Wow, thanks for all the responses. I have some renewed hope.

For the record, I fly out of PIB (Hattiesburg-Laurel regional airport in Mississippi); alternately GPT (Gulfport); with MSY (New Orleans) or JAN (Jackson) as less-desirable alternates. Are these small airports going to significantly reduce my chances? On NW, almost all routings are through MEM (only there from PIB). I have enough miles for a rule buster or first class seat, but the wife and 2 daughters are stuck at the regular award level for Europe.

My hopeful destination was ATH or SKG (Thessaloniki).

mdb mentioned 2nd tier cities served by Delta. What qualifies as 2nd tier?