I would be grateful for some help on how to maximize my experience with Star Alliance, given the following details about travel patterns, existing elite levels, point balances and point earning options.

I live in Denmark so home airport is CPH, consequently, I've always tried to earn any *A flight miles on SAS EuroBonus. I was EB Silver for some years, but then Delta became a better option for my travel so I haven't flown with SK much in recent years. However, I recently took a business trip so do have some SK points accrued, but will just miss Silver this year.

I don't travel a lot, perhaps 2 or 3 TATL return trips per year with my husband (CPH-MCO), an occasional business trip (CPH-NY), and an occasional intra-Europe trip (CPH-UK).

Based on my AmEx Centurion, I have US Airways Platinum, Delta Platinum and VS Gold, so have *Gold status via USAirways. Generally, I use my US *G card for access to the lounge only, but don't accrue miles on the card because (1) I have not flown on US for 20 years, and don't see it happening any time soon based on itineraries, and (2) US is no longer an AmEx membership rewards partner so I would never have the opportunity to top-up miles if needed for an award.

After my recent SK/LH TATL for which I credited miles to SK, I suddenly wondered if I should have credited to US based on the extra 75% bonus points for being Platinum, and using those miles eventually for a *A award on another *A carrier. Thoughts?

My travel pattern the last few years has been to fly CPH-MCO on Delta in BusinessElite based on purchasing an M fare ticket and using my SWUs for free upgrades - usual price is ca. $2,000 all-in and with the free upgrade confirmed in advance. But after Delta stopped flying CPH-ATL, or CPH-JFK (except in mid-summer), we are annoyed at having to take 2 connections via either AMS or CDG and then ATL or DTW to reach MCO, so we are looking to return to *A.

There are very good itineraries on AC via YYZ and LH via FRA, or with SK via EWR or IAD (although I dislike connecting in IAD on the US inbound; don't mind the return MCO-CPH via IAD).

I have not joined AC, but could transfer AmEx membership rewards points to them if needed. I can also transfer AmEx membership rewards points to SK from my UK-issued AmEx, and I earn some SK points via an EB-branded MasterCard (but not significant amounts). So those are the two airlines where I can easily add points to top-up miles in the accounts if necessary. Although I don't have an unlimited supply of AmEx points!

What am I ideally trying to achieve?

1. Round-trip TATL C class travel for around $2,000, give or take a bit, understanding that this may mean booking high-fare economy and upgrading with miles or some kind of elite-earned certificates.

2. If upgrading, ideally that the upgrade can be confirmed in advance. I have tried both Optiontown and SK's standby upgrades at the gate with miles in the past, with mixed results. I hate playing this game and not knowing until the last minute if I'm stuck in economy or upgraded. (Loved the DL confirmed upgrades with 'free' SWUs and not even having to burn miles for it.)

3. An itinerary with only one connection. While I am willing to go DL via a 2-connection itinerary in order to have confirmed C, my husband is not. He actually prefers to save 3 hours on a one-connection itinerary and sit in economy, than have to use an extra 3 hours + an extra connection to be in confirmed business! Consequently, a good flight itnerary (shortest duration) is important. So that's why I'm back to *A.

Would be interested to try AC or LH, or a combination of the two, but either booked in C or booked in Y with a confirmed upgrade. From what I could understand on AC's website, their FF programme does not offer upgrades for miles, but only via certificates earned as a top elite flyer. So being able to transfer miles to AC isn't necessarily useful, as I understand.

Our trips to MCO are usually in the late autumn (Oct-Nov) or first quarter of the year (Jan-Mar/Apr). So not sure if SK, AC or LH ever offer sales on business class seats at these times?

We don't earn enough miles or points with AmEx to try to get C class award flights, so prefer not to burn miles for a full award, but rather for upgrades (also so we can earn miles on the trip on which we might be upgrading).

Any advice for how to maximize the experience with *A in these circumstances? I'm also wondering if there is a chance of status match with AC, SK or LH based on our DL Platinum status and, if so, if it would be at all beneficial. (I missed the offer last year that LH had for a status match.)

Would you stick with SK as the main point-accruing programme even if it won't be possible to reach EBG? Or post miles to US since I'm already US Platinum / *G even though I never fly their metal? Or start with AC based on the relationship with AmEx? Or LH because . . . ?

Which airlines is best to book through if trying to snag a *A confirmed upgrade - or is this dependent on which flight one wishes to upgrade?

Sorry this is so long and thanks if you've made it this far and have any advice!

Susan