Originally Posted by
benzemalyonnais
You can use AMEX points to redeem on US Airways, by transfering to Aeroplan and then from Aeroplan to US Air through points.com. The rate is something like 1/.8 so it would be about 150k AMEX for a business class ticket to DEL. Of course, US Airways has basically the same availability as UA.
Really quite simple to plan this trip. There should be all kinds of NH, OZ, UA availability TPAC and then connecting to DEL. There are 3 seats open ORD-NRT in business on the 17th. The NRT-DEL NH flight is also wide open, so the connections are simple. Search it segment by segment and you will have success
OP doesn't have enough MR + UA to do 3 tickets in J on *A.
OP - if you want to fly Economy and have any other international trips planned, I would NOT use miles to India as economy redemptions to India are generally some of the worst redemptions. Buying tickets will cost $1,422 per person on the dates you prefer - use ITA Matrix to price it out. At best, you'll get 1.35 cents/mile when you include oppotunity cost and taxes/fees.
MR transfer partners AC and NH will hit you with YQ (fuel surcharges). Transferring to US Airways via the route suggested will not yield enough miles for business class redemptions though will give you enough for two economy redemptions.
Finding 3 economy redemptions on the same flights to DEL will be very hard. If you see availability on UA, then go ahead and book one via UA (80K roundtrip) and then get the other two via US Airways but you'll have to move fast so availability doesn't disappear.
For AA, you don't have enough for even 3 one-ways (45K miles each unless you transit via Europe which would be 40K miles each). Going through HEL on AY involves a very long stopover anyway. You don't want to fly via BA to avoid YQ and APD and availability on EY via AUH or RJ via AMM is not that great. Don't even waste your time on a GF redemption as that would require 3 stops between CMH and DEL. You will have to call for availability. Avail on 9W via BRU is also pathetic.
Sorry for the bad news.