MM,

I'm sure you are aware of the airlines alliances that exist. Of the two major ones it looks as if Star Alliance may make the most sense. SA includes both United (better service than NW in my opinion) and Singapore Airlines (great service and equipment), ANA (to Japan) and Thai. Since miles on one are good for all the airlines in the program you could simply use just one card (i.e. United) to collect all the miles or use separate cards and transfer miles between airlines when needed. Of course the One World alliance includes Cathay Pacific if that is of interest. I believe JAL will become a part of One Word early this year.

The other component of your strategy may be limited by your company's travel policy. You could opt to take cheaper flights that have a connection for those city pairs that offer non-stop service to boost your miles. While this won't be the most convenient and may add headaches it will get you more miles.

Another idea which may again may be limited by your company's policy is the days in advance required to book a ticket. You could indirectly increase your miles by waiting longer to book your flights. While this strategy will cost your company money it will increase your rewards points (if Microsoft allows you to get rewards points on an Corporate Card) which can be used for more miles and/or a plethora of other travel/non-travel rewards.

Just my $0.02. Safe travels!

MM,

I travel a little more then you, roughly about 24 weeks a year and I do 5 trips a year to asia, 3-4 trips a year to Europe as well as about 12 2-3 day trips in the US. I have found that if you are a heavy international traveler I swear by the star alliance. The combination of United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and USAirways gets me to just about any desitnation in the world, except from city to city in a single asian country. It most certainly depends on your companies travel policy, but I have found that my business class trips + utilizing a credit card from one of the carriers that posts miles to my star alliance account (united in my case) works the best. My wife and I normally take 1 vacation to europe a year and up to 2 trips in the US that I can pretty much get for free due to the amount of miles I have. The other benefit to staying with star alliance is to hit their top tier program asap, normally 100k+ which gets me and my wife upgraded to biz or first class almost everytime I actually purchase a ticket.

as an x-consultant, here are some thoughts:

1) usually didn't travel to asia but i travelled to europe a good bit. i think the most important thing to consider is what you are going to use the miles for - upgrades / free tickets. i would say that you should choose the airline that will give you the most options when you want to use the points - translation, vacation spots.

2) its a small thing, but since you travel business class, you usually have access to the presidents clubs. since northwest and continental share their resources, you're equally served between northwest and united.

3) don't know if your company allows you to book flights on your own credit cards but the mileage point "kicker" can be advantageous. some of my tickets were $4k to europe = 4k points + 1.5x miles + x miles for booking online.

now having said all of this, JMT's comments are absolutely spot on that you proably want to go with united's star alliance.

i travel for business and try to focus on the star alliance, too.
the only downside is limited coverage to russia.
makingourway

I travel between Shanghai and Phoenix a decent amount, and I agree with the posters that United is the way to go. 1K flyers get some pretty nice benefits.

Check out the forums at www.flyertalk.com -- there is a great United forum there with some truly helpful people.

Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly signs a $42.5m (£22m) film deal starring his character Bruno...

Pioneering screenwriter Nigel Kneale, best known for the Quatermass TV serials and films, dies aged 84...

Pioneering screenwriter Nigel Kneale, best known for the Quatermass TV serials and films, dies aged 84...

The first stage of a £150m investment in regional museums is praised for boosting visitor numbers...

The first stage of a £150m investment in regional museums is praised for boosting visitor numbers...

Colombia's vice president is "baffled" by Kate Moss's success following cocaine allegations...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are leading the way at this years MTV Europe music awards with four nominations...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are leading the way at this years MTV Europe music awards with four nominations...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are leading the way at this years MTV Europe music awards with four nominations...

Social networking site MySpace is to block users from uploading copyrighted music to its pages...

Doctor Who takes three prizes at the National Television Awards in a repeat of its success last year...

Singer George Michael lends the piano on which John Lennon wrote Imagine to an anti-war exhibition...

Singer George Michael lends the piano on which John Lennon wrote Imagine to an anti-war exhibition...

Madonna says she may adopt another child from abroad following her proposed adoption of a Malawian boy...

Doctor Who takes three prizes at the National Television Awards in a repeat of its success last year...

Microsoft and Peter Jackson postpone the making of a film based on the Halo video game after backers pull out...

Microsoft and Peter Jackson postpone the making of a film based on the Halo video game after backers pull out...

Microsoft and Peter Jackson postpone the making of a film based on the Halo video game after backers pull out...