concrete: If I (based in Zurich, Switzerland) would restart today, my choice would be LH's miles&more and with one "round-the-world-ticket", in international first class, costing Sfr 10'000 ($7'000) I would fly 38'000 effectiv-miles during jan-1st-99 and february-28th-99 and winning:

- a first-class trip in any desirable comfort
- 3 * 38'000 miles = 114'000 credited to my miles&more-account and at the same-time also 114'000 status-credit, which would make me for 12 months Senator (and anyway StarAlliance-Gold).
- plus 50'000 LH's Star-Alliance-promotion-credit (making it: 114'000 + 50'000 = 165'000 total mileage credit).
- plus free upgrade vouchers for miles flown and status reached.
- plus hours to talk/bluff here on FlyerTalk how it was or wasn't