You may want to explore an option that can get you SkyTeam Elite+ status if you travel internationally a lot. You will get lounge access for international flights and access to all priority lines (check-in, security, and boarding) for all SkyTeam flights.

Delta requires annual 50,000 MQMs, which generally equate to flown coach miles on many partners, for Gold Medallion, which is their lowest level with SkyTeam Elite+. However, if you are based in the US you must also get $6,000 MQDs, or Medallion Qualifying Dollars which are given for spending money on Delta, KLM, or AF, or as a small percentage of flown miles for other partners. You can bypass this requirement by spending $25,000/year on a Delta Amex or by proving to Delta that you live in another country.

You can also look at KLM/AF FlyingBlue. As long as you don't live in France or Monaco you can get their Gold Status with 40,000 annual miles and no revenue requirement. This gives you SkyTeam Elite+ status.

You will need to research how each of your flight segments will credit to any program you are looking at. You will need to find the program's crediting charts and your fare class to do this. GC Map is also a great resource for this as you can see how many miles each of your segments is.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_.../airlines.html

www.gcmap.com

Good luck with your travels and your status quest.