Very unhelpful half an hour of my life wasted speaking to Skywards Customer Support. Very grateful for anyone who can take the trouble to answer the following. My wife and I are planning a trip from GLA to SEZ next September for our tenth wedding anniversary and would like to fly in Business class ideally reducing the cost by using Skywards miles.

1. 16000 of her miles expire at the end of January 2014. If she transfers them to me does that reset the expiry date?
2. If we are both travelling, do we each individually need the required miles or can we book if between us we have enough miles for 2 passengers?
3. Are the limits on purchasing miles for ourselves, purchasing miles for each other and transferring existing miles independent of each other or is there a total limit of 25000 miles obtained?
4. If we are looking to fly in Business, is the availability the same whether we use miles to purchase a Business ticket outright or alternatively buy a Flexible Economy ticket and use miles to upgrade?
5. Is there any way of checking availability online of Flexible Economy to Business Upgrade rewards without first buying the Flexible Economy tickets?
6. Can you check availability for Flexible Economy to Business Upgrade rewards or Business rewards if I don't have enough miles at present? If yes can I still do this if I would not have enough miles even if I purchased my full remaining allocation of miles this year but would still need to buy more miles in the next calendar year?
7. The agent said there was no Upgrade reward availability for specific dates I suggested next September. In general terms how likely is it that reward seats will become available as we get nearer the departure date?

Incredibly grateful for any links, help etc. Great website. A few years since I last posted but had forgotten how good a place it is.

Bryce