Separate bookings, I got upgraded, want to sit together - What should I have done?
May 18, 2022, 10:46 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,290
Commonly called “gardening” or “garden” (a reservation), check on it periodically to learn of any changes and/or problems and address those issues ASAP. For travel months ahead of time once or twice a month is sufficient, travel 2-3 weeks in the future once or twice a week, few days ahead of time every day. Certainly the day after purchase, the day after making any changes, and the day prior. Directly from the airline operating the flight, not the codeshare airline or OTA or Chase/AmEx travel. Gardening is more important for more significant flights, a JFK-HKG (once a day flight) reservation should be gardened more carefully than an LGA-ORD (hourly flights) reservation.
(Might require some work to find the operating airlines PNR/confirmation code but well worth it. For example, reservation months from now using Delta DL miles for travel on Virgin Atlantic VS. DL PNR readily available on DL website and DL confirmation email. Called DL to learn VS code, told we don’t have it. Called VS with date and flight #, voilà: VS PNR obtained which enables gardening the reservation on the VS website.)
May 18, 2022, 11:02 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
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Posts: 11,236
As a side note, I notice from the original post that the passenger with status was in 5A and the non-status companion was in 5B. Never do this. If you are in a situation where there's a chance that one of you gets upgraded and one doesn't, always put the higher-status passenger in the worse seat (5B, a middle, in this case) and the lower status passenger in the better seat. That way if the higher-status passenger gets upgraded, the lower-status passenger is left with the better seat. Of course if neither of you gets upgraded you can switch if it's preferable.
May 18, 2022, 11:29 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: American Life Time 2 Million Mile Platinum
Posts: 368
This just made a lightbulb go off for me. I just made a reservation for me (no status) and Gold husband. I got this unsolicited e-mail about upgrades (he's got a pile of unused 500 mile "stickers") - does this mean we are safe sitting together in Y, or is there still the possiblity that he might be upgraded and me not? I never clicked anything that would have requested an upgrade for him.
We’re unable to automatically request 500-mile upgrades because you’re traveling with someone not eligible for complimentary upgrades.
We’re unable to automatically request 500-mile upgrades because you’re traveling with someone not eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Despite asking that we only be upgraded or not upgraded together, I got upgraded to J and she was left in economy.
Lesson: Undo upgrades if you are not prepared for that to happen.
May 18, 2022, 1:00 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,219
Yes, this happened to my wife and I coming out of tokyo headed to ORD. I am Platinum, she has not status.
Despite asking that we only be upgraded or not upgraded together, I got upgraded to J and she was left in economy.
Lesson: Undo upgrades if you are not prepared for that to happen.
Despite asking that we only be upgraded or not upgraded together, I got upgraded to J and she was left in economy.
Lesson: Undo upgrades if you are not prepared for that to happen.
I really don't think he has much of a chance anyway, only being Gold. And I wouldn't even know what to "undo".
May 18, 2022, 1:08 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
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Posts: 35,385
Actually I think the relevant response is to realize that as non-EXP, the companion can't be upgraded on an award ticket (first answer!). So when calling to "link" the reservations and get MCE seats, also ask for your upgrade be un-requested. An upgrade can only be a hassle in this case (where sitting together is preferable to the upgrade).
As a side note, I notice from the original post that the passenger with status was in 5A and the non-status companion was in 5B. Never do this. If you are in a situation where there's a chance that one of you gets upgraded and one doesn't, always put the higher-status passenger in the worse seat (5B, a middle, in this case) and the lower status passenger in the better seat. That way if the higher-status passenger gets upgraded, the lower-status passenger is left with the better seat. Of course if neither of you gets upgraded you can switch if it's preferable.
As a side note, I notice from the original post that the passenger with status was in 5A and the non-status companion was in 5B. Never do this. If you are in a situation where there's a chance that one of you gets upgraded and one doesn't, always put the higher-status passenger in the worse seat (5B, a middle, in this case) and the lower status passenger in the better seat. That way if the higher-status passenger gets upgraded, the lower-status passenger is left with the better seat. Of course if neither of you gets upgraded you can switch if it's preferable.
May 18, 2022, 8:52 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM EXP, DL Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), Aeroplan 75K
Posts: 1,152
Curious though what you would’ve thought if it was the same situation but I had my boyfriend take the first class seat vs the person next to him?
Like bf is 5A, I’m 5B. Then I board and realize I’m now 4A. I totally understand what you said about being annoyed by how I handled it by basically giving the new 5B passenger my 4A seat that she didn’t pay for or get upgraded to when it should’ve gone to the next person in line on the upgrade list. But what if I had instead just given 4A to my boyfriend and I sat in his 5A seat? He’s only gold so didn’t earn that seat either.
This is exactly my strategy, and also having game plan for what happens if a gate upgrade goes through.
May 19, 2022, 3:42 am
#22
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Join Date: May 2004
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If you bf has staus, he is not going to get your upgrade status.
He could get your status for the upgrade if his FC number is not in the booking, but than you would have to have "stickers" in your acct for his upgrade.
He could get your status for the upgrade if his FC number is not in the booking, but than you would have to have "stickers" in your acct for his upgrade.
May 19, 2022, 6:39 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
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