Hi, I am the primary member of a Family Account, and I am looking to issue tickets to two of the FA members traveling USA-Middle East. I would appreciate all help with the following:

1) Per the redemption charts and the service center, none of the partner airlines have an award category USA-Middle East. So, I would need to redeem seperate awards USA-Europe and Europe-ME, at a far higher than average redemption rate. Is it true that a simple partner airline USE-ME award does not exist?

2) The other choice is to use a Star Alliance award, calculated based on the flight miles. However, each individual's account is a little short to issue an award, although between all the members of the FA there is more than enough mileage. The service center is telling me that Star Alliance awards cannot pull from combined FA miles, although partner awards involving a single partner airline can. Is this the experience of others as well? I can't find anything in writing on the website stating this restriction.

Thanks for the help!