Now that trip has been finalized, here's what I learned: According to Delta, going to ULN through SVO on SU (in J) requires two awards (265,000 SM + $568 in fees -- and long SVO layovers in both directions and we know what that is like!. Since there was no KE availability for my outgoing date (from any US gateway), I'm going on DL from DTW to PEK and then Mongolian Airlines to ULN (140,000 miles + $39 on DL and approximately $600 for flight to ULN in J. There is a long layover in PEK for ULN connection, but enought time for a driver to take me to the Great Wall.