I am in exactly your situation of knowing I won't hit the PQD for 1K, but doing this route as a Plat. I have done US-CGK on both BR and NH in the last year and a half. I'm with the others that the status matches to AA or DL aren't sensible unless you want to really move significant travel on them. I've stuck with UA (primarily over DL) because MP miles are more valuable for my family travel than Skypesos.

A TPAC in J for ~$1000 is a big ask, but BR and NH both have good premium economy classes which, while they aren't lie-flat business, present pretty good values that still earn 100% UA RDM in their lowest fare class. I have been able to pay only a few hundred dollars over lowest economy, so I suggest looking into that. I have also had decent luck with op-ups to premium economy as a *G, from regular coach fares.