I'm thinking of getting a YRWSTAR1 fare for USA-Europe-Australia-USA in October.
What are my best options, either to upgrade to C, or for comfort in Y, for the long legs on the Europe to Australia portion? (I can fly UA metal and use UA miles to upgrade the other long legs.)
I'm a United 1k; I also have around 100k miles (but no status) in each of AA, US, and DL.
I'm aware of two upgrade possibilities (though I don't know how available these are):
1. Use UA miles to upgrade LH metal from FRA, but that will only get me as far as BKK or SIN (looks like the cost is 17,500 miles since YRWSTAR1 books in B)
2. Pay $300-$400 per leg to upgrade on TG (two legs required: one into BKK, another out)
http://203.170.161.80/rop/htm/news/exception/excep2.htm
I'd be glad of any suggestions or advice.