I try to get out of the country a couple of times a year, and I have some flexibility to do MRs, though I would need a double or triple mile promo to reach top tier status.

I go to EZE lots, but now I am wanting to go to the Pacific Rim countries as well, I did my first trip to China this year and I want to go back there (many times), as well as to the Phillipines, Indonesia and Thailand.

When my MR (MSP-DFW-EZE) this weekend posts, I will be an AAdvantage PLT, but I will be 35K miles short of EXP with my projected travel through the end of this year. I won't make EXP next year, either, unless there is another AADER or DEQM promo again.

I love flying, but I would love flying even more if I did not have to fly coach. And, I can't afford full fare coach which would get me into J as a PLT (for that matter, miles + copay is $600 cheaper to EZE, but the $700 sticks in my craw).

I see that CO, NW/DL and UA both go the places I want to go on their own metal, with prices roughly a couple hundred dollars of each other, so between AA, CO, NW/DL and UA, what is my best option for getting free upgrades into F or J? Or is this wishful thinking, and I should just get the cheapest fares on whichever airlines I can?