I am currently AA EXP, but do not plan on getting any status for 2018. Main reasons are 1) not able to meet EQD requirement (no exemption for foreign address holder) and 2) only 4 SWU to earn. I plan on getting UA 1k for 2018.

Due to this decision, there isn't benefit for me to earn AA miles. That said, I just booked NRT-DFW-ATL on AA due to the extremely low fare, for myself and the wife and our daughter. It's O fare, which seems to earn 100% on EY.

So what I wish to do is 1) burn my SWU on this trip; 2) enjoy elite benefits for all of us in good Y seats; 3) earn milea on EY.

Can this be done?

Don't forget you can easily earn EQD by booking partner flights. Those earn EQD as a percentage of distance flown based on fare class, in some cases as much as 35%. In fact it's better to book AA flights as partner marketed a lot of times.

No more requirements to fly 4 flights on AA now. So it could all be on JAL if you wanted.

Is QR an option for you? I've got six long haul flights on QR for 2017, 0 on AA. Will easily meet the EQD (will end with 22000 EQD and not EVEN coming close to the 12000 required). and mileage requirements to maintain EXP for next year.

Thanks for the suggestion. However, partner flights typically earn 0.5 EQM. So it's hard to meet EQM with partner flights.

Anyway, back to my original question: is there a way to use SWU and/or to keep the good seats in economy while earning miles on EY?

I remember when I flew CX back in the days I was able to credit miles to my CX account (since their discount economy will earn no credit on AA) while entering CX first class lounge by swiping my exp card at the lounge entrance. OW partners seem okay with that.
However EY might be a bit complicated as it doesn't belong to OW. YMMV.

You should be able to put EY frequent flyer numbers in the reservation and then use your SWUs to upgrade. My understanding is that SWUs are a paid upgrade instrument - similar to upgrading with miles - and can be used on any AA flight as long as it's AA metal with AA flight numbers, regardless of the frequent flyer program credited by the passenger.

If you are in economy and want the AA elite seating benefits, I'm afraid that you will need to have AA status on at least one of the passengers in the PNR. AA is pretty sensitive (in my experience) that they will not let you credit to another carrier once they decide you have used AA elite benefits on a flight. But you could credit your flight to AA and your family's tickets to EY.

If you use your AA elite benefits for your flights, you have to use your AAdvantage number in the reservation and credit flights to this program. If you don't want to use your status to improve your chances of getting SWU or better seats to clear then add your EY number now.

You can't transfer miles to EY after flights have been taken if your ticket and boarding pass have your AA number on them and EY will require copies of BP and receipt if you contact AA to have miles transferred.

As I understand it (as I'm in a similar position): You're entitled to your oneworld status benefits when flying oneworld. You're generally entitled to your AAdvantage benefits when flying AA marketed and operated flights and using your AAdvantage number (as well as allowed benefits when flying Alaska). Though they may overlook booking MCE with your AA FFN and not penalize you with seat loss (unless there are changes) if you change the accruing FFN, you're technically not going to use AAdvantage status benefits if you change your FFN to another airline's. You might retain a benefit, but you're taking a risk. E.g. Entering your EY FFN and burning a SWU?

I have a QR booking for later this year, out in economy and back in business. I'm planning on switching to BA Executive Club this year due to the new EQD requirement. Would I be right in thinking it's fine to add my AA number to the QR booking initially, to secure better seats, priority boarding and lounge access for the economy outward, then at check-in for the business return, ask the agent to switch to my brand new BA number, since my flown cabin will give me the same benefits? I'm not fussed about losing the BA tier points for the outward as I'll easily make OWS with the business class flights I have booked later in the year.

I thought you could burn a SWU on a flight that you're not crediting to AA, as a poster indicated above? Since SWU's may be given/donated to anyone, including non-AA members, does it matter if that non-AA member happens to be oneself?

you have 6 long hauls that tally to $22,000 EQDs on QR?

Deleted. Wrong airline.

It's feasible if you are flying something like LAX-DOH-BKK in business class on a good deal, since you earn a fixed EQD % based on the distance you fly.

Not sure about AA, but a similar attempt on AS was not successful. With AS building a focus city here in SAN, offering nonstop service to many of my preferred destinations, I am making an effort to earn MVP status, missed in 2016 when Hurricane Matthew interrupted travel plans.

When booking a recent flight, I used my LT AA PLT status to book an exit row seat, system moved me to another row when switching to AS MP afterwards. Called AS customer service, agent claims that it is one or the other, expect other carriers to follow a similar practice.

To the original question, I've had it work the opposite direction. Back when I was AS 75k and moving to AA, I booked a trip to Mexico on AS, used my BofA companion fare and two GGUs (one going, one returning... back then, at least, if you had a companion fare booked then one GGU applied to both you and your companion), and then changed the FF number to AA and got AA miles for it.