This is a huge flaw of AAs systems. Not only will you not be upgraded automatocally, if the agent putting you on the “upgrade” list doesn’t code this correctly, you will be competing with comp upgrades from CK and EXPs. If coded properly you should pop up to #1 on thr “upgrade” list. There is another thread that sets out how to tell the agent to code it correctly.

I think there is a waitlist for full-fare buckets (F, J, Y). So you could probably ask your TA to put you on the waitlist for J, and it should clear before anything else.

And that is not even remotely how AA or most other airlines see this.

To OP, i have had this happen before and you need to look for the thread that gives the special code that needs to be entered on the DoD upgrade list. I was on very expensive full J ticket and the first agent coded my “upgrade” request incorrectly and i sat in economy for the first domestic segment while someone else got a complementary upgrade to the one seat that opened. Make sure you are coded as DSR. Thr agent will know what this means.

But that is not true on DoD and hence why i said the coding on the upgrade list is critical. While I class may never open up, neither does R and yet people magically get elite upgrades at the gate. The reality is that revenue management stops fiddling with the fare buckets and the gate agent clears people into the front cabin based on priority, not whether there is I or R availability showing. The average flight is sitting st the gate with only J bucket showing greater than zero, if anything. The GA can put people in those remaining seats regardless of booking class, either because they have exp status or are pulling 500 milers or in the case of someone who was entitled to a higher cabin at booking, someone properly coded on the upgrade list (who would clear before the “free” upgraders).