Given your tight budget, mid continent location and no international travel, it may be a bit of a slog to earn EXP, given the $4-5K additional spend needed. Most of your travel otherwise would likely be with connections or relatively short hops. Not too bad in coach with MCE or even cash and points upgrades on those flights that offer it. I respect that value is sometimes subjective and situational, but I am unsure how $4K+ for EXP represents good value in your situation. Perhaps you may want to give this some second thoughts. Is there something unique in your domestic travel pattern that makes this worthwhile?