I must go to the Seychelles in late November for a client. I'll be flying business class. I've been out of the FF game for the last 5 years or so, so I'm pretty much out of the loop.

I have no status anywhere anymore, though I have roughly 130,000 UA miles (and Mrs. PTravel has about 90,000). This is what I'd like to accomplish:

1. Get status somewhere. A J-class ticket runs between 9 and 15K, but only part of it is on UA metal, the rest on *A carriers.

2. Get an award ticket for Mrs. PTravel so that she can come with me.

3. Spend a few days in the Seychelles after my business, as I haven't had a vacation in years. Maybe break the journey somewhere and spend a few days there.

My TA can book me UA-South African Airways via NY and J'burg, though it's nearly 48 hours of travel (I don't mind that too much -- my time is my own and I don't bill portal-to-portal). However, though that's doable in J, it would be murder in coach for my wife and me (I figure we can switch off, but still). I can also go via UA-Swiss, which also goes through J'burg and Zurich, but costs quite a bit more. We've been to Zurich, so J'burg would be an interesting place to spend a few days -- maybe see a lion?

If Mrs. PTravel can't manage a ticket, I'll just go myself.

I'm also wondering if this might not be a good time to part company with UA and switch either carriers, Alliances or both.

Advice would be welcomed.