I need 25K EQM above planned travel to retain ExPlat and even was willing to go from LAX to CDG for Thanksgiving or in December if I could use my SWUs.

That would give me what I need if I could get double miles, but even if I"m willing to fly to StL and back, it seems like getting the SWUs, cost, connections all to align is very, very, very difficult.

And yes, I have Expert Flyer.

I want ExPlat, but if I can't use my SWUs, I'm not going to make a 13k run in coach.

So I think the fears of ExPlat inflation is overstated.