Flying in mid-summer I was unable to get two business class to Italy for less than 275,000 miles each on Delta so having AMEX points I called Air Canada. It was unable to get a partner seat in Business but offered me two LH first class seats for just 100,000 miles each.
Guess which I took!!! Instead of non-stop fro Atl, I go over via Frankfurt and back via Munich. The intra-European flights will be 2 hours or so in coach like seats up front with middle blocked. For the chance to fly TATL in first, not a bad trade off.
Next time I book I am going to ask for first class first, then business.