Actually, you have one other choice: LAX-JFK-GRU.

While this flight is somewhat longer, it can have several advantages.

1) The overnight flight from MIA to GRU (and back) is only 5-6 hours, too short for a good night's sleep (assuming you can sleep on planes), whereas the flights from DFW and JFK are 10+ hours long, allowing for a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

2) With JFK, you get many more miles.

3) You can take advantage of the current AANYC promotion

4) 777 service over water (meaning more opportunity for a successful upgrade) and available Flagship service cross country

5) For SFO, it was a relatively short 90 minute connection time on the return (this could be seen as a negative). I don't know what the connection times are to LAX.

6) Lots more miles

7) Did I mention more miles?

In my personal experience (having flown through all three going to/from GRU), I found upgrading from DFW extremely difficult. By comparison, I was able to upgrade via MIA and JFK with few problems.

Overall, the DFW connection was the most convenient and stress-free (they have a nice lounge, and I knew long in advance that I wouldn't get the upgrade... ;-) ) while the JFK connection was more "fun" and enjoyable as a flight experience.

I would avoid MIA if possible.

[This message has been edited by IFlySJC (edited Feb 13, 2004).]