As long as OP feels beholden to a frequent flyer program, their destiny is sealed. As Kacee pointed out, "The more I buy discount front cabin, the less important I find status." Dittos for me as well. As being a 1K meant less and less to me each year, the grass kept looking greener on the other side. Paying $1800 and hoping a GPU clears vs. paying $2200 confirmed in an equal to/better-than-UA TPAC airline just wasn't worth it any more. I re-discovered OA are pretty good, and some of them better than UA, all things considered.