Hi there,

This seems to be the right forum for this post; apologies if not, feel free to let me know or move it ;-). I need some help, and it's to do with a number of different programs, so not really relevant to any specific mileage forum! Here is my situation.

I am based in London, UK, and I have been collecting various miles for quite a while now, without any specific targeting or redemption. I just give the relevant card over and fly, without really counting. And see, that's really what my problem is.

I am a roving consultant. My work takes me all over the place, and it might be six months of twice weekly flights to Edinburgh or Sweden, or maybe four weeks in Sydney Australia or two months in Austin Texas. But I also go through phases of six months driving sixty miles each way, or taking a train to somewhere that aeroplanes don't go. So my "tier points" for various mileage accounts are sporadic at best!

I went through a phase where I got BMI Gold membership for a while, which was nice - got to use the lounges etc - but that went away when I stopped traveling that route (of course). Most irritating of all is the BA executive club - last year I got 590 points and missed silver! I am reasonably good with Hilton - gold member, and about 10 nights off becoming diamond. Marriott, on the other hand, managed to lose all of my points at the end of last year, and since I had no physical proof of them I had to start from scratch (and their customer service was no help at all, despite many calls and letters).

My current points stand as follows:

BA Exec Club: 48804 (Blue, 0 tier points, household account)
BMI Diamond Club: 92950 (blue, 4867 status miles)
AirMiles: 9421 (www.airmiles.co.uk)
Marriott: 19514 (Base membership)
Priority Club: 31089 (Base membership)
Hilton Honors: 201369 (Gold)

My travel patterns are usually on economy tickets (my company mandates taking the cheapest ticket when traveling on business). I flew to the states recently on American, and got no miles at all (I didn't realise until it was too late). It doesn't seem to make sense for me to collect BA miles, since they seem to be based on rewarding folk who travel in business most of the time.

What I want is to find an airline frequent flier scheme which will allow me to progress in the tiers easily, so that I get lounge access when flying. Ideally one that will reward me even when I take a cheapo flight. In fact, ideally two, one that is One World, and one that is Star Alliance, so that I can take whichever family has the cheapest flight.

What do folk suggest I do?

Cheers,

-simon