Originally Posted by matrixwalker2012

Upgrade? No
Request a seat in the cabin you paid for? Yes

Be careful in how you word your request to an AAgent. If you say "upgrade" they'll automatically go into the mode: "Award tickets are not eligible"

You have to tell them you paid for Business/First award, and you want to be seated in the cabin you paid for. Business/First award gets you seated in F if a J cabin does not exist.