I regularly made status on DL on the backs of dirt cheap China Eastern transpacific fares.
I can't wait for the day I get <$1k flights to anywhere in Asia, and access to the excellent lounge at PVG using SkyTeam benefits.
I don't actually understand why Chinese airlines don't get around this by flying far more flights to Canada and connecting with US airlines... I'm not aware of any restrictions on slots between Canada-China but wouldn't mind being corrected with a source.