SNNtraveler

I'm EXP and normally travel alone for business. We're traveling with a group of 6 coming up soon. Should I book me and one other passenger in one Record Locator in hopes of my upgrade + companion upgrade? Or is it okay to book all 6 on one record locator? If all 6 are on one record locator, how does the system pick "who" gets the companion upgrade?

FlyFreakquently

Only one travel companion gets to inherit your EXP status. For a group of 6, you are best off adding one of your party to your reservation and trying to in-app upgrade the other four. Keep in mind, depending on the route you are flying, this could be a total waste of money. A 2 hour flight is being priced starting at $205, whereas a transcon flight is priced starting at $242.

SNNtraveler

Correct. I'm only looking for one companion to get on the upgrade list along with me. Not the rest of the travel party :-) So my question is, if there are 6 (including me) on a record locator, would it still put me+1 on the upgrade list?

JJeffrey

If you book everyone on the same PNR then upgrades will not be requested (not even for yourself) as the system doesn't know which companion to pick.

If you want to get on the upgrade list then the only option is to book you + 1 on one reservation, then book the other 4 on another reservation. The downside to this is that the others on the separate reservation will not receive your EXP baggage benefits, if that's of concern.

SNNtraveler

Thank you. This is the info I was looking for. Not worried about the baggage benefits, so I'll book me+1 on a ticket and the other 4 on another ticket.

JJeffrey

Yep, and once you book everyone just call AA and it's no problem to get the other 4 seated next to you in MCE/Preferred seats for no charge.

wrp96

You can still call though and get your 4 other companions assigned to Main Cabin Extra seating.

SNNtraveler

JJeffrey and wrp96 thanks for that tip. I'll still try to get them MCE by calling.

Mr. BoH

"No problem" is a bit strong - in my experience, it often takes several HUCAs

safari ari

I just use the app chat, easier to go about my business when doing this.

gosha83

Ahh! I didn't know that app chat was a thing on the AApp. Thank you!

JJeffrey

In 20+ years of doing this I've never had any problem getting no status companions seated next to me in MCE/Preferred seats. Never once had to HUCA for this type of request.

acedj1

I recently became Executive Platinum and since then normally get upgraded on domestic flights when there is availability (when flying alone and when traveling with my wife). I'm traveling in a few days with a party of six, and was surpirsed I'd not got an upgrade as I see there is availability. I called and found out it is because my party is too big. The agent told me if I separated myself and my wife from the reservation we would get the upgrade. But then I'd lose the perks for the other 4 members of our group (free checked bags, seat choice etc).

So is splitting the reservation the only way to get the upgrade? If I don't split it and there is still availability when I check in can the gate agent upgrade us due to my status?

dc10forlife

My understanding is yes, splitting is the only way. You could wait until you get to the gate to do it (and the gate agent will have to split the record, and at that point everyone has checked their bags for free), but if its a round trip you would lose the additional perks on the return.

If you have pre-selected seats, splitting should not affect that unless there is an equipment change.

Have you considered whether you could check some of your companion's bags as your own using your and your split record companion's baggage benefits?

lightbulbs

you can also book all six in one record, pick seats, then call and have the two passengers split off into a different record. You can also wait until upgrade window to split in case flight times change and you want to change flights or other weirdness happens.