Hi folks, not many posts on FT, not a power user....yet...

I'm finishing up my International MBA over the next year and hope to move into consulting, so there's definitely travel potential there. I'm based out of DEN, so *A is the primary alliance. With the industry I'm in, much of the travel could be Euro-centric, but that's very loose at this point. Only have 2200 EQM in UA Mileage Plus, none YTD so far.

I'm traveling on OZ to Asia this summer on school and business, totaling around 18k miles full fare economy. I'm interested in getting the most out of this since I'm not positive what future travel plans from DEN would be by year end 2010, probably more travel coming after June 2011.

The other consideration I'd like to consider is upgrade options if I did get to *A Gold status- I'll be going on a honeymoon late next fall (2011), most likely to New Zealand so ANZ would be an option. AC *A Gold is only 35k miles, but I probably won't get that within 2010. OZ's program doesn't offer upgrades, do they? But they do have a 2 year period to earn elite status, and thus lounge access, which is better than nothing if I'm not getting to thresholds within a calendar year.

Will probably do more research myself, but would love to hear feedback from this board, or to be directed to more relevant threads...