Originally Posted by SchmutzigMSP
How many awards do you book each year? How many would you like to book with the flexibility of making unlimited changes to your itinerary? How many more would you book if you had this flexibility as well as increased award inventory?
The "Plat perspective" is really worth it, IMO. You mentioned the "Romania thread"; did you get in on one (or more) of the mistake fares from Canada-Bucharest? If so, you'll be well on your way to elite status next year, and really, 75,000 miles is very attainable if you set a goal for it and begin working toward it starting on Jan 1.
I don't book award flights for myself (I buy real ticket for myself and use miles for my poor friends who want to come along but can't afford the trip) so it doesn't really happen very often. I book like one award flights every couple years (hence the inexperiened question).
I bought one Bucharest trip but I may end up not being able to go. I work too much to pay attention to FT 24-7 for mistake fares or do pure MRs. I take enough vacation to keep silver easily. With some luck (eg catching mistake fare I can go, NW having double mile promotion), I may be able to make gold. Plat will take some effort though.