Originally Posted by
imagineertobe
I don't think that's what the OP was getting at.
From the
AA Gift Card T&C:
Gift Cards may not be used for products and/or services that are sold separately, such as upgrades; ... ticketing fees for transactions processed through American Airlines Reservations; taxes, fees or charges payable in connection with AAdvantageŽ award travel; ... or non-flight products and/or services sold by American Airlines.
I would reckon that the since the OP had applied SWUs to the itinerary, AA considered that it included such above-mentioned services (would there have been additional taxes too?), making the itinerary ineligible for gift card use.
Well, the upgraded PNR doesn't fit any of the T&C items either. OP was not buying upgrades like stickers, it's not a ticketing fees, it's not an award ticket and it certainly is a flight product.