Good point about my planned flight activity in 2012. I would assume that my flights would be fairly close to what I did this year. Quite a bit of short hops that give the 500 minimum with maybe one international leg thrown in there. For perspective, I hit the Gold threshold with MQM, but did have 55 segments as well. So to answer your question, I don't think I would hit gold "easily" but would probably make it again in late Nov or early Dec 2012.

Oh...and if I do end up applying for the card, I want to do it obviously in January 2012 (versus the next couple of days) to make sure that my first use of the card nets the 10000 MQM bonus in 2012 so it could roll over into 2013 potentially, right?