Many FTers pay their dues in Y for years before possessing the cache of miles they use on mile-maximizing trips in F/C. At the same time we've also paid out of pocket for F/C.

No secret really - either buy F/C with $ or miles or try to upgrade with miles. Gone are the days where some articles have written if you wear a suit and you 'look' like you belong in F, the GA will put you there.