Hi

I'm hoping you guys can help me out on which program to focus on.

I'm UK based and fly about once a year longhaul UK - Africa, South American or North America and maybe once a year within Europe.

I've only just got 1000 avios points and another few thousand on their way from the BA Amex credit card promotion and I have 20 tier points from 2 short flights in the BA exec club.

My next trip is outward Glasgow - London, London - Beijing, Beijing - Shanghai, Shanghai - Sydney
Inward - Sydney - Singapore, Singapore - London, London - Glasgow

I'll be flying on O booking class discount economy on a combination BA and Qantas metal with choice of BA or Qantas codes.

What I'm interested in is which program would be best to get some status most easily, even low level to let me choose seats ahead of the pack would be good but I'd like lounge access and possible upgrades at some stage if possible. Also interested in being able to use miles to possibly upgrade class on flights at some stage but not sure I'll earn enough miles for that.

If it makes any difference I have about 8000 miles already in Aegean and have Star Alliance Silver, 12000 miles short of Star Gold there.

Should also say while I'd consider paying £20-£30 pound extra to fly Star Alliance to get Gold status, I'm not willing to pay significant amounts to stick with one airline for status, just trying to maximise what I can get out of the trips I take which are normally the cheapest possible.

I guess I might be asking a lot but thought it worth checking.

Any advice welcome

Thanks