I'm pretty sure you won't die if you fly coach. Took my family of 4 and sister-in-law to Rome a few years ago for 60K each in coach. I didn't waste hours and hours endlessly searching for awards or making big compromises as far as travel dates (we went in the summer when kids were out of school). We had a great time and nobody remembers or cares that we flew coach. Seems pretty silly me to sit on your miles forever insisting the ONLY real use is for J and the ONLY if you greater than >4 CPM of value.