With the Altbier and a trip to Tampa return on December 31 will end the year with 51599 on NW.
Thanks to FT took the advice and combined most flights on NW (only 3 other airlines flown this year) and took imaginative routings to get to Gold for $2200. About 10% more than if I'd taken the cheapest flight available which generally had been my # 1 criteria for a trip.