Originally Posted by Ericka
Yes, this is certainly ideal. Unfortunately, this is "illegal" according to United because I am overshooting my destination (CMB) by flying from the east coast to SIN or BKK. So, I'm now thinking that I should use miles for NYC to BKK or SIN. And then purchase the CMB and MLE flights with cash.
I don't see why; it's a North-America to South Asia award which should be a transpac routing, so you're overshooting nothing... Perhaps the agent is thinking CMB is in Central Asia, forcing you to an Atlantic routing? Or perhaps s/he is thinking of a NYC-SIN/BKK as transatlantic? Perhaps you need to talk with a different agent.
(FWIW, NYC-SIN/BKK non-stops are transpacs: going from IATA area 1 to IATA area 3 is by definition a transpac).
Originally Posted by Ericka
I think the flights in and out of CMB should be cheap as WindFlyer suggests.
Into CMB, not necessarily. Ex-CMB (purchased there), definitely.