JackR and Savage25: I apreciate the time that you (my personal friends) have taken to respond to this thread. I value your opinion although they appear conflicting to a degree.

SanDiego1K: Please report back to this thread. when you have a chance. THanks in advance and be safe!

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As far as I can tell, this whole thing could blow over in 10 days and we could be back to where we were a week ago. Or it could escalate.

I can pay my agent's $35 booking fee, blow off the $125 night at the IC SIN and make top tier on NH with 125% COS/EQM and 125% Elite bonus miles on two SFO-NRT-BKK-NRT-SFO trips by the end of 2005! If I were greedy, I could even do a couple via LAX to score some additional miles and fly the 773!

UA has comped me to 1P. I was gambling on the 2X EQM promo late in the year with which there was and outside chance that I could score 1K AND retain NH Diamond status for 2006. However without making 1K, the promo is totally useless as I am 1P through Feb 2007! NH Diamond is a no brainer at this stage.

As a relatively-risk-adverse-US-based FTer who flys ex-Asia for all trips, I've been champing at the bit for nearly a year to get down to CMB, but my incremental savings vs flights (C or D) ex-BKK didn't seem worth it. It's merely the challenge of earning top tier in both of my preferred programs AND the desire to dump 80% of my 1K upgrades on my wife who will make 1K this year as well. (Her company requires coach purchases). She'd never fly Y in 2006!!!

Flat out as JackR describes, it's greed not need!

I'll be making my decision in the next 7 days. I'd love additional contributions. If I were to cancel, I'll likely still go out of pocket on BKK-SIN-BKK, have dinner with Savage25 and not throw away a non-refundable night at the IC in SIN.

Cheers,
Scho