When I ride transcom, EWR to LAX, SFO or IAH I notice all the platinums in coach with me. They, the gold and platinums, say it is nearly impossible to get a metal upgrade due to the fact so many business people pay full fare for FC seats in this market.

but 8 r/ts will net you 16 TATL points if you have a European address.

Sure,
3/27 -
EWR - HNL - LAX - EWR - DUB
3/29 -
DUB - EWR - HNL - LAX - EWR

Leave at 1:30PM Friday, back by 3:30PM Monday (really tired) with 26,330 miles for $1153 AI.

It gives you 2 hours in HNL, 1 hour in DUB, and another 2 hours in HNL.

With all that time on trans-oceanic flights I would die (because I would be riding in the back). I could also probably forget about getting an upgrade on the LAX-EWR legs also...... Seems like cruel and unsual punishment to me!

I never said it would be comfortable, just that you can get Silver very quickly for < $1200.

I did a 20k+ MR last year, only one upgrade (EWR - IAH) as a silver, in four days, this is only 3 days and about 6k more miles than that - not sure if I would do it either.

Had You said DUB-EWR in your original post I would agree with You, but you posted EWR-DUB, therefore 8 r/ts will Not get a person Plat on a EWR-DUB basis only Gold

Or a BDL-EWR-SFO-IAH-EWR-DUB-IAH-SFO-EWR-BDL can run $641 ai & 18,565 EQMs (2 different tkts, BDL-SFO-BDL & SFO-DUB-SFO) then do a creative routing East Coast-West Coast and pick up the other 6500 and you can have Silver for less then $1000 It will require a night on the way out to DUB in SFO but a PL can get you a 2 1/2* for $54 ai (Staybridge Suites)

Heck if a person has the time (remember DUB requires either a Sat flight over there out of EWR or being there for a Sat) do this 3 times and for < $3000 you got Plat. DUB is good till the 2nd weekend in March then it goes way up

lax to dub 3/27 - 3/29 for $377 gets you 11,200 EQMs. Sounds pretty simple.

Yep if 1 is LA/SF based,otherwise for those like me on the EC will have to find a way to get out there . Its cheaper and more EQMs to/from SFO

Its $299 ai EWR-DUB for 6386 EQMs so it will cost more $$$ to fly out West but it actually will lower the cost per EQM overall. The EWR-DUB comes in at 4.8 cents per EQM while its something close to 3.5 cents out of SFO with the EC-WC flights in there

If you're flying just to make Silver, no. If you're flying and making Silver, yes'ish--DL is a better choice if you want benefits from the status.

If you check a bag, the Elite priority service is a real benefit, especially if you want a little head start toward the customs line.