Unfortunately Emirates have stopped their HAM-NYC route, which I have used a number of times this past year. I would usually by dirt cheap (300-400eur) economy class tickets and upgrade to business class with miles. Now I am looking for alternatives.

My eurobonus balance is pretty low (35000 miles), and with another NYC trip coming up in mid april, I am playing around with the various options I have.

Here's what I have come up with.
1. Buying a cheap economy class ticket out of AAR-CPH-EWR for aprox 6000 dkk, and trying my luck on either upgrading (standby) to econ-extra or one of possible business class. Economy Extra tickets seem very expensive out of AAR.

2. Bying an economy extra ticket from HAM for aprox 9500 dkk and upgrading one of the transatlantic to business class (20000 miles right?) - seems to be one seat left on my day of departure... 3500 dkk for economy extra is a lot - and the only way I can justify this would be to look at the fact that I save 20000 miles not paying for the upgrade to economy extra + make about 10000 miles on the flight.

Are there any other possibilities out there that I should consider?
(silverjet is about 10000 dkk return in business class out of Luton)
(L'avion is about 8700 dkk return in business class out of Orly)