Mileage Run Discussion - any suggestions for upgrade program? - new to this

I am new to this forum and I can use advice from an experts as you guys. I am new to upgrade system. I have used my mileages for getting a free ticket but not getting an upgrade award. I am planning for a trip to Japan and Korea next year and i would like to use my mileages for upgrade to business class. At the moment, I have 90,000 miles on Continental. I will be travelling with a friend who has 80,000 miles on Delta. I know continental is now Star Alliance which means, I can fly with Asiana to do this. so what I want to know are;

1. Do I have to buy full fair economy tickets in order for both of us to upgrade? Is this the only way? or can I buy restricted discount economy tickets and still be able to upgrade.

2.Is it better for me to get a free award business ticket using my mileage and purchase business ticket for my friend on Asiana? Is this cheaper than buying two full fair economy tickets?

3. Is there any airlines where we can both use Delta and Continental mileages and get free award tickets. we want to fly same airline for the same trip even though one is Star Alliance and the other is Skyteam.

ps - I have more miles coming my way before I book this trip so I will have enough mileage for both of us to upgrade in Continental, FYI.

Any help will be wonderful. I know i am amateur at this, so I apologize ahead of the time. thank you.

First off, welcome to Flyertalk. You'll find most of this answered in the FAQ posted in the respective airlines program forums Continental, for example).

The rules on CO for upgrading on airlines other than CO won't be announced until Tomorrow. Historically, upgrades to paid tickets haven't been available on most partner airlines - just award tickets.

WRT upgrading on CO metal, it's miles + cash with the cash portion dependent on the fare class of the ticket you're upgrading. It's all on the CO website : http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/onepass/rewards/upgrade/default.aspx (and in the aforementioned FAQ): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/continental-onepass/626679-faq-continental-onepass-lifes-greater-mysteries.html for CO.

thank you. i will check it out. sorry i guess i posted on wrong forum