Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
On SkyTeam, you can only get IFC award tickets rarely with FB or KE miles, certainly not DL that doesn't offer IFC. Also with DL miles, you get better domestic coach availability if you're a DL elite. As a nonelite on DL, your best bet might be coach or business class international awards, but not being to make free changes puts you at a disadvantage. There are also big fees on some award tickets, which is why I asked from where you would be flying.
AS can make sense, especially if you would also have some stray AA etc. miles to credit somewhere.
Thanks! Hm, that sounds like UA is much better where I've gotten to Lufthansa, Thai, and Swiss IFC.
As far as Delta is concerned, I could status match to Platinum and with the flight booked, I'd extend the status through February 2015. How many miles and dollars would an IAH-FRA or IAH-BKK cost in business oneway?
Whatever program I choose, I'd be expect that StarAlliance would remain my primary program and that long-term I'd probably only have silver, if that, as status.