Thanks to all for your help. From the answers I've gotten here and from the airline websites, I think I am going to go with a combination of direct flights on AA, 1-stops on AA, and the nonstop EWR-SEA routes from CO. Hopefully, I will be making enough trips to meet the Plat. challenge as well as get low level status on CO. Although I do not have an Admiral Club membership, I do have an Amex Platinum card so I can access the Presidents Clubs in EWR and SEA when flying CO. I guess if I'll be flying AA more I should be looking at an Admiral Club membership.

I will also probably be traveling on high fares, so there is even the potential for 150% EQMs/q-points. I should be able to hit the Plat challenge within a couple weeks.

Thanks again for all of your help!

-T