Given their west coast expansion seems logical that AS might be wooed as the one to be in partnership - I get it now and with my mounding AS miles I'm all for it. My only concern is I'm a CX flyer internationally with my miles not Emirates and I heard CX is still better. But I still want to go to Dubai and the middle east.

A friend told me I need to go to Dubai first before Israel otherwise if Dubai see's in your passport that you have been to Israel they will not allow you into Dubai - fact or myth?