MilesBuzz! - Best Airline to use SPG points for upgrades?

I've got some SPG points that I want to use for international airfare upgrades (just to C, since F is usually too expensive). I'm looking at upgrades, rather than award tickets, because usually my employer will pay for economy tickets, even relatively flexible economy (though not full-fare).

My primary routes would be from NYC to Europe (primarily UK/Italy/France/Germany), and occasionally to Japan. The most obvious contender flying to Japan looks like ANA, though I'm a bit confused by their upgrade structure. For Europe, BA seems fairly reasonable (with upgrades from WT+ to C for 25K round-trip), but perhaps I am missing a good candidate.

Any ideas about which airline is the best? Below is the list of programs that transfer points 1:1, except LAN which transfers 1:2.
============================================

Aeroplan/Air Canada
Air Berlin
Air China
Alaska Airlines
Alitalia
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
American Airlines
Asia Miles
Asiana Airlines
British Airways Executive Club
Delta Air Lines
Emirates
Flying Blue
Hawaiian Airlines
Japan Airlines
LAN
Lufthansa Miles and More
Mexicana Frecuenta
Northwest Airlines
Qatar Airways
Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan
Thai Airways
US Airways Dividend Miles
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

BA is a good choice imho.

VS also allows miles for upgrade from PE to UC. However, unlike BA, the cheapest PE bucket is not eligible. This may not be a problem for you.

Most US-based carriers have some co-pay with miles for upgrade, but more expensive economy buckets have reduced and (?sometimes) no co-pay.

Also note that although the transfer is "1:1", if you transfer chunks of 20k SPG points, you get a 5k bonus.

tb

30k miles on United. No co-pay.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,1360,1151,00.html

30k miles on United. No co-pay.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,1360,1151,00.html

I'm a United refugee, having just abandoned them. Among other issues (and there are many) these days they never seem to confirm these upgrades in advance. I have no interest in playing the upgrade lottery at the gate (as discussed extensively in the UA MP forum).