Thanks guys, I think I'm slowly getting there.

It looks like it's between AAdvantage and BAexec for me as I think they might be the only 2 that have point earning credit cards here in the uk to keep the account open in the years I'm not flying one world flights.

Do the miles earned on Aadvantage from credit card count towards elite status e.g. if I earn 10,000 miles on opening a credit card and then earn 15,000 from spending would that get me elite gold? (assuming they don't enforce the 4 flights rule)