Originally Posted by Mwenenzi

Routes and aircraft with F are getting fewer and fewer. Award availability in F is about the same for all OW carriers and in some ways independent of the FFP. Some have at 355 days vs others at 330 days, but awards can be made available at any time at the whim of yield management. There is a thread with OW F flights

For awards without YQ AA is a leader in OW


For upgrades the general rule is you can only upgrade a flight marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by the airline of your freq flyer programme (no codeshares). All subject to the t&c's of your FFP and your paid ticket. Low cost tickets are often not eligible for upgrades. However as is the way with FFP's there are some upgrade exceptions with AA/BA/IB with higher priced economy fares. And the exception with Asia Miles on some BA tickets

You need to have a good look at the AA plat challenge as link in post 1. Note in OW the marketing carrier determines the miles you earn. Not operating carrier as in Star alliance. And Alaska is good FFP with many partners