GB,

the only difference is the mileage bonus:
3x for jfk=eze
2x or 3x lhr-USA depending whether you take AA or BA
some CXLOY bonus

so you are talking about some 20-30k bonus.
that is not barely enough to upgrade one long haul. (i suppose you suffer more for such mileage run than you gain in one long-haul upgrade)
so you are doing the right thing.
(and i don't think 20-30k means a lot to your mileage portfolio)

IMHO, you only do mileage run if you need to have it for the tier, not for the mile. becasue the whole point of getting miles is to make your future travel more comfortable, so i will not suffer today in order to suffer less in the future.
(IMHO, FOR LOGNHAUL, the only flight that is considered not as "suffer" is CX in F in such continuous run -- while CX J, BA F is okay if you fly it twice a month, but not if more often)

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 06-19-2001).]