After searching this forum and other googling, I found a good amount of information on trying to upgrade BA and QF segments on RTW tickets but the information was generally old and possibly stale. Thus, I'm asking for confirmation and/or recent experience. Here are my circumstances:

Just booked DONE4 ex-JNB with AA JNB (Mindpearl). Segments I would consider upgrading if possible:

JNB-LHR (BA flight operated by BA)
LHR-ORD (AA codeshare flight operated by BA)
LAX-MEL (AA codeshare flight operated by QF)
SYD-JNB (QF flight operated by QF)

From reading the older threads in this forum, it seems I am out of luck on the BA segments; as people have indicated that the ticket must be purchased through BA in order to upgrade with Avios. With respect to QF, I have found some discussion that indicates it may be possible using QF miles.

Can anyone confirm and/or share recent history with trying to upgrade BA or QF segments on a DONEX ticket? Preferably one booked by AA?

The only way you can upgrade a flight on a xONEx, other then the paid per sector premium economy upgrade mentioned in the rules, is subject to the rules of each airline and FF program.

For QF, you can only upgrade with QFF points, on a QF marketed and operated flight.
With your listed QF flights, only QF94 can be upgraded from Business class. The 747's used for QF63 and QF96 don't sell F, and you can't upgrade on the AA code.

The BA information (can only upgrade on BA ticket stock - 125)is still correct and not stale.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21739622-post595.html

Thanks for the confirmations; I'll have to slum it in business on those flights.

I've definitely upgraded BA flights on AA stock, there just has to be some AA segments on there...AA even publish a table for upgrading BA flights.

As long as there's award space I've always just called AA and upgraded.

EDIT: I misread that you wanted to upgrade with Avios in which case this is correct, it would have to be on 125 stock, my apologies

Thanks for the info, I didn't realize that you could upgrade BA flights with AA miles as well:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/jba-u...servations.jsp

Prices seem a bit steep (35k for USA-Europe and 45k for Africa-Europe), so I probably won't do it, but good to know.