Hi,

Looking for inspiration, I read the sticky and some more posts , but I'm still looking for guidance/conviction. I hope someone can help us. My wife and I would like to go to Las Vegas in September.

We had been planning to buy a cash economy ticket and use points to upgrade to PE both ways or upper class one way with virgin from LHR to LAX to make use of the UC lounge. However, the recent increase in points needed, and the fact we didn't realise you can't upgrade all economy fare tickets means we need to re-think.

I've made a list of the points we have already. I think it's fair to say our earnings potential between now and then are limited.

My 'ideal' would be virgin from Lhr to east coast US (New York, Boston, maybe Chicago?) using points to upgrade. Then a domestic US flight to LAS using avios, then either virgin return to LGW or maybe even a non virgin flight from LAS to Dublin and back from there. But I think I may be over complicating it.

We normally fly economy so anything else would be a treat. We could then use the hotel points for a few nights as a stop off in America somewhere.

Would be interested in people's thoughts and ideas. Or should we just pay £500 return from BHX to LAS and forget about points altogether? It seems easier, but we'd really like to make use of the points. Thanks!

BAEC 5k
Avios 3k
Emirates skywards 15k
Virgin FC 30k each (60k ttl)

Club Carlson 90k
IHG 50k
SPG 11k
Heathrow Rewards 5k (convert to avios?)