It's amazing how horrible AA web and mobile interfaces are that you have to call an agent and "educate" them to allow you to voluntarily upsell yourself to a premium product without additional fees. It's simple to pay $$ for a confirmed upgrade or confirmed/waitlist mileage upgrade+copay on UA. Why can't AA figure it out???

I will be travelling to Santiago next year, and managed 3 award tickets in economy from CMH-DFW-SCL plus I bought my own ticket. 3 business class seats are now available, but from CMH-MIA-SCL.

Can I upfare and change the routing to go through MIA? I'm guessing not.

I guess AA instead focused its resources on installing direct aisle access business class seats on its widebody fleet. :eek:

On award tickets? Yes, you can.

Sorry -- should have been more clear. On my paid ticket, can I change the routing and go through MIA instead of DFW.

Should be possible, though you'd probably incur a fee for the routing change.

Poster would actually need to pay the change fee PLUS whatever the fare difference is to the current price for an all-new itinerary, since the first segment/coupon is changing.
ETA: I guess that's kind of moot, since even if you weren't changing the routing, but just up-faring, you'd have to pay the fare difference to the current price for an all-new itinerary also. But if you change the routing and stay in coach, you will have to pay the coach fare difference as well.

The change fee waiver on a paid ticket is only if you're keeping the exact same flights.

I don't believe that's the case -- you need to keep the same origin/destination, but the connection city can be changed (unlike SDFC).

Source: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28129025-post230.html

Based on the link above, this should be possible, although it may depend on getting an agent who understands this policy.

Status to me is way more than the occasional ride up front (which as a Platinum member takes stickers anyways). Perks I value are ability to standby on flights for no cost and free MCE seats at time of booking. Not to mention slightly better treatment by agents in person and on phone.

Buying up to First for flights I already have planned makes more sense than doing a same day MR to nowhere and back to get the EQDs.

Booking code question
 

Is it possible to ask for a higher fare or class of service or Booking code if you call reservations? Like trying to get from Q to N? I know weird question haha

Sure. You will need to meet the fare rules - adv purchase, min stay, whatever - with the new fare. If you have a nonrefundable fare it stays nonrefundable. Expect to pay a change fee unless you move up a cabin of service. If you haven't bought yet, just put the fare/itin on hold and call for the higher fare.

Buying up to First on Coach AA ticket
 

When I go into my account and into a current booked itinerary the only thing I see is the option to change ticket. If I put in First Class it brings up all other flights and the additional fare including a change fee. But not the flights I have currently booked (they have First Class available).

When I just go into reservations I can buy a First Class ticket on the flights i'm on for $501. Does AA allow you to Buy Up to First without the $200 change fee? I assume I'll have to call to do it.

Yes. You can't do it without a fee online because it's not in the fare rules. Thus, you must call in and the agent will waive the fee.

Correct, you can call and buy up to first without the change fee applied.

Yes, they do. You will have to call in to do it. Just note to the agent that you'd like to Upfare to first. Upfare, AFAIK, is actually a code that they have to put into SABRE when re-ticketing in order to waive the change fee. They should know exactly what you mean.