What would the purpose be, just to have status? Do you enjoy sitting on planes for hours upon hours in economy? Yes the weather alone in chicago would have me on edge that I would miss a flight and it would domino into other missed flights.

I can think of a ton of things to do with $3,000+ including taking an actual trip, electronics, saving it etc, but that's just me.

In the end only you can decide if this makes sense. From what I gathered in the post you won't be traveling much next year so not sure how the status benefits you.

Just my thoughts