Your second question is quite vague. Tell us where you are (better yet, put location in your bio) and where you might like to go... The award options in the Star Alliance are extensive. If you've got plenty of US miles, where *couldn't* you go?!
I like US' off-peak award option to Europe in business for 60k RT, but I also prefer Europe in summer...
Sorry about that I thought I specified - I want to fly out of somewhere East Coast, I am in Phila, so either Phila or NYC preferably.. and we are flexible on destination, but ideally would love to go to Italy or France.
I don't want to wait for next Jan/Feb for the 60k off-peak .. My intention was to use it for that, and that's why I've been saving my miles, but things came up Jan/Feb of this year, and unfortunately we missed out. We could wait till 2012.. but ideally we still want to go this year. So what's our best redemption using star alliance to get from Philly/NYC to Italy/France via business class this spring/summer?