Those are pretty much your options.

If you're flying those routes on a monthly basis then there's no reason you have to pick one method now and stick with it, your best bet is going to be a mix of all those options depending on pricing, loads, upgrade availability, etc.

If you buy economy then you're more or less guaranteed to get an app/online upgrade offer, they can vary from reasonable to outrageous. Look in the thread below, there are lots of data points for all of your options.

Also putting all your spend on an AA credit card just to get EXP status just so you can maybe get upgraded here and there on these routes seems like a horrible idea.

And if you upgrade with miles/copay or a BXP1 and C space is available then you can clear immediately.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ispreloading=1