I posted earlier about trying to get 3 J tix to India in December. Well I finally scored (and weakened), ending up spending 270K miles.

The current routing is AA metal SJC-ORD-LHR and BA LHR-BOM. Arrival at LHR is 0635, departure is 1030. I'm hoping this will be enough time to make the connection, and I also wanted to check out the Concorde Room in Heathrow T5 (or is there another lounge that is better?).

We have 2 tickets in First all the way. The only way I could get the third ticket on the same flights was to accept a "voluntary downgrade" on the ORD LHR leg. I was told that I could keep checking until departure to see if inventory is available for awards (mileagesaver).

My questions:
a) does any one have prior experience with a "voluntary downgrade"?
b) what are the chances of this getting upgraded before flight time? I don't have much hope that AA will magically upgrade me so I guess I will have to keep calling or looking up ORD-LHR C milesaver inventory. Any other ways to do this?
c) If I don't get a confirmed C seat before flight time, where do I fall in the upgrade priority list? I am a lowly Gold, so will EXP/Plats outrank me on the upgrade list? (Even though my award is a FC award??)
d) If all else fails, will AA let me swap seats with the 9 year old, so I can sit in front? Given current security concerns, they probably won't?


I've been hoarding these miles for almost a decade