I have an upcoming transatlantic trip for business, DFW to VCE, around 18Sep-25Sep, some date flexibility. I am AA Gold, and will finish a Platinum challenge sometime on this trip – not sure if on flight over or back, but sometime. Obviously will try to do it on way there for the bonus.

I want to fly Business class without buying a business class fare, and am trying to figure out the best (most cost-effective) way to do that. given the $5K difference between J and B fares, and $6K between J and cheap coach fares, I'm digging around.

Looking at this trip, most options have me connecting in LHR/LGW, with maybe some options to connect through ZRH:
- Will a B fare (and my Gold status) get me upgraded? What do you all think availability of seats will be to get into Bus class that way?

- Any routes, times more likely/less likely to have the seat inventory to upgrade me into?

- Is it ever worth is to buy a cheaper fare, and pay for 500-mile upgrades? I can do the math but am curious about other members’ experience & strategy here. Correct me if I’m wrong: these will get processed at the same time that the B fare-plus-Gold-status upgrade would get processed, right (24 hours)? Which has priority?

- I don’t think, given my mileage balance and planned use of those miles, that I want to burn the 50K miles necessary for an award upgrade. Is this just plain wrong? My company would pay me to buy 25K of the miles needed if that saved them from buying the J fare (that, BTW, company policy says I’m entitled to – just trying to be a good corporate citizen).

One last question (I’m full of ‘em!): I get miles for AA code share flights within Europe, right?

Thanks in advance for the help.