Originally Posted by nawlins
I was in the middle of doing exactly what you are considering when the trip fell apart due to AA cancelling the first leg of YYZ-JFK-MXP-LCA which resulted in some misconnections down stream on the award flight to HKT. I booked a 75k Business Star Alliance award from the Middle East (TLV) since the the same Business awards from Europe were 105k. Oddly the itinerary connected through Europe anyway TLV-VIE-BKK-HKT-BKK-FRA-VIE-TLV which opens some possibilities for you on your return. The coach award from TLV was 50k but no way that was going to happen considering the distance. If you had plans to TLV/CAI anyway it might be a way to go and you will also avoid the BKK-HKT cost since it is included on the award.
Thanks ! I had missed the mid-east zone option.
It is a lot of extra non-points earning travel time,
but in Business, OK !
The leg LCA-TLV is still $330 or more, it seems,
and the 75K miles are probably worth $1K min,
so Egyptair may remain the best value if I can stand the pain.
I had heard of cheap fares ex-Cairo in years past,
but I think it was mostly re: RTW fares,
and is no longer such a bargain.
So I am still pondering, but thanks again for the help ! ^