Originally Posted by
tom911
Why not just buy two coach seats and not worry about whether upgrades will clear or be offered?
+1 to this idea.
Or, if you're willing to slightly modify your plan and fly into Budapest (a place to which AA flies directly from NYC), and you're going between now and May 15, you could get an off-peak award on AA for 40,000 miles. You could redeem for one free seat and then just buy the seat next to it -- that should be more affordable.