I'm not getting something here......you want to spend enough money to get to 75K status, to get a "free" upgrade? If you want to fly first class, I would suggest applying the money you would spend (waste?) trying to get to 75K to the flights you already normally take, and just buy first class seats. You'll probably come out ahead money-wise. Getting to 75K status generally isn't cheap (just ask my company, since they pay the bulk of my airfare every year).