Currently ROP*G, I've flown over 50K miles on *A already for this year and so should be qualified for *G until 2011. Given that there's nothing left to shoot for under ROP (no higher status rank; 2009 is a "dead year" for me as I should already have the GUP2 upgrade under my belt), it's time to go shopping for a backup *A plan.

I've been thinking of making such a plan for some time now, but haven't been able to come up with a good alternative until now. My choice is influenced mainly by the following factors:
- good network and flights that originate in Japan
(for cheap award redemption; however flight awards are a minor objective for me at the moment as it is difficult to find some free time for travel)
- ease of earning / maintaining *G
- good lounge access, other unique *G benefits
- availability of non-flight awards in Japan


I've narrowed down my choices to SQ, UA, NH and LH and going over these, I'm scratching out SQ and UA because:

SQ
- lack of SK lounge access even if KF*G
- lack of non-flight awards in Japan
- poor redemption rate

UA
- lack of RCC lounge access in US if on US domestic flights
- lack of non-flight awards in Japan

NH is tempting because of the Super Flyers card that effectively gets you *G for life at 10,000 yen / year, but:
- lack of a good network
- 50% to 70% earning on virtually all discounted Y
are big minuses to me. I do bank some credit card shopping miles on this plan for some cheap Japan flight awards however, although these do not count for status.

So from here I'll try shooting for some status with LH. Being already in July, it may be difficult to attain Senator this year, but with the bonuses on C flights, I think it might be possible.