I think you will get some good answers here, but better, more balanced replies if the mods move this to the *A forum.

It would seem that if you got as close as 92.5k status miles in LH M&M, you might have considered a 7.5k status mileage run to push you to SEN/*G. (Until your post, I didn't realize that they don't have a mid-tier level between 35k and 100k status miles.) But I know that was a theoretical number, and not sure why it's different between say LH and UA. Both award class of service bonuses when you fly on any *A metal.

UA has lifetime status, but only miles flown on UA metal count towards it. The best US carrier with lifetime status is AA, since they count all miles earned, no matter what the source.

You should probably also consider CO, now that they are in *A. But nobody really knows how their program will change between now and when the merger completes with UA. Also, I think CO only require 75k status miles for their top tier, which is 1k equivalent. Once you make any status level on UA, the lowest being premier at 25k status miles, you are eligible for Economy+ seating on all UA metal flights.

Anyway, there's a lot to consider, and you need a balanced set of replies.

-David