I had previously posted here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...lement-ua.html

but I am still unsure and would appreciate the collective wisdom of the FT community.

I am in the BD FF Programme along with my wife - my son is in the LH M&M programme as BD don't allow kids

We don't fly a huge amount but do take several flights a year - often TATL but usually in economy

I managed to score a very cheap fare from DUB to LAX in March with Aer Lingus on the first leg DUB-LHR and BA on LHR-LAX. Never being one to turn away miles I want to join a OW FF program but I don't know which.

Finnair was mentioned to me but I fear I would fall foul of the 5 year expiry of miles as I tend to like to save them up for "special trips". Also I really like the part miles / part cash that you can use on BD ^.

Given I do go to the US regularly AA would have been the choice but obviously I won't get any miles from the BA flight so does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I have been looking but the more I look the more I feel

Given that I can get a BA Credit Card and convert things like HHonors points to BA miles (as well as Tesco clubcard points) I do wonder if I should just join BA. The trouble is they are pretty mean with us "back of the plane" flyers.

Thanks