or choose one with generous minimum mileage

I suspect it may be difficult/impossible without some extra flying. According to *A FFP partner airlines (link found in sticky *A useful reference links), SAS is the only *A FFP that will credit Air Baltic (BT) flights - and they count as status.

OTOH if you fly within europe to somewhere other than a LH/LO hub, on *A and on mileage earning fares you might do okay. For programs like United Mileage Plus a 500 mile minimum would net 2000 miles each round trip involving a connection. 12.5 of these a year gives 25,000 miles enough for *Silver status.