Originally Posted by
andersonCooper
Not sure if I understand your method, but if you could book on BA and get an AA flight (so AA flight number), it might end up with special fare. If it's a BA flight, then you won't be able to use SWU. MCE benefit still applies to OWS/AA PLT or above.
Added caveat: If you book through BA—even if one of the flights is on AA metal with an AA flight number—you probably won't be able to apply a SWU, because BA controls the ticket, and BA cannot process a SWU.