For various reasons, I'm taking only one flight this year, but it has nothing to do with fares.

I looked at my finances and my miles and realized that I had a couple of upgrades due to expire, so I decided to book a trip to a Stateside professional conference, both to take a tax deductible trip and to see if I can use up those upgrades.

However, if all goes according to plan next year, I should gain status again.