This thread is funny to me because I am the guy the OP talked about. Last year Mrs. Archer had to go to Singapore so we flew MCI-DTW-NRT-SIN. She booked D1, per her company policy. I splurged on a D1 seat as well. I was like a kid on christmas morning waiting to board the 747 in DTW. I took pictures, videos, and all kinds of stuff like I was a blogger reviewing, but it was just for me because I did not know if I'd ever have that chance again. I couldn't begin to express my excitement about flying in the "upstairs" of a plane. Plus that trip pushed me into GM for Delta.

I realized why the GM benefits are great when it came the traveling at Christmas. The Sky Priority check in and security line in DTW made life so much less stressful for the holiday travel. It's all a matter of perspective.