Originally Posted by gobluetwo

So sucks to be me. I currently have 44 PQS. about 34k PQM, and $8k PQD. I expect to end the year with anywhere from 52 to 54 PQS and in the neighborhood of 40k-42k PQM. What really sucks is that I'll also end the year with about $10k PQD, so under thew new scheme, I would've been Gold already. As it is, I'm staring the spectre of Silver in the face right now.

I'm thinking my best option right now - other than trying to squeeze in at least another business trip or two - is to just find a cheap-ish long haul flight that will net me the 8k-ish PQM I need. I think the days of segment runs are long gone, unless anyone has ideas for a cheap one out of ORD.

I may try to do a late year trip with my wife. Any ideas for something that will get me most, if not all, the way there that could be reasonable in price and which the wife might like for a 3-4 day getaway? Maybe S America? I've never been so have no idea what the fare/partner situation is like south of the border. I'd look at Europe, also, which I know pretty well.