haha
you have the southwest game down to a science. Having the open seat next to you in coach is clutch! It truly is the next best thing to first/business class there is. It’s huge. Now I understand how you are able to fly as much as you do on southwest.
When I first started business travel I was a miles whore as well. Coming out of Boston AA was my preferred airline but you’re right: everything is a connection. If you make a million miles you get gold status for life. If you make 2 million miles you get platinum status for life. I made 2 million miles more than a decade ago. (The miles also includes credit card miles). However, I really now just choose whoever is nonstop and I almost never fly coach. I’ve got over a million unused miles on hawaiin airlines and their FC is pretty good. They have those lounge chair styles. If I fly internationally I use miles for FC. Those tix are hard to get but well worth it.
I don’t fly anywhere near as frequently as I did but once I made the commitment to stop flying coach it was a game changer for me. The lounges, the security line, the early boarding, the no stress about overhead space, etc was well worth it.
As always, appreciate your insight.