Calchas/MPH1980 - great, many thanks

I look into those - I suspect I'm going to need 300-400 points to get Gold with the flights I currently have booked/planned

Just to make sure I've got the AA instant upgrade correct - they allow you to upgrade to First, guaranteed, if you are on that exact flight? When do you upgrade, when you buy the ticket or when you get to the boarding gate?

Thanks