I am an AA frequent flyer in Chicago with no particular status. I soon will have 90000 miles and am thinking about purchasing 20,000 more in order to get a frequent flyer business class ticket to Asia 2 (including Bali). It seems that Japan Airlines and Cathay fly there. My trip is planned for a year (June/July 2009) from now for two passengers. I've been trying to get some tickets on Cathay, but this seems to be impossible. Only other options appears to be Japan Airlines, but this is pretty difficult also. Plus, I want to avoid American to Tokyo because their business class really does not seem particularly nice. That is why I would really like to fly Cathay. Any experts in this forum that can assist? I have tried all sorts of different routings, but no luck with Cathay and not so much with Japan airlines either. One leg of my trip will be to Bali, but my return will be from a place Cathay flies in Borneo (Kota Kinabalu, airport code BKI), but if not possible I am flexible to fly back from other cities including Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Panang, Surabaya, etc. Trip can also be done in reverse order (i.e. Kota Kinabalu or close city first and flying home from Bali).

Am I requesting this trip too early? Will more seats open up in one or two months from now? Should I buy more miles and try first class (which appears to be even more coveted). Not sure how I can get this trip accomplished. Also not sure about best way to check availability. I have signed up as Cathay and Japan Airlines frequent flyer in order to check open award seats, but they do not seem to correspond to what American Airlines (oneworld) seems to have. Help!!!!!!!!