is buying status considered an "exception" and counts to 2 max within 5 years if one wants to do challenge? Personally not travelling much, just marginal benefits of status, such as Flagship lounge visit when departing in coach, access to Cathay Pacific Heathrow lounge, but then again only when flying to a handful destinations in coach from Terminal 3, and no 75$ close-in fee while redeeming miles. How many times I would need to redeem miles to justify 1300$ fee??!!
Champagne is always nice but then I could be drinking Krug or Dom for that price without needing to sit in a metal tube