Is it really $800? Let us say that you need 20,000 miles, and can do this for $800. As a Gold, you will receive a 100% bonus, so you will be getting 40,000 miles for this $800! By many standards, those miles will be worth at least $800. Consider a WBC ticket to Europe or Asia that might cost $6,000 or 80,000-90,000 miles. I would think that the main consideration would thus be the time needed for the mileage run, and not the $800. As a Platinum since the inception of the category, I have enjoyed the benefits, so I cannot compare it with Gold.