Having a hard time thinking this one through ...

My wife (US Gold) and I (US CP) will be flying PHL-XXX-HNL in 3Q2015, where XXX is probably LAX, possibly DFW, but almost certainly not PHX -- which is why I am writing. We have lots of US Dividend Miles at the moment, but none with AA. This will change when the mileage programs merge in 2Q2015; but I am also interested in what I might be able to do before then ...

My first issue is whether I should book the Y tickets (now -- prices are low) through US or AA. I'm pretty sure the answer is "through US": Since the upgrade systems will still be carrier-specific in 3Q2015, this gives us the option of "rolling the dice" on the PHL-XXX segments, which will be US metal. By that I mean that we should still be operating in a US environment that will allow companion upgrades for US CPs (... or have I missed a memo on this one ... ?)

The second issue is the one where things get murky for me ... Am I correct in thinking

• as a CP or Exec Plat or whatever I have become by 3Q2015, even with a past purchase through US, I will be eligible for an automatic upgrade?
• but that my wife, as a US Gold, or AA Plat, will not? In which case, is there anything we can do now -- US Dividend Miles, buying stickers (I have no idea what I am talking about) -- to lock her into an F upgrade (if available) for the XXX-HNL legs on AA metal?