This is a little thought before I head out this weekend: I'm worried but also excited. It's weird. I feel like I'm "blowing" money to gain GE with NW. Then again, I enjoy the benefits a lot--you know, the UGs, check-in, priority boarding (since NW seems to never use the carpeted areas), select seating, and even just getting in touch with someone on the phone who cares about what I'm looking for. Plus, I entered in a targeted promotion where if I accrue at least 45K EQMs by the end of the year, I gain an additional 10,000 bonus miles. So, all in all, I guess this $313 trip will net me 8,556 EQMs (so the DL CSR says) but 18,400 total banked miles. I'm never sure whether I should look at cents/mile based on EQM's or simply banked miles. But I will definitely give you all feedback on my first MR. So, here's goes the 22-year old who gets ready to fly out west and up to Alaska!