Thanks for all of your replies.

I ended up making the trip yesterday. I did SFO-DEN-MCI-PHX-SFO for less than what I had posted (and for a few more miles).

Aside from a brief scare when there was a mechanical problem before boarding in DEN, it went well. And I got to have some Kansas City BBQ from Arthur Bryant's, so it's not like I went for nothing

I did ask US Airways if I could get bumped up to first class on that last leg, but they were unable to because the miles weren't in the system yet. I had figured it was a long shot, but it didn't hurt to ask.

Of course, given the idiot who lit his groin on fire, who knows what flying will be like next year....