This is my first time in this board, I think!

Background: I travel to Europe all the time, and currently there are rumors that my company is trying to cut expenses and is doing away with Business Class to Europe. I'm fighting this with all my might, but for the time being I need to look into other options should this movement prevail. I travel to Europe about 15 times per year.

I am trying to find an airline that can upgrade me without totally draining my mileage banks.

My current favorite, US Airways, only gives 2 upgrades for top-tier. While usable on any fare, they would be relatively worthless to me except for a single trip.

On Delta, I won't be a Platinum next year, but Platinum will only give 6 int'l upgrades.

Other airlines I looked at--
CO: Int'l upgrades for miles sucks and certs are non existant.

AA: 4 roundtrip systemwides for top-tier.

UA: 6 one-way for top-tier.

Obviously none of these will allow me to travel to Europe in biz class all the time. But a co-worker said to me that Air Canada's top-tier program offers international upgrades on any-fare for every cetain number of miles. Is this true? Can someone give me details? The AC website was less than helpful.

Air Canada has A320s/767s (seasonal switch) to my homeairport of Tampa from Toronto. How does transfering in Toronto work? For example, coming in from Europe, can I go directly to preclear US immigration or do I need to clear Canadian immigration than turn the corner and clear US immigration?

How is AC's business class? Is it up to the quality of US/DL/CO or down to the quality of UA?

Any other comments?

Right now I am planning that we are going to have to take the lowest fare (on our preferred airline). If we can go Y-Fares, mileage upgrades would be much cheaper, but that's probably not going to happen. I'm really really hoping they don't change the current policy.

Thanks so much,
Chairman's Preferred