Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Using AsiaMiles to upgrade AA domestic flights

Has anyone tried using Asia Miles to upgrade AA domestic flights? If so, how difficult/easy was it?

I hear that AA uses "A" and "D" class as opposed to "Z" and "U" class for mileage upgrades. Is this true?

I am asking because my AA/SAPPHIRE status is running out and will be dropped to AA/RUBY :-( and might have to make a dreaded domestic flight within the U.S. to go to a conference sometime this year. (FYI, thank god that I don't have to fly often for my job and I usually buy paid F ("A") when flying CX when going on my own trips)

I assume that my company's travel provider, AMEX, would be issuing the AA ticket on 001 (AA) ticket stock electronically. Will CX need it to be issued on 160 (CX) stock in order for it to be upgraded using Asia Miles?

since when could asia miles be used to upgrade AA flights on AA metal?

since when could asia miles be used to upgrade AA flights on AA metal?

I'm not sure since when, but the chart here says that they can... http://www.asiamiles.com/en/redeem/flights/charts/#2

But I'm afraid I don't know the answer to the question either - why not call AsiaMiles and ask them?

It's a huge waste of Asia Miles if you wanted to burn them on an AA domestic upgrade. You need 35000 Asia miles for a roundtrip upgrade on route between 1200 and 2500 miles. I believe it only costs 30000 AA miles for the same upgrade. Added to that disadvantage is the fact that 1 asia mile is worth more than 1 AAdvantage miles. You might as well use those Asia Miles for an ipod, a Peninusula candlelit dinner or an international upgrade on CX.

in fact...for AA domestic 2-class flights, from econ to first...how's it considered under the Asia Miles...is it considered "Econ to Business" or "Business to First" ? because...I think with an international business award with Asia Miles...you cannot take first class within US ? (i.e. they do consider that as "first" instead of in many other programs 2-class first are regarded as "business")...