I'd personally use the miles on DL ...take 80k and get a Business Elite Seat on a DL 777 aircraft to CDG. DL, like CO, does not have a International FC. But Business Elite is the best business class seat available.

After having flown DL Int'l FC many times, and now a regular flyer on BizElite flights, 6 in the last two weeks, I wouldn't spend the extra miles. You'd still have 60K left over, enough for a domestic first class ticket that you could use on UA or DL, and only 5k shy of a domestic economy ticket. Or you could use the 60k and buy two domestic economy tickets. I think you'd find the flight to CDG on a 777 in BizElite well worth it. You should check out the Business Elite site at www.bizelite.com .

Also, the best route for you would be LAX-JFK, JFK-CDG on DL because it would be BE all the way. Going through ATL or CVG would mean you'd have to fly Domestic FC to either gateway. The 777, along with the MD-11 has the widest seats of the BE seats in DL's fleet. If you are on a 763, the seats are narrower, but still comfortable.

Finally, while you could use DL miles on AF, they don't offer a FC award and you'd have to fly in Business. DL's BE is better than AF's Business Class.

[This message has been edited by jeffreyt (edited 08-29-2000).]