Purchased on 12/03 for $6512 on AS website, $5860 discounted using the gift card. Was a couple hundred cheaper in November. 59000 plus EQ. at .10 or less depending on how AS calculates the miles. That plus annual AS credit card spend means I can reach 100K with a leisure 5 AS metal flights throughout the year. Less if I use miles for a roundtrip to Japan from SFO. Overall this strategy will cost me 1-1.5K more to travel, with no mileage runs and time spent in the metal tube.

Edit. Actually travel spend will be less than 1K as I'll probably choose the AS Lounge + as my 100K choice since I'll spend less time at an airport.