For the past year, I have been planning a trip for 3 families/12 people. The 3 fathers are all celebrating their 40th birthdays by running in the Paris marathon. The 3 families are all travelling on different airlines and at times are staying in different hotels, all due to redemption of my points and miles. All the while I have been finalizing our mileage award travel plans, I have been keeping my eye on the ever decreasing airfares to Europe. This weekend, Northwest dropped west coast-Europe fares as low as I have ever seen them. Yesterday, I purchased four tickets for $1600. Under NWA's Customer First policy, I have until midnight tonight to cancel these at no charge. Now I have a choice to make. Do I:

1. Fly British Air in Club World (biz) as I am currently ticketed. These tickets cost me 360,000 miles and $350 in taxes.

2. Fly Northwest in coach for $1600 and earn approximately 75,000 miles, given status bonuses.

While I realize this is an individual decision, there are some compelling factors:

-When in the heck am I ever going to use all these miles I have accumulated if I don't ever start burning them?

-The vast difference in comfort and service between the two choices

-The passengers include a 7 and a 1 year old, both have elite status and neither has any clue what it is like to ride in coach (and neither of whom would probably care where they sit). And don't even start about them being disruptive....they travel very well with proper manners and attentive parents.

-the bottom line: I can save/earn 435,000 miles by paying an additional $1250 and ride in coach.

I thought I would "go to the source" for some constuctive analysis. Any thoughts?