Availability changes based on connection? GPU across seperate tickets help!
I am flying from Chicago to Tel Aviv. I want to fly Polaris on the 777-300ER, and have a GPU from a GS (I can clear into R or PN). The logical routing of ORD-EWR-TLV does not have upgrade availability, and Premier Desk says waitlisting to TLV is usually no dice. So I looked elsewhere. I found that they have Polaris operating from SFO-FRA and there is PN9 and R9! Crazy! I have several issues with obtaining this flight however:
1. I cannot book from ORD-SFO-FRA-TLV, the fare immediately books into Y, no discounted fares. Is there a way to fly from Chicago, keeping the connection in SFO, but be able to get a discounted fare. Premier Desk says it is not possible because SFO is not in the routing from ORD to TLV. Is there any way to change connection cities... etc... to change this? I assume no. Since I am flying from ORD regardless, I'd rather take advantage of the GPU if it could upgrade the domestic segment as well, but it would have to be on the same ticket.
2. Again, I assume this is a no. But since the pricing does not like me connecting in SFO and makes me book into full fare, if I instead book separate from SFO and also book separately the connection from ORD, is there a chance they would somehow be able to apply the GPU all the way thru even though they are on separate tickets?
3. I have been playing around with different origin cities in the routing that would include SFO on a discounted fare (all West Coast cities + PHX, LAS etc).
When I look at SFO-FRA direct, it will show P9 PN9 R9 RN9.
When I look at LAX-SFO-FRA, it will show P9 PN9 R0 RN0 on the SFO-FRA segment. Again, same date/same flight as the direct search. Even better, when I search PHX-SFO-FRA, it comes up as P0 PN0 R0 RN0. Why is this happening. It is the same date/flight, but based on the origin, the upgrade availability completely changes. Is this by design, or an error?
TL;DR: I have no idea what I'm doing. Help!