MSPeconomist

Would the OP make a different decision if AS initiates a new FF "junior elite" tier at 10,000 status miles per year? There's speculation about this in the AS forum and OP would seem to easily reach 10,000 status miles with one international and four or five domestic trips from ANC each year.

Note that with the exception of this year, DL doesn't permit rollover unless one reaches Silver (25,000 MQMs plus a revenue or spend requirement), so OP might or might not make DL's lowest elite tier. OTOH if OP were to get a Plat DL affiliated AmEx credit card and charge $25,000 per year, this would give an additional 10,000 MQMs, waive the MQD requirement, and give OP a few additional perks such as IIRC a free checked bag on most DL flights and the ability to pay to use the DL airport lounges (not partner or contract lounges in general, although IIRC this might be enough to be able to pay to enter AmEx lounges). The AmEx DL Reserve credit card would give the same benefits with 15,000 MQMs for $30,000 spend plus SC access when flying DL, all for a much higher annual fee.