If I'm reading things right, it appears you can include FFC for anything on the initial flight booking, but not for upgrade requests afterward?

Second, and this is an odd one-

Looking at SFO-Turin and VCE-SFO return. Nice fare in E at $1040. Very expensive both directions (especially outbound) to go to PE. But, if I ask to look for upgrades when booking, for the return VCE-SFO there's no option listed for upgrading from E to PE, and buying PE outright adds $500. Not terrible. But you're offered to buy PE for the return and waitlist the Biz upgrade for just $200 more. No matter what I try, I cannot duplicate that lower price for PE unless it's combined with a biz class waitlist upgrade. Yes, I've tried every fare class imaginable. It books into R at the $200 additional cost.

Can I buy the PE with the waitlisted biz upgrade, which will cost $425 each at time of booking, and then cancel the upgrade request and still have the PE seat valid?

Thanks! This is a reschedule of my usual July trip to France to see and ride the roads of the Tour de France. Isn't working out due to staffing issues and my mom having recently moved into hospice. Things may resolve in time for this trip (late August-early September). I have never felt more need to get away than I have lately. Thought things were supposed to settle down as we get older, but at 69, the light at the end of the tunnel still looks like an oncoming train. :-)