Originally Posted by Gardyloo

My calculus includes award mileage. First, I see a US$6500 DONE4 buying me 20 J or F segments at $325 apiece. May not be a barn-burner on LAX-SFO, but it sure wins on LAX-LHR.

Second, if our RTWs average around 55K BIS miles, with elite bonuses and COS bonuses added, they generate ~125K+ each in spendable miles. That pretty well covers a lot of of our travels outside the paid RTWs.

So we're using alternating-year RTWs to maintain status and to cover non-longhaul travel in the "off" years. So far so good. Add award travel "gifts" to family members (trips or eVips when applicable) and I see the product as having numerous benefits outside the straight travel value.