Have you looked on Amex & SPG web sites for other airlines options? (not hard)
Have you looked at the award cost for other ffp's
FF miles are not equal to earn or burn.
Some ffp's have high cash award surcharges

http://www.awardace.com/
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...demptions.html

The grass in not always greener on the other side