Here's how I look at it.

I "pay" for about 6 trips a year to Brasil and earn enough points to take 2 free trips there with AC.

At year end I always empty out my FF account, especially since I like to travel over New Year's and hate it when the mileage gets split between years on a paid ticket...especially since I only accumulate 50-60,000 per year...so another 10,000 or so isn't going to get me to another status level and they become in effect "wasted" if they post before December 31.

I would say use your miles now.

If you are short on reaching status mileage you obviously will pay for the ticket. If it doesn't matter...use the miles you've accumulated and save the paid tickets for next years status...that's how I think about it.

Also, the current financial state of the airline industry has made me decide to stick to this plan.

[This message has been edited by Carioca Canuck (edited 10-17-2001).]