower status passenger "borrows" higher status
AIRPORT LIST, SEPARATE PNR:
- 500 mile / UDU: lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked" by edit
- SWU, Miles & Copay, Business Extra: lower status passenger DOES NOT "borrow" higher status under any circumstance
- Award travel (only available on 500 mile upgrade flights): lower status passenger "borrows" higher status IF PNRs "linked"
- Traveling companion 500 mile upgrades (even for those pax using UDU) "stickers" must pull from higher status passenger's account. 500 mile upgrades are not needed for those with AAdvantage status if the segment to be upgraded is under 500 miles in distance.
- Lower status passenger previously "borrowing" higher status may require human processing at the airport to re-establish "borrowed status" linkage
Splitting and "Linking" of PNRs
Splitting PNRs: If two people on one PNR request an upgrade, they will not get upgraded (even if they hold higher priority than others on the upgrade list) unless two or more seats become available. Some choose to split their PNR at the airport so the first available single seat will go to one of them. But please note the Companion retains the "borrowed" status only on 500 mile upgrades and the newly split PNRs must be "linked".
Linking PNRs: PNRs can not be recombined nor actually strictly linked as we usually think of it. The "linking" is actually a "TCP note" ("To Complete Party" note) placed as an annotation in the OSI (Other Supplemental Information) field to each PNR. For the note to be useful, an agent must open the PNR and read it.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html.
hillrider Googled and found some public info at http://hualin58.blogspot.com/2011/05...ay-delete.html
Companions summary: ONE passenger traveling with you can “borrow” your status for upgrade purposes. They do not have to be on the same PNR. When this is done, you’ll not be upgraded unless sufficient upgrade seats become available to upgrade two (or more) people. This link often is broken when the flight control goes to the airport, and it can be reestablished there (e.g. at the gate). A good clue that the link has broken is if you’re #1 or 2 and your companion is significantly below that on the upgrade list, such as #11. Finally, because of IT flaws, the 500 mile upgrades for your traveling companion will by necessity come from your account, even if your companion has their own “stickers”.
Older posts relating to policies in effect prior to 20 May 2017 may be read here: ARCHIVE: Companion upgrade issues including "link" / split PNR, etc. (<20 May 2017)
Updated 9 June 2017 by JDiver
Companion upgrade issues including "link" / split PNR for status etc. (master thread)
May 16, 2023, 2:47 pm
#241
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fresno, CA
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 304
May 16, 2023, 9:37 pm
#242
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA, WN
Posts: 153
Are you suggesting we can get comp upgrade separately without splitting PNR?
Thanks for the information!
Jul 17, 2023, 8:05 pm
#243
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New York
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 262
Does anyone know if you can still "link" (TCP note) two separate PNRs on the same flight if one of them was purchased with cash and one with miles? Has anyone managed to successfully do that?
Jul 17, 2023, 8:17 pm
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
Jul 19, 2023, 1:16 am
#245
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: AA EXP, National Exec
Posts: 86
EXP and companion were upgraded at T-100 for their first flight. The second flight looks like there is only 1-2 seats available.
Is there any problem for the EXP to split the PNR without affecting the companion that has been upgraded for the first segment? The purpose would be for the EXP to have a better chance of gettign a single available seat available on teh second segment.
Baggage question:
EXP allowance is three 50 pound bags
First class allowance is two 70 pound bags
For an EXP who is upgraded to first is the allotment two 70 pound bags plus one 50 pound bag, or three 70 pound bags?
Is there any problem for the EXP to split the PNR without affecting the companion that has been upgraded for the first segment? The purpose would be for the EXP to have a better chance of gettign a single available seat available on teh second segment.
Baggage question:
EXP allowance is three 50 pound bags
First class allowance is two 70 pound bags
For an EXP who is upgraded to first is the allotment two 70 pound bags plus one 50 pound bag, or three 70 pound bags?
Last edited by Perdita; Jul 23, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Oct 14, 2023, 8:30 am
#246
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 369
I have an int'l reservation for me + 1 companion with SWUs requested; I'll likely need to cancel my flight/split the PNR, but my companion will not. If our SWUs clear before I split the PNR, would my companion retain their confirmed SWU?
Oct 14, 2023, 8:35 am
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
Feb 6, 2024, 12:46 am
#248
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,133
Linking PNRs for Upgrade Priority
I am EXP, niece is Gold.
We are meeting at LGA and traveling onward together.
All travel on separate PNRs.
Any possibility of linking PNRs so she can use my EXP status for upgrade priority?
We are meeting at LGA and traveling onward together.
All travel on separate PNRs.
Any possibility of linking PNRs so she can use my EXP status for upgrade priority?
Feb 6, 2024, 2:43 am
#249
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: PHL/LAX/MAD (for now)
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, AmEx Membership Rewards
Posts: 875
Yes, I've done this many times. Call in or message AA on Twitter and provide them with your PNRs and they'll be able to do it on the leg you are flying together.
Avoid the in-app chat to do this. They've screwed it up a few times for me, whereas Twitter and the phone agents have done a much better job.
Avoid the in-app chat to do this. They've screwed it up a few times for me, whereas Twitter and the phone agents have done a much better job.
Feb 25, 2024, 3:46 pm
#250
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: CA & Europe
Programs: AA Life-Plat 5MM, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, UA, BA
Posts: 738
Cannot see Complimentary upgrade-req for cross-ref
My wife and I have separate reservations for same domestic flight in Economy. I am Plat, she has no status.
I called AA to do a cross-ref, so I can get her an MCE seat.
The cross-ref was successful because I could get into her AA acct and select an MCE seat for free. Before it showed $ signs on MCE seats.
BUT I do not see for her a Complimentary Upgrade Req. I called AA and agent said: I see it, I do not know why you don't.
Any special tricks so I can also see it?
I called AA to do a cross-ref, so I can get her an MCE seat.
The cross-ref was successful because I could get into her AA acct and select an MCE seat for free. Before it showed $ signs on MCE seats.
BUT I do not see for her a Complimentary Upgrade Req. I called AA and agent said: I see it, I do not know why you don't.
Any special tricks so I can also see it?
Mar 4, 2024, 4:14 pm
#251
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SFO/DFW
Programs: AA-EP, A3*G, UA*S
Posts: 290
Me + companion travelling separate PNRs. Had Twitter agents link us with split. I cleared just now, but companion (no status) is still in Y -- as expected.
Does my status / priority still carry over to his upgrade position on the list? I.e. assuming I was the last to be upgraded by the auto-clear, is he next in line?
Does my status / priority still carry over to his upgrade position on the list? I.e. assuming I was the last to be upgraded by the auto-clear, is he next in line?