Also, the coin deal is only worthwhile if you have a high enough credit limit. Also, looking at the chart here, it looks like it is 75,000 for Y not 70,000 and 125 and 145 for J and F.
http://www.aa.com/aa/pubcontent/en_U...ward_Chart.jsp

It is hard to say what CO will charge by the time you look to book, right now they charge 90/190/285 for Y/J/F on Quantas. It is hard to say what it will be with a *A partner, maybe UA's rates of 80/135/160 are a sign of what is to come.

I am 22 and have banked about 275k one pass miles and just about to finish school. Most of them are not from flying, but charging everything I buy on a CC, doing the same from purchases I needed to make for jobs I had.

I also banked a lot of miles from various 'deals' like the amtrak deal, dollar coin, opening checking accounts ect. I am in milage save mode right now. I am young and not that big a guy, I can tough it out in Y without too much trouble and the help of a few drinks and an lunesta. Personally I would rather save them for entertaining a special someone in the future or down the road when I just can't stand coach.

I recently bought a paid ticket to china because I got a good deal and for the first time on CO will hit Elite status. However, if you need to use miles to make the trip affordable, fly in coach. The miles you save will allow you to take another trip to China or Europe.