This is the cost of 3 riff raff transcon fares. That seems very strange in light of other revenue producing efforts.. This actually shows that CO values 10K miles at $750 (although two cheap transcons could have gotten OP to Plat for like $500).

If in fact as one one poster mentione dthat plat could be bought for a grand they why all the bashing of thsoe who achive the cheapest way possible?

I do think there is a clue in here that CO knows tha elite level does count and assumes that the higher the level the more likely you are to be loyal. I love to see the churn rates at the various elite levels: like how many who earn silver for the first time in a given year are silver or better in year two or drop out vs other levels.