Originally Posted by
Adelphos
Book all travel expenses on a card that will get you multiple points for travel expenses and just bank points over the next several years in the most flexible programs possible. In four of five years you will have a 4-5 million points and can spend them in a variety of ways with your family.
This is the best answer. Use their $$, put it on a miles card that works best for the carrier/hotel, and come out on the other side of the 4-5 years with another half a million miles or more. (4*40k for cash spent, another few hundred thousand actually flown)
Sounds like a nice problem to have!