AFAIK if your flight number is AA then you need to engage with AA to see if they can find availability ( unlikely). QF will target their own FFers (with QF flight numbers) and QF status is key to this. QF “invite” by email those who are eligible - but this is no guarantee of an upgrade. QF will be glad you joined the program but that’s about as far as it goes - unless you buy your tickets with QF flight numbers.