again, OP could spend $250K on an amex plat, and you can get cent for $2500 a year.

comes with DL CO US gold status.

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...ance/index.jsp
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/default.aspx
http://usairways.com/awa/content/div...s/default.aspx

thats mid tier on DL and CO, but lower on US. only star alliance silver.