first, welcome to FT dreadmon.

My first suggestion would be to spend about 15 minutes and register for all the bonuses in the Bonus Code Thread. We don't know what 80% of them are for, but they seem to yield easy extra miles.

The codes pretty much only matter that they are entered before the flights posted. So if you're not flying for another few weeks, you should be fine.

Regarding mileage runs, California is out of the question on US. To get to CA on US metal you would have to fly 2 trans-cons just to get there b/c from SEA, you can only fly to CLT, PIT, and PHL.

Look for SouthWest Fare Sales. Other airlines usually match their $99 coast to coast sales, making a SEA to BWI trip possible for $200. In the fall, you'll find sale fares to Europe. Being from SEA, you'll earn an easy 12,500 miles or so (and sitting in coach on the A330 isn't that bad) for a trip to LGW, CDG or FRA.

Hope thast gets you off on the right foot.