Originally Posted by
aktchi
You have been fortunate in your location and opportunities, and we can certainly admire your skill. I would suggest you keep flying as you have been. If you are very close to some threshold, you can consider a MR, but don't worry about it otherwise. You can also become a "free agent" and look at carriers other than AA. With judicious use of credit cards and paid lounges, you can still be fine. Good luck.
The OP will have it good in 2017 at least until upgrades by status goes to YTD $$ spend albeit it might not happen towards the end of 2017. Even with that the OP will be ahead of a PLT that has spent more YTD. Of course by 2018 the gig will be up unless the OP is willing to pony up $13K plus in 2017.