US Airways in May from Charlotte (CLT) to GIG nonstop is 35,000 miles roundtrip in economy. This would cost your friend 30K Starwood Points per person roundtrip if it was available. If your friend has a US Airways credit card they will get 5,000 miles off so it would be 30K US miles roundtrip, or 25K SPG points per person. I'm not sure if they charge more miles if you have to connect through CLT from another city but I wouldn't think so.

My wife and I actually have bookings in May we may have to cancel soon. Those seats may or may not go back to award availability if we cancel.