? NZ doesn't yet participate in *A mileage upgrade scheme. To upgrade on NZ you either need to pay for the higher class in cash, use an NZ Airpoints complimentary elite upgrade voucher, or use NZ Airpoints airbucks.

Similarly to upgrade on QF you need to either pay for the higher class in cash or use QFF miles. You cannot use AA miles to upgrade on QF flights.

Any op-ups are just luck and fairly rare on both these airlines.

Good luck on getting out of DEN in time.