Originally Posted by hw711

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.