I hit 250K points and am looking for some advice on whether to gamble on taking 4 SWUs vs. 60,000 miles. In the past, I have always gone the miles route as I have usually been able to use them on partner award business class flights. For next year I have already scored an F award to Japan as well as J tickets on BA using miles. My only other big trip is a family trip to Santiago (DFW-SCL) in March -- four of us already booked on paid roundtrip tickets in Y. So I could get four SWUs to use for that trip, but I am worried that they may not clear at all.

As far as priority is concerned, I have to imagine I will be at the bottom rung of elites in line to be upgraded from DFW-SCL or on the return. If the four of them don't clear, the next big trip might not occur until 2027 after the SWUs expire. Would I be able to attach them to a trip that occurs after the expiration (even if only waitlisted)? I just would hate to get them and have them go to waste.