Originally Posted by mazzer

I thought that I would add some math to this thread...

Suppose that the average SWU is used for 5,000 miles of flights and the average CR1 for 2,000 miles of flights. Then this will upgrade 6*5000 + 8*2000 = 46,000 worth of miles. If the 1k flys exactly 100,000 miles a year, they earn 40 of the 500 mile upgrades, which upgrade an average of 400 miles each giving another 16,000 miles of upgrades.

That seems to say that if you flew exactly 100,000 miles on cheap tickets, (ie nothing that gives you extra EQMs or Y/B fares with complimentary upgrades) the average 'cheap ticket' 1k could upgrade 62,000 miles of the 100,000 miles flown. For many people, given that there is no F on many UX flights or any TED flights, and why bother upgrading a short mainline flight if you have a good seat in E+ (eg row 6 in an Airbus), this pretty much upgrades everything.

Now there are many things that can alter this scenario. E.g. if you buy Y or B fares the upgrade is free (no 500 milers) and you get 1.5 EQMs ..... and my averages are numbers plucked out of thin air ... but you get the idea.