Originally Posted by
eternaltransit
I suppose the answer is how much you care about the extras such as chauffeur drive, perhaps 10kg if it's the first sector and if ex-DXB, F lounge access. If you are only after the seat, you can wait until you are on board - if you don't get the op-up you can then use points to upgrade as you are a silver: assuming F isn't full already. If you absolutely must guarantee it, then by all means use the miles.
Additionally, are you going to want to use the points any other time, for a redemption or other sector, or is this a one off trip?
Flights are DXB-JFK. Used expert flyer and only 2 of the F seats are blocked or taken. Its 45K points to upgrade to first now. Her ticket is a refundable J ticket. She is flying JFK-DXB-DEL a few times a year and will be gold after this trip. I'm figuring with the high number of points needed with emirates to book a F reward ticket its better for me to transfer my points to Alaska and book through them, and use her points to get her F on some of her flights. Is 45k the normal needed for an upgrade? I know its not the best redemption but its a 13 hr flight and I figure all this back and forth she deserves a better class of travel.