This thread got me thinking so I called the Platinum line.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=827909

Seems like PDX-AMS has WBC award availability at standard rates (100k miles) for this summer. Normally 1, sometimes 0, sometimes 2. Marsha & I scored two WBC tickets PDX-WAW towards the end of June at this rate.

Yes, you need to be flexible, may not fly together on the return, may be forced to overnight in AMS and be very limited in cities beyond AMS, but if one wants to do a WBC trip on this route, it is doable during the peak summer travel period.

I called and asked for availability first PDX-OTP or SOF. None, how about something not too far away. IST was available inbound. WAW, which is not nearby, was available outbound. While the Chisholm agent was messing around she found 2 seats back from WAW, one to PDX and one via MSP with MSP-PDX waitlisted.

So, it is worth the telephone call