That's definitely part of it. Another part is wanting to increase savings to put into the stock market once it craters. Buy low, sell high.

time to buy WM?

One can still make Platinum quite frugally on one's own dime and still have plenty to put away in other investments. The question is where you are willing to skimp to be able to do it (i.e., only going somehwere for one night instead of two, staying at Sheratons instead of W's, cutting back on meal expenses, etc.). Being based in IAH, where average fares are higher due to CO's fortress hub status, makes it a bit more challenging; but it is doable, nonetheless.

True, but it would be easier for me to get and keep SEN on LH (assuming a BD transition to LH). 33.33K BIS of Q-UPs, with guaranteed travel in the front cabin.

How much do you think that will cost?

~$3,000.00 at 3cpm (what OKC/SNA was selling for while it was still around). There's always a handful of 3cpm Q-UPs on *A each year. In fact, sometimes, they're even cheaper.

[Edited - had a goof in my original calculation]

For some reason, I inferred that CO would be the only status which you would be attaining. If you can keep SEN by way of Q-up's and are satisfied with that, no need to keep more than Silver on CO (for purposes of Y-up's and EliteAccess).

On the Leisure routes I often travel, there's usually not much of a difference between R and Y (and sometimes R may be cheaper). As a *A Gold, I would still have EliteAccess if choosing to fly CO (though not EUA). I'm going to keep an eye on how competitive *A Q-UPs remain out of IAH/DFW/SAT/AUS/MSY after the alliance realignment. If they remain close to current levels, I may just opt to go the Q-UP SEN route. IIRC, SEN is good for two years once achieved, so it would essentially only cost $1,500/yr to remain qualified.

The best thing about NJ for me... the pretty low gasoline prices in South Jersey and you don't have to get out of the car to fill it up yourself. It is against the law to fill up your own car in NJ.

Also, I'm starting to run out of mainstream domestic destinations that I have any desire to travel to just for the heck of it. At least, destinations that are convenient to get to on a CO nonstop from Houston. The short-list at the moment includes TUS, PDX, ANC, MKE, and ABQ.

Might as well rack up miles domestically on Q-UPs at 300%+ on BD/LH, then use the miles for premium-cabin travel to more far-flung destinations that would otherwise be too expensive for me.

It was mentioned on FT at some point. With the slots costing $200MM and likely the most fungible asset CO has it is not surprising to me at all that Chase took them as collateral.

I think that going to Hawaii made me sick. And my wife's new health insurance doesn't kick in until the start of next month. :(

Yep I agree with that. I actually had the foresight (or maybe just luck) to sell my stock and mutual fund investments in my 401(k) early this year at a profit and move the money into fixed assets. Had I not done that when I did I would have lost a lot in the last couple of months. I'm just watching and waiting for the right opportunity to buy back into the market now, hopefully when it's at the bottom of the cycle.

I love those 9-1-1 calls when people have other objects firmly lodged in other areas.

I have wished people to misconnect also before, is that wrong?

Not a bad place at all. Great hotel for when you need SPG points/stay credits on the cheap.