Originally Posted by
skviolet98
What happens when you book an award flight in business, but one or more legs only has economy available? Are you automatically upgraded to business when seats open? Where are you on the priority list? Or are you only upgraded based on elite status? I'm looking at flights from OPO to PHX and the last leg back to PHX is always in economy. This is for flights in March/April.
No, if you book an award ticket and accept a voluntary downgrade like that on any segments then that is where you will most likely fly.
The only thing you can do is monitor award space on that segment, if business class award space opens up you can call AA and
try to change. But you have to manually monitor space then call, there is no automated process or anything like that. You are not on any kind of waitlist or priority list.
I say "try" to change because even on partner awards many AA agents are poorly trained and will tell you that no changes are allowed. So it often takes a few HUCA's.