There is an exception here: AY has perhaps one of the best upgrade policies if you buy a whY ticket and want to upgrade it miles. At least if you fly in 100% eco or 200% biz on AY metal. Of course if you're earning 25% of the miles, chances are you can make the miles needed for the whole J reward ticket on a program that gives 100% before you'll make what needed for an upgrade.

Y redemption is indeed terrible at AY, for anything other than last minute bookings that would be otherwise expensive. At worst a "free" AY award can cost more than a revenue ticket on a competing airline.

BTW since when has AY blocked you from checking availability online for awards that you don't have enough points for? Or do I remember completely incorrectly that before you could view availability even if you lacked the points needed?