During Spring or Fall Double EQM season, fly extra, un-needed domestic transcon, cheap flights to earn the other 30,000+ miles (at around 2 cents per mile). This would get you to 100,000 miles on AA, and then you would earn 8 one-way system-wide upgrades, and you likely could use them. Until you get to 100,000 miles, you would either have to hope for exit rows or pay the obscene co-pay to upgrade (plus the miles). Or fly in coach.

I've never been able to use my Delta system-wide upgrades internationally. I don't know enough about CO internationally - only domestically.

Or just stay in Economy plus.