Executive Club Member, Olga Edridge, was recently awarded Gold membership for Life as part of the new Lifetime Recognition proposition. She tells us what she thinks of her new status, which hotel in the world she’d like to live in and where she’s off to next

How did you feel when you found out you’d earned Gold membership for life?
It came out of the blue. When I was head of strategy for Discovery Channel I used to commute to Washington every week, so I had a Gold card for nearly ten years. Then after I stopped doing that I slipped down to Silver and ended up with Blue. I felt like a child who’s had their best toy taken away. So when I was told I’d done more than 35,000 Lifetime Tier Points, it was like all my Christmases had come at once.

Will you choose BA because of it?
I’ve always been loyal to BA. My father’s job meant I travelled with BA and BOAC as a child so I’ve always felt that getting on BA is like coming home. I love BA. It’s irrational because it’s only a company, but it becomes a part of your life. I don’t have the same sort of loyalty to any other brand.

Do you now travel for business or leisure?
Mostly for pleasure.

Where’s next on your list?
In January I’m going to Mexico City and the Yucatan Peninsula for a couple of weeks for my honeymoon. We’ll stay in Tulum and explore and then go down south to an eco reserve so I can go animal watching and diving and he can climb ruins.

Describe your Perfect Day
To be with the person I love most in the world, to have a bit of intellectual stimulation, such as a new cultural experience, and to go snorkelling and scuba diving. So it has to be a coral reef destination - probably in the Indian Ocean.

Where’s the one place in the world you’d like to be kept secret?
The northern half of Chios. It’s completely unspoilt and how Greece used to be 20 or 30 years ago. We stay in a small house belonging to a friend of mine in a small hillside village and we read and walk and swim and eat.

If you could live in a hotel, which would it be?
Ca Maria Adele in Venice - it’s my favourite hotel in the world. It’s on the other side of the Grand Canal from St Mark’s, so it’s away from the main hordes. It’s the most idyllic little place.

What are your recommendations for your home town?
Eat at J Sheekey, which is the best fish restaurant in London, and go to the National Theatre, which does consistently good theatrical work.

What’s the best way to earn Avios?
Use a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card and flying. You get 1.5 Avios for nearly every pound you spend, and if you spend enough in a year you’re also given a companion voucher. Although it costs to have it, if you do spend money and put everything on it, it makes it worthwhile.

What do you redeem your Avios on?
Flying in the front of the plane on long haul. 

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This article has been tagged BA, Travel Tips