thanky you for (trying) to explain the situation. No real problem. I will talk to AN once I am in Melbourne then.

I wouldn't mind 'paying' with even 20'000+ UA miles (or LH miles), I have currently over 420'000 UA miles 'in stock'. But I know I can't use UA or LH miles for upgrades on AN at all. I did appreciate AN business class in january-2000 on a paid StarAlliance rtw. I must say that I rate their international business (HKG-SYD) at the very top, and their inner-australian business is way above UA's NorthAmerican-first on two-class aircrafts and also way above any inner European business I know (includes LH, SR, SK, OS).