ffhound,

You are the only one who can decide the best way for you to use your miles.

In my industry (Expositions), for instance, there are some people who actually acquire as many as a million miles a year through flying and creative use of their personal AMEX cards for all shipping, drayage, labor and travel expenses incurred on behalf of their companies. For people like this, who travel every week, enjoy company-paid travel and have a huge bank of miles, upgrading all business trips makes a lot of sense and they will still have plenty left over for dream vacation trips.

For the individual who travels just a few times a year, and is not required to regularly pay large company bills with their personal AMEX, miles are far more dear and might be best saved for a free coach ticket abroad.

For all those in the middle, the decision becomes more complicated and can only really be guided by that individual's own personal needs and desires.

My personal opinion would be that if you are young, healthy, not already spoiled by first-class, and have a moderate collection of miles, use them to fly coach somewhere you have never been before and enjoy yourself tremendously when you get there.

If, however, you do ever get a chance to fly first with Kokonutz as a seatmate, go for it. They really do offer him 10 course meals, bottles of wine to take home and even lap dancers (when the Queen is not present).

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 08-05-2000).]