Knocked Off Upgrade Due To Companion upgrade
#1
Original Member
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Syracuse, NY
Programs: 1k UA, UA MM, AA EXPlat
Posts: 635
Knocked Off Upgrade Due To Companion upgrade
When I saw the new policy to upgrade a companion, I wondered how this would work. Today, I was #2 on psp-dfw. The person in front had another companion at #14. #1 was called, list reshuffled and now am #3 and no upgrade. 👎
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 10,226
I'm guessing #1's companion also had status (but lower) and the GA just fixed it so that the companion leveraged #1's status. Nothing wrong with that. Unless you set it up properly beforehand a lower status companion will be split on the waitlist even on the same PNR. As someone that frequently travels with lower status companions I've been through that many times.
But again this has nothing to do with the new changes of no longer needing stickers.
#3
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Soon to be Lightfoot-less!
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Dia, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Dia, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 9,868
That's how it is supposed to work under the new system. Companion gets the sponsor's status for day of departure upgrades.
Seems like shenanigans when you can see the order, but the agent actually did this correctly.
Seems like shenanigans when you can see the order, but the agent actually did this correctly.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 34,087
That's how it worked under the old system as well.
#5
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,457
I am EXP and traveling (award ticket if that matters) with a companion in late May; we're on the same PNR. Will he get upgraded along with me? Although I guess I should call and tell AA that I'll take one F seat if only one is available.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hawaii & Texas
Programs: AA ExPlat / LT Plat / 3MM, Delta Plat, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,095
Note: I was incorrect on my above answer, on an upcoming award ticket, the two of us were both upgraded and I'm EXP and my spouse is PPro.
Last edited by EXPLAT; Apr 8, 22 at 9:51 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: DCA
Programs: American AAdvantage EXP, World of Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Rewards Titanium, MGM Rewards Gold
Posts: 396
#11
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Hawaii & Texas
Programs: AA ExPlat / LT Plat / 3MM, Delta Plat, Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,095
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 26,119
Be glad that loophole hasn’t been closed…I *think* Delta requires companions to be SkyMiles members (with # in rez) to be eligible for upgrades.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,702
Interesting. So it is different than Alaska where you and companion have to both get upgraded as a group, or get skipped. AA upgrades individually.
Got upgraded before boarding, and then companion got upgraded after boarding. Only realized that (cause nobody on the plane realized companion got upgraded) because FA was trying to sort out seat situation for companion, checked app and it showed companion's seat had changed (funny how AA shows a seat in "Main Cabin Extra" as a special thing, and then when you move to first it shows "standard" seat). FA up front was talking to GA to sort it out, they realized only one person's tablet had the correct updated seats (I showed them my companion's upgraded seat on my app, as my companion doesn't use the app), FA was saying they could ask someone who was in the bathroom to change seats so the current person wouldn't have to move (more seat changes than just my companion) and GA commented that wouldn't be fair, as he had paid extra for Main Cabin Extra (I'm guessing FA up-front doesn't think the first few rows of economy are anything special).
Got upgraded before boarding, and then companion got upgraded after boarding. Only realized that (cause nobody on the plane realized companion got upgraded) because FA was trying to sort out seat situation for companion, checked app and it showed companion's seat had changed (funny how AA shows a seat in "Main Cabin Extra" as a special thing, and then when you move to first it shows "standard" seat). FA up front was talking to GA to sort it out, they realized only one person's tablet had the correct updated seats (I showed them my companion's upgraded seat on my app, as my companion doesn't use the app), FA was saying they could ask someone who was in the bathroom to change seats so the current person wouldn't have to move (more seat changes than just my companion) and GA commented that wouldn't be fair, as he had paid extra for Main Cabin Extra (I'm guessing FA up-front doesn't think the first few rows of economy are anything special).
#14
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,775
The difference is that AA will automatically split your PNR at some point (when it goes to gate control, I believe) and AS will only split if you request it. So you can still be skipped by AA during the upgrade window (before it auto-splits) if you have a companion, and only one seat is opened. This would be less obvious to you since you can't see the list so you won't actually know for sure that someone below you on the list got upgraded.
Which method is "better" is debatable. As I'm sure you know, there is a huge thread on the AS forum complaining about being skipped due to companions. And there is a huge thread here complaining about the unintended consequences of auto-splitting. There is no perfect solution here.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,702
Not quite. The PNR has to be split in order to upgrade you individially. That's true on both AA and AS (passengers in the same PNR must be in the same class of service)
The difference is that AA will automatically split your PNR at some point (when it goes to gate control, I believe) and AS will only split if you request it. So you can still be skipped by AA during the upgrade window (before it auto-splits) if you have a companion, and only one seat is opened. This would be less obvious to you since you can't see the list so you won't actually know for sure that someone below you on the list got upgraded.
Which method is "better" is debatable. As I'm sure you know, there is a huge thread on the AS forum complaining about being skipped due to companions. And there is a huge thread here complaining about the unintended consequences of auto-splitting. There is no perfect solution here.
The difference is that AA will automatically split your PNR at some point (when it goes to gate control, I believe) and AS will only split if you request it. So you can still be skipped by AA during the upgrade window (before it auto-splits) if you have a companion, and only one seat is opened. This would be less obvious to you since you can't see the list so you won't actually know for sure that someone below you on the list got upgraded.
Which method is "better" is debatable. As I'm sure you know, there is a huge thread on the AS forum complaining about being skipped due to companions. And there is a huge thread here complaining about the unintended consequences of auto-splitting. There is no perfect solution here.