MilesBuzz! - Career start, which credit card bonus & frequent flyer program to choose?

Hello FlyerTalkers,

first I want to say it's amazing the amount of information you collected in this forum, I've been reading for nights now and still only know that it don't know nothing... so I kindly ask for your advice and tips.

I am starting with an European IT-Consulting company in February. This profession brings a lot of travelling (airlines, cars, hotel stays, trains, etc.) with it and I'm sure it will matter what kind of FT program I will join.

I live in the south of Germany near Karlsruhe and I don't know where I will be used most, except that the main point will be Germany (so domestic flights) and our headquarters are in Zurich, Switzerland.

Company Travel Policy says: Economy for intra-european flights, business class for flights out of europe (don't think I will have a lot of them in the beginning). Train tickets first class.

Booking should be done over a website of a partner travel agency where the "best deal" has to be booked. (So far I think not much room to choose airlines and booking classes).

Now the good part :) Booking can all be cleared over the personal credit card (even privat card), so I was thinking about getting perhaps a bonus program card. I thought about the new Miles and More Mastercard which gives the 1€/1P deal and keeps LH M&M points from outdating. But would kind of restrict me to LH M&M program (and cost 95€/y), but I could also transfer PAYBACK and SPG points cheaply into that program.

Minus seems for me, that it is hard to qualify with LH M&M for elite status if you don't travel Business Class a lot. Other programms seem to be a lot more relaxed. Also I don't really know about the amount of miles which have to be redeemed for bonus flights, if LH gives here a good ration or if there are good alternatives for Germany.

On the other hand I could get an Amex Business Company card with the according bonus program and clear travel expenses over that. (But it seems to be that that would be the worse deal).

Also the question arrises which other bonus programs to join (car rentals, hotel chains) and which of the work together best. Car Booking should be made over Hertz or Europcar where possible (and contracts exist). It is also possible to apply for "Hertz's #1 Club Gold Card" or "Europcar Privilege Ready Card"

I just don't know what to do in this situation; and hope if some experienced travellers could give me some generall or specific advice on this issue. If any questions are needed for your help, please feel free to ask.

Thanks already for your time and help

Mr. Smith

I'm not sure how much good it will do you if you mostly end up flying Lufthansa, but one credit card to consider if you'll be flying KLM or Air France is the Flying Blue Gold Amex, since euros spent count toward elite status.

Okay, thanks for that first suggestion. I will check if that is possible with the company card or where I could get such a card.

I think I can ask some of my colleagues during the nexy days what they travel most with. Perhaps that helps clarify things a bit.