The other good thing about AA is that you can use the "availability tool" (search milesbuzz forum) to determine upgrade availability yourself before calling. It's usually a very good indication of availability. For business class upgrades book into C class (confusing for UA fliers where C is paid business class.... on AA J is paid business class)

Also, upgrades from "full fares" require fewer miles that upgrades from discount fares. Guess what... J is considered full fare, so you can upgrade from paid business to first class (booked into A class) for only 10,000 miles (to europe) whereas on UA you need 30,000 to get from business to first. I won't waste a VIPOW for a BC to FC international upgrade... I'll save it for family vacation coach to BC upgrades and spend 10,000 miles instead (and earn at least 10,000 miles).

DAK