I do exactly as DOC says. I will go to Europe 4-5 time in Jan/feb when the fares are about $300 RT. I will fly on NW(EWR-MSP-CDG & back, for example. Each RT is about 9,000 miles =~$1,500 for 45,000 miles. Throw in 1 Rt to BKK (20,000 miles) for ~$750 and you are at 65,000 miles for ~$2,500. A few ewr-iah-sea Rts on CO (6,600 miles) at $200 each and $3,500 for 75,000 miles is very doable if you work at it. Note I do have a full time job, so a lot of this is over weekends and I do spend at least 2 nights in Europe on a European Trip),. I find most of my specials thru the www.bestfares.com website that I visit 2-3 times a day. As Platinum ELite, those 75,000 status mile turn into ~ 170,000 miles for awards in my account. AT 2 cents a mile it equals $3,400 so I'm even, at worst. But I tend to spend the miles on things like F/C international trips, so I figure I get a lot more than 2 cents/mile. My warped mind tells me that the airlines are now paying me to fly. What a game!!!
Note that I also agree that someone paying full fare should have priority over a Platinum elite for any seats still available
when they book.
Finally, I think I have an advantage over most FFers by being CO Platinum and can access both NW and America West and get status miles on CO for flying them . This gives me a lot more options for cheap trips
than most programs.

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 12-03-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Vulcan (edited 12-03-1999).]