A couple of things I always have liked about AA:

- They allow you to redeem one-way upgrades on international flights using miles. If I can get a good MRTC seat on overnight segments, I'd rather stay in coach and save my miles. On flights where I'm awake the whole time (Europe back to the US, for example), I spend the miles and upgrade to biz. As a Plat, I've had relatively good success getting the seats - although I've had to standby at the gate on a couple occasions. (Only drawback to that strategy: the paper certificate process vs. the expedite fees. But I won't go there for now.)

- Domestically, I actually *like* the fact that they don't automatically upgrade every high elite. As a Plat, this means that I have a good chance of upgrading the flights that I really *want* the upgrade on. ORD or DFW to the West Coast - I call 72 hours ahead of time and get my upgrade in most cases. Midwest/East Coast flights on narrowbodies: I'm fine in an exit row seat. I will never reach ExPlat, so if they did automatic upgrades for every ExPlat on every fare, I would probably have a harder time getting the seat when I really want it.