Thanks for the replies. I will very likely have 1P (* gold) status in United through February 2008, so it looks like the best choice is to fly * alliance and keep crediting to United. After that I could ask for a match and have status in SK through 2008, which would be enough since I'll be in Finland for 2 years (doing a postdoc).
As for which fares I'll fly... I'm afraid it'll be mostly discount economy, both on my own dime and paid for (conferences and such). But I don't have any details yet.
This game doesn't seem to be as much fun in Europe as it is in the US, but don't worry, I'm not giving up on FT

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