Improving upgrade odds for couples
Jul 27, 2025 | 8:28 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EXP; Avis PC; Hertz PC; Marriott LT Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,269
That is exactly what is happening. You can call in and split the PNR into two then link the two PNRs for the upgrade (there may be a way to note the split). I think that should work for the solo processing, but I haven’t done it in a while so I don’t recall if this approach will work.
Alternatively, split the PNR, don’t link off the bat and re-link after your upgrade presumably clears at the window.
Alternatively, split the PNR, don’t link off the bat and re-link after your upgrade presumably clears at the window.
Jul 27, 2025 | 9:03 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,806
Agreed. Heck, a couple months ago I even got a call from the gate agent on my cell phone when I was already boarded to ask.
Jul 27, 2025 | 9:16 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: AA EXP, National EE
Posts: 182
Yeah, same. I even had the GA come find me in my seat on the plane to see if one of us wanted the FC seat that became available (assuming due to a no-show).
Aug 11, 2025 | 4:02 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: AA ExP HH Diamond
Posts: 8
I just had this happen. Wife and I flying LAX-JFK-ATH on one ticket and daughter flying JFK-ATH on a different ticket. Wife and I on SWU, Daughter on mileages upgrade. I have EXPL, no one else has status. My daughter got upgraded and there was one SWU seat still showing available. AA said that the seats were released one at a time so my wife and I didn’t get the seats even though there were 2 seats available. I probably could have split us and given her one seat but I didn’t do that. Seems crappy that the person with no status gets the upgrade over someone with ExPl.
Aug 11, 2025 | 4:10 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,881
AA said that the seats were released one at a time so my wife and I didn’t get the seats even though there were 2 seats available. I probably could have split us and given her one seat but I didn’t do that. Seems crappy that the person with no status gets the upgrade over someone with ExPl.
Aug 11, 2025 | 4:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2025
Programs: AA ExP HH Diamond
Posts: 8
I don’t understand. How did I choose not to? If two seats were available, why did one go to my daughter and the other sat unclaimed instead of my wife and I both getting upgraded?
Aug 11, 2025 | 4:22 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Madison WI
Programs: AA EXP, LT Plt, 2.9MM, Lifetime AC, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Hertz Precs Crcl
Posts: 2,829
...AA said that the seats were released one at a time so my wife and I didn’t get the seats even though there were 2 seats available. I probably could have split us and given her one seat but I didn’t do that. Seems crappy that the person with no status gets the upgrade over someone with ExPl.
Aug 11, 2025 | 4:28 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,257
I get that you don’t like the outcome but it is the way it works, I never ever travel on the same pnr as my wife for this very reason,
Aug 11, 2025 | 5:45 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,881
If you had split the PNR, you'd both likely have been upgraded, albeit not at the same time.
Aug 11, 2025 | 6:41 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA 1MM CK, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador (RIP SPG), Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,664
This is how I view companion upgrades:
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
- Single PNR — two spaces in the upgrade inventory need to be open at ones to process. Even if there are many seats open in J, the “computer” may only release one at a time at the window (same with SWUs). This means that you will get skipped over.
- Separate PNRs, but linked together for upgrades — I believe that this avoids the inventory release issue and allows the companion to inherit status if they don’t have their status in the system, but folks can correct me if I am wrong.
- Separate PNRs unlinked — Complementary upgrade based on each person’s status. One “workaround” should approach #2 not avoid the inventory release issue is to link the PNRs after the higher-tier person clears to then ideally clear an upgrade for a companion.
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
Aug 11, 2025 | 8:36 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: Lost count
Posts: 248
This is how I view companion upgrades:
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
- Single PNR — two spaces in the upgrade inventory need to be open at ones to process. Even if there are many seats open in J, the “computer” may only release one at a time at the window (same with SWUs). This means that you will get skipped over.
- Separate PNRs, but linked together for upgrades — I believe that this avoids the inventory release issue and allows the companion to inherit status if they don’t have their status in the system, but folks can correct me if I am wrong.
- Separate PNRs unlinked — Complementary upgrade based on each person’s status. One “workaround” should approach #2 not avoid the inventory release issue is to link the PNRs after the higher-tier person clears to then ideally clear an upgrade for a companion.
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
Aug 11, 2025 | 9:36 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: NYC
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,542
This is how I view companion upgrades:
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
- Single PNR — two spaces in the upgrade inventory need to be open at ones to process. Even if there are many seats open in J, the “computer” may only release one at a time at the window (same with SWUs). This means that you will get skipped over.
- Separate PNRs, but linked together for upgrades — I believe that this avoids the inventory release issue and allows the companion to inherit status if they don’t have their status in the system, but folks can correct me if I am wrong.
- Separate PNRs unlinked — Complementary upgrade based on each person’s status. One “workaround” should approach #2 not avoid the inventory release issue is to link the PNRs after the higher-tier person clears to then ideally clear an upgrade for a companion.
Please feel free to correct me if any of this is off base. I’ve learned the hard way with getting skipped over so now my wife and I split PNRs off the bat if we are going the upgrade route and cross-reference for IROPS etc.
Aug 12, 2025 | 9:48 am
#30
Join Date: Aug 2022
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 43
SWU Advice
Traveling to HND from LAX on 9/10 (the 115am flight) using SWUs and confirmed on the initial legs, but waitlisted on the LAX to HND leg. My question is that there are two people on the PNR, with me being Exec Plat and my wife no status, is there any reason to split the PNR for better odds of the SWU's clearing? Thanks