I am just about to achieve *G for the first (and probably the last!) time with BMI, having been BD*S for most of the past 10 years, and though I took the precautionary step of achieving *G with A3 last year, I am unconvinced by A3's current benefit set, and am still looking for a *A programme to replace DC.

Ruling out programmes with short miles life, ruling out programmes with an own-metal status qualification requirement where I don't fly on the carrier regularly (like AC and US), and prioritising programmes where with lower *G qualification thresholds, this reduces the choice for me down to:

- going with with A3 as my main *A programme and hoping the programme improves - some great benefits, and effectively to maintain A3*G you only have to credit one flight a year under current rules, and as A3*G miles do not expire - but currently no changes/cancellations to award bookings without loss of mileage, poor stopover options and expensive redemptions when connections involved, no RTW fares, and crucially no miles-earning credit card or points transfer option for non-Greek residents;

- start crediting miles to OZ - which has a low *G requalifcation threshold at 40K every two years, and 12 year miles expiry for OZ*G, with points transfer from Amex via Starwood Preferred Gold card at 1:1.25 (including 5K bonus if transferred in blocks of 20K), and is the only programme I can find without an own-metal requirement offering lifetime *G (at 500K) - but does not have a brilliant earning/burning ratio and, does not seem that flexible compared to BMI (they were not interested in a status match to start the process off);

- look at SK - which offers a 45K *G requalification with an address in the UK (and most European countries), 25% bonus earn for SK*G which counts towards requalification (so reducing requirement to 36K miles earned from flying), 5 year miles expiry, miles transfer from Amex membership rewards at 1:1; but offers no lifetime status option (it is a shame SAS do not introduce this - a 10 year *G or 500 mile lifetime threshold would convince me to choose SAS as my main *A programme);

- flying pigs (version 1) - BMI regional to stay in *A and to keep DC going in its current form and with its current benefits;

- flying pigs (version 2) - either or both VA/DJ or VS to join *A and add some of the unique DC benefits to their programmes - the VA programme is really good and suits me (the own metal requirements are not an issue given I fly them regularly anyway) - but they are not members of a worldwide alliance, which limits redemptions and opportunities to use the benefits of status - if they would join *A and offer lifetime status it would be perfect;

- flying pigs (version 3) - the BA/BMI deal to fall through, BMI to find a new owner to give it a long-term future (VS/EY?), and BMI to stay in *A with an unchanged DC programme.

For the moment I am going to sit tight to see what happens, and what, if anything is offered in the way of transfer/status match out of DC (and hope that it is something, otherwise all my earned points will be down the drain).

In the meantime I am looking forward to achieving BMI *G at last!