Originally Posted by Cooper21

In your situation, you would be dropping from CP to Gold (and later to AAPlat) correct? Achieving DM Platinum would entitle you to every incremental benefit vs. Gold up until they merge accounts in Q2 (I heard June). You'll have a few months of extra bonus miles, upgrade window, upgrade priority, etc. For you, that fact IMO makes a short MR of $100 seem worth it. Plus, they may throw US Plats who feel screwed some sort of extra bennie, or at least I hope.

For many people, upgrade prioritzation is a major issue. Until the merger (maybe all year) upgrade prioritization on US Airways-operated flights will continue to be based on elite status and elite qualifying activity. You as a 74k Plat will have higher upgrade priority vs. a 50k plat just as you do today. The extra MR won't help much here, but many people say they wish they had stopped at 50k, which seems odd.

I know if I were in your situation, I would seriously look at MRs to get to CP. For $1000-$1200, the marginal benefits you'll get as EP seem so well worth it. If you have the time and $$, you'll pick up the miles, more stickers, Special Dividends, and enjoy EP all next year.