Well, it would seem that it was MY earlier question that sent him off on his rant. I was planning to let it pass, but since it's been brought up again, I shall comment on it.

I have a well refined gift of rationalization. If I want to do something bad enough, I can usually work my way through various stages of rationalizations to get there. This situation is a prime example. Paying ~$5000 for two airline flights, simply for the sake of taking them, is a lot of money to me. But I've always had on my "Top 5 Things to Do In My Life" at least one trip on Concorde. The window for accomplishing that is now defined and rapidly approaching.

So how important is it? One the one hand you have someone offering the "no one in his right mind" would pay this price argument. On the other you have Speedbird's "Here you are, having an opportunity to fly on one of the marvels of the 20th century! In six months time it will be no longer" argument. I certainly come down on that side, but still am a little pained about paying the price, so my rationalization process continues.

Then I think to myself, always concerned about retaining top level elite status: Do these fares also give me elite qualifying miles? As though that's a justification for spending the $5K. Of course it's not. But it's one more piece, small as it is, to help move the rationalization along and perhaps even push me comfortably over the edge.

As an aside, the answer to this question about elite qualifying fares, should anyone else be interested, is yes and no. In terms of earning elite qualifying miles on HP, the WT+, F and Concorde options do. The WT & CW options do not. Go figure. So, if nothing else, I at least know where I need to be sitting in order to earn elite qualifying miles. And it's not going to be in WT+. Rationalize another $1K.

Do I view this as a "mileage run?" Hardly. But will I structure it so as to make that one more fringe benefit of spending this kind of money for a plane ride? (Albeit THE plane of my life heretofore.) Definitely.

At this point I may be inclined to add "for FFS" why does it matter? But I don't know what that means, so I won't.

I am going to do this, by the way. It's a lot of money but I have never lived my life saying "I wish I had . . ." and I'm certainly not going to start now, and especially not with a “Top 5” item. If all goes as planned, I’ll have the time of my life. And just think, I'm even going to earn a bunch of elite miles in the process!