Hi all,

I am a long time reader on Flyertalk and love all the great info. I've gone from being a United nothing to a Northwest Gold to a Delta Platinum to now an Alaska 75k via status match over years with the help of the community.

I am currently sitting in JFK on a MR of sorts to MIA (PDX-PHX-JFK-DCA-MIA) via American to maintain my Alaska status and kept thinking there's got to be a better way. I am flying a lot of American (in an exit row) to maintain Alaska status.

I'll probably land at MVP Gold (not 75k) next year but I'll have to fly a lot of American to maintain the status. I fly all over the country: CHI, AUS, MIA, DCA, MSY. If I take the AS nonstops from PDX I'd probably end up at around 40k per year and which would be a little under the 50k needed to maintain status (AA would have to be involved at some point).

My main priority is to be upgraded to FC which won't happen as an AS flyer on AA with airport lounge access as a second priority. I also love my Amex Platinum for it's flexibility of airline points and all the other perks.

I liked Delta until the MQDs and the continually cutting of benefits.

So oh FT experts which airline do you recommend so that I can be upgraded the most from PDX?

please see the very first thread in this forum, "WHICH FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM TO JOIN" which is dedicated to folks with questions like yours