Thanks for this insightful clarification of residency restriction! I will have to write off those hopes to receive the miles. BTW, finally after 2 weeks I received a useless reply from Agoda's CS just referring me to contact Delta.com. Have to agree with others that my hotel bookings in Thailand through Agoda were trouble-free, however the good rate I received was not cancellable, and taxes were added at the final checkout page.