I start traveling next month. At least once a month or more over this year.

The direct flight will help in April, but I have a quarter of the year before then.

I'm trying to stick to one milage program and would rather do Alaska's. I can't imagine there are many MVPG or 75k out of Oakland. I was even nerdy enough to make a spreadsheet of how many trips would be needed to get top tier status on Alaska vs. United. United has direct flights to GEG and BOS from SFO but OAK is just so easy to get to from my house.

I don't mind going back through Seattle on a Friday, it means I get an nice lunch at Anthony's during my layover. ^

I don't have status on anybody right now.