I had this experience on AA from LAX to LHR. Was Exec Plat/Emerald with them. I had requested a refund of my upgrade(cash and miles) - nada, not even any compensation miles. Flew upright the whole 10 hour flight in Business.
After that, I wrote again to AA and never flew them again. That was in 2015. Lost a loyal Oneworld customer and switched to Star.