Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
Actually, being a DCA flyer, I think BWI would be a great airport to fly AA out of on the regular -- much much higher likelihood of making upgrades as a Plat on segments to DFW, PHX, etc. On short notice I've flown out of BWI instead of DCA for precisely that reason (esp. when I have the 30 min to spare and the DCA-DFW flight I want is already sold out in F, as they often are even >100 hours out).
OP, try to get Plat Pro as soon as possible, maybe angle for a challenge/match to it? Otherwise you're going to burn (and buy) a ton of stickers upgrading BWI-XXX-HNL and back. You'll need 3 for BWI-DFW, 8 for DFW-HNL; 4 for BWI-PHX, and 6 for PHX-HNL. Per segment.