Basic summary as I see it:
General consensus is that one will look good in-front of, and should most certainly look down upon the hoi polloi/The Great Unwashed
Good carriers deliver better service & better
Chappers.
BMI F redemption rates are really very good indeed. Soon to go. Maybe. Make the most of it.
Basically... Do it.
Regarding costs - I recently booked the same route:
Originally Posted by me
....and, now the return booked: (Blind booked 337 days out)
9th Jan SYD-BKK TG478 A346 2xF
10th Jan BKK-LHR TG916 B744 2xF
62500 Miles + £425 cash + £129 tax + £4.50 CC per person
EDIT: ticketed within 8hrs
(I wanted TG910 BKK 00.15 LHR 06.20 but this was unavailable. After some prompting ICC found TG916 departing at 12.30p on the 10th which was available and booked it. In hindsight, TG924 to MUC connecting to LH2504 to MAN would have been more convenient but have been trying all weekend to make a booking and been faced with "'puta says no" so I went for it to lower anxiety levels )
So, all-in, for a return in First Class with TG from UK to SYD was 125,000 miles & £1326 pp. Eye watering for a redemption, but hey, this is a honeymoon and I will probably never get to travel 21k miles in First again anytime soon!
Linky.