Originally Posted by
vandrei
I plan to continue booking discount economy fares for most flights with some exceptions.
W fares to use GPUs.
Occasional Y/B/M fares (or -UP fares) on domestic routes that are very tough to upgrade such as IAD-SFO.
Some higher class fares on various routes to reduce the number of miles (and co-pay) needed to upgrade.
Fly on 016 ticket stock all the time.
If you are comfortable with Platinum or below, then forget the PQD and focus on getting the credit card waiver.
This is pretty much my strategy for next year. I'm 1K again for the 2nd (and likely) last time. All my travel in 2013 was leisure and mileage runs - I also benefited from the $0 mistake fares to get a couple of long mileage runs to push me over the 1K threshold.
Next year will be all leisure as well. W fares for GPU use, a couple of vacations, continue mileage running to get Platinum with the cc waiver and work toward MM status - currently at 740K.