Upgrading on KLM using Continental miles
 

I recently purchased a round-trip ticket through American Airlines with the outbound segment from the USA to Europe on KLM and the return segment from Europe to the USA on American. I am a member of Continental's frequently flyer program and have enough miles to request an upgrade reward on KLM. However, when I called Continental, I was told that it was not possible for me to request an upgrade because I had purchased the ticket through American. (They said that had I purchased the ticket through KLM or Continental, I would be able to use my Continental miles to upgrade on the KLM flight.)

Does anyone know of any way I can request an upgrade reward on the KLM flight, having purchased the ticket through a third party (American, in this case)?

Thanks!

I think that you're dead in the water. The upgrading of international tickets has come with so many rules and caveats that there are only a few set procedural ways to go about it, and buying from AA is definitely not one of those.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Your problem is not that AA was a third party, but it was a competitor with its own ticket stock. Had you purchased through any number of third parties (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, or a travel agent for that matter), they would probably have been able to help, so long as your fare is a published, upgradeable fare. Your problem is that your ticket is issued on American paper (001 ticket stock), and they can't touch it.

For them to touch it, it would have to be on CO (005), NW (012), or KL (???)stock.

Welcome aboard, geek! Hope the Euro trip turns out to be an enjoyable visit.