Hello,

Hopefully the masters can help me! I am looking to make a trip to Australia with my wife in the next couple of years. Being a crazy long flight, I want to do whatever necessary to fly business class (preferably without paying $20k!). Since I have a couple of years before the trip, I am trying to make up a plan that will give me the best chances of being able to upgrade.

Does anyone have suggestions on airlines that are most likely to have availability to upgrade with miles? Any suggestions on credit cards that can get me the miles necessary to get there? My thoughts would be to dedicate my spending to one airline mileage program and get miles however I can (flights, credit card, hotel conversion, etc).

My home airport is PHL (but to go to Australia, I will likely fly out of JFK). I do not fly for business anymore, but I do have status on BA and about 40,000 Avios points remaining from when I did. Domestically, when I do fly, it is likely US Airways. I currently use AMEX for everything and probably spend $40-50k a year on it. I do spend about 50 nights a year on the road, most often at Marriott hotels.

Any suggestions on strategy?