I have (or will soon have) roughly the following:
62K AA miles- will have 137K when 75K promotional miles arrive
will have 50K Delta miles when promo miles arrive
50K BA miles- will have 100K when balance of promo miles arrive
10K Starwood points

I've been looking into flights to Europe from Boston from mid-July through mid-August, and can buy a RT ticket (coach) for about $900-1300 (I have to be in Ireland, and possibly in London and France).

Given the complexities, restrictions and excessive miles required for summer travel to Europe from North America, I am close to concluding that I would be best off paying for my ticket in cash (ugh!), and saving my miles for other trips in the future, when they could be better spent.

Do members agree? And if not, does anybody have any good creative solutions?

Thanks in advance.