It really depends upon what meets your needs, if any, to obtain EQMs. For many of us, EQMs are a more-precious commodity than cash. There are few ways to get them outside of flying, unless you want to pay the really big bucks and use elite maximizer.

In my case, anytime someone else from the family travels with me (wife to China last November, my son to France next month), the routine is the same. I buy a seat in Y and they get whatever is available as a saver award. Preferably in Y like me, but in my upcoming trip to France, I'm in Y and my son? He's in F.

I've covered my bet my applying for an upgrade to C in both directions, with my son kicking in the cash ($550 & $600 each way) and I supply the miles. So far, only the domestic leg has cleared. Sigh.

What I should have done was watched for a biz-class sale. I likely could have gotten a biz class roundtrip for about $3k, just about the same price as my Y ticket plus the upgrade fees. Yes, I was dumb! Don't make that mistake yourself.