June/July is peak peak summer season to Europe, I have never (ever) seen AA release C space way in advance during that time. Check back next year.
Nothing unusual at all going on, and it's not some underhanded strategy change to get people to to pay their ridiculous new mileage upgrade prices.

C inventory was available to ATH and LHR for June of 2025, which I booked about 11 months out. I also booked to DUB for July of 2025 about 11 months out. I had to buy business for the way back on that trip. I have been finding availability for years using this method. LHR would always seem to have C inventory here and there but I also found availability to FRA for 2024 and ATH for 2025 during the Summer. Of course, this entails spending an inordinate amount of time on Expert Flyer. So far I found nothing for next Summer. It does not really matter to me what city over there I have to fly into or out of.

You may occasionally find a unicorn this far out, but I rarely see C space to/from Europe in the peak months. Any SWUs I've listed for others have tended to clear, if they clear at all, 0-60 days before departure for summer European flights.

I was checking daily for a flight around Thanksgiving. I had a set of parameters and days. I don't use EF, just the AA app. Monday night there were no transatlantic SWUs available. Tuesday there was a small list from ORD and DFW. That is my data point. My January return has not cleared yet, but I am not worried there as it's midweek and currently not a single business class seat is showing as taken. Plus, I am flexible. Confirmed the other at booking. Timing = about 3.5 months out.

Checking in to see if people have an update on the SFO/JFK upgrade game these days. I know they're basically never ever available at booking, I don't think I've ever seen that. Are they still clearing at least somewhat often the day of the flight or the day prior? That was my experience in the past -- but what I really want to know is do they ever clear more than a few days out. Like if I buy now for October is there any chance I'll clear over the next couple weeks?

My assumption is no, since I just never see the C inventory more then a few days out, but curious what others have experienced.

LAX-JFK AA118 cleared T-25
J7 all the way to T-25
Upgrade offer was $291
EXP 280k

Bad rep or am I crazy?
 

First time booking for >2 people. (total of 4 px, 2 have EXP 2 have nothing)

Called in and said the following: "Split my reservation into 4 separate PNR. Link EXP #1 to no-status #1 and link EXP #2 to no-status #2.
Rep was adamant that this would not work and no one would get benefits/upgrades.

Rep is wrong right?

Correct rep is wrong. You could split it into just 2 PNR's though.

Agree.

My guess is that they are reading off of the poorly-worded upgrade web page language. I added emphasis on the portion that they were probably referencing:

Why would I do 2 PNRs? Then I wouldn't receive an upgrade if there's only one seat

PNR#1: One EXP plus one non-status
PNR#2: The other EXP plus the other non-status

This provides the opportunity for all passengers on PNR#1 to get a complimentary upgrade, if available.
This also provides the opportunity for all passengers on PNR#2 to get a complimentary upgrade, if available.
The PNR containing the EXP with the highest rolling 12-months of LPs will determine if the passengers on PNR#1 have priority over PNR#2.
You can also specify that you want to be separated if there is only 1 seat available (just tell the agent)

If you are not interested in any of the non-status passengers getting upgraded, then just put everyone on separate PNRs.

That's correct, but the agent will implement this by splitting each group of two into separate PNRs and linking them. So OP ends up with four PNRs, with each non-status person linked to a different EXP.

Isn't this exactly what I did? Your way just involves more steps

Two question in one. Just looking for some input So when I look at the flight status each day for a flight I am on in the future, so I can see my chance of upgrade.
Details: it is AA 2012 on the 29th Flagship available 789) and I am a low LP EXPLAT
When I look two days out This is the pattern EF shows C7 J7 R7 D7 I7. and the seat map will show usually at least 8 or so open seats some times a lot more.
Day of its usually 10-15 on the waitlist for 1 or two seats.
1st Question is do you think they did a bunch of 24 hour upgrade3s or did everyone just pony up for an upgrade or book first.
2nd question is $291 a good price in your mind to upgrade that leg from the PE style seats?

They do upgrade at the T24.5 mark these days.

IME, not worth the price. It is a 4 hour flight and PE is the equivalent of domestic F.