Hi.

After DBEQM are awarded January 2nd, I should be in the fortunate position of having 128k EQM, more or less, so I will qualify for the EXP elite rewards, as well as being a first time EXP.

Now, my only real reason for going over 125k was so that I can get R/T tix in business from GRR to GIG for my mother, who can't manage the trip in coach at her age anymore.

Now, my question is: do we want to upgrade a coach flight for her with eVips, or snag an award flight at 100k miles? I am concerned that if I try to upgrade her with eVips, since she has no status, she will be last in line for the upgrade and would have to take the flight in coach if no B seats are available. That Would Be Very Bad (TM).

Alternatively, I could take 25k miles from the elite rewards and combine that with the 75k I will have and grab an award ticket for her which would guarantee her a seat. But I hate to use 75k miles unless I absolutely have to, because I myself would like to have the miles for business/first class OW around the world flight sometime in 2011.

How would I go about checking availability in B, at least for the MIA/DFW-GRU/GIG segments, to look for a date in March or April that I can reliably upgrade for her?

Christopher