Originally Posted by
DrRodneyMcKay
I imagine she has no idea which fare classes she's booking, so I couldn't really ask her.
But you wrote specifically:
Originally Posted by
DrRodneyMcKay
basically wants to earn and burn - that is, to buy the cheapest tickets and redeem miles for flying back and forth to visit family. To my understanding, she'd be flying about two roundtrips a year at most.
So I think it's safe to assume she will usually book deeply discounted economy, unless it's full and only semi-discounted economy booking classes are available. Perhaps once in a blue moon full-fare economy in case of a family emergency or such.
With that travel profile, you won't get far. CPH-DTW isn't even a really long TATL as a flight to, say, LAX would be. I'm sorry to repeat myself but I doubt this will get her anywhere. Maybe a one-way upgrade to premium eco every 4 years? And for that, risk that the mileage programme tricks you into overpaying for *A flights because you think, "I already got 9k award miles".