I tried booking a business class award through Star Alliance on Singapore Airlines in Dec 2010 to route from HKG - SIN - MLE as my wife and I are flying from the US to Hong Kong and then onto the Maldives.

However, it seems there is no availability and on top of that we cannot choose our seats.

Can someone familiar with SA help me understand if:

1) Should I be able to use United Miles to achieve a Business Class award? Does SA even have that or is it so far out that all Business Class seats are likely yet to be put into the award category?

2) What's up with not being able to pick your seat!?

I'm 1K with United, but I don't think that makes much of a difference. The agent suggested I just keep contacting back to then rebook an award if it opens as there is no fee for 1K changes.

Thanks!