A couple more points.
One 'bad' program can be a good program! Miles and More (LH, LX, OS etc): miles have unlimited life with use of a LH-branded credit card, available in most markets.
http://www.miles-and-more.com/online...d=2568578&l=en
Note that Miles and More is the program for LH and many more. LH, LX and OS no longer have separate programs.
The anti-European discrimination of DL has been mentioned (higher cost of award travel). AA have no such discrimination and IME has far better award availability.
Most European plans require a much higher co-payment, known as fees/taxes/fuel surcharge/etc, on award travel than most US programs. Guilty are:
- BA Executive Club;
- BD Diamond Club;
- AF/KL Flying Blue;
- Miles and More (LH/LX/OS/LO/++);
- probably more.