Forgive me father(s) for I am about to sin...

I'm contemplating flying non *A in a (currently) hypothetical trip to Oz. To get there on miles in F I'd be looking at 100k + Ł340 + taxes each. That's a lot of miles (which I don't currently have). Alternatively, I could be tempted by:

GLA-LHR-DAM return in BD Biz for 20k + Ł140 + taxes each (Gold redemption upgrade from Y)

DAM-DXB-SYD-DXB-DAM on EK First for... Ł1681 each including taxes!

That seems a stonking deal - the only downside is I can't seem to find a decent deal on QR in its place so I can get DC miles!!

Any thoughts - it seems that for a pretty reasonable amount I can get paid (restricted) first on a decent airline and experience what I've been led to believe is a good F lounge in DXB and decent F-in-the-air service on board. Net of the cash part of cash+miles it'd cost me an extra Ł1481 each (less than that in reality due to increased taxes ex UK - so perhaps as little as Ł1400ish) but I'd save 80k miles each.

This works out at c. 1.75p per mile - is that worth doing??

Sometimes you have to use your common sense - I recently had to fly LON-WAW-LON. Cheapest two *A options were:

a) LHR-MUC-WAW-MUC-LHR on Lufthansa (J) for approx. £410
b) LHR-FRA-WAW-FRA-LHR on Lufthansa (J) for approx. £430

Even flying via MUC would only net just over 4,000 status/destination miles, and I didn't think it was worth paying over £400 for that. I considered flying LH in economy then to save money, but...

What did I choose in the end?

c) LTN-WAW-LTN on Easyjet for £25 return inc. tax

OK, service was crap but it was only a short flight and the £380 difference was used towards my new widescreen TV

I'd go with EK if it saves you the miles - they can be much better used on a different route. That £1681 really is a bargain so book as soon as you can!

If you would prefer Etihad (still not QR), they are slightly cheaper ex-DAM for F to SYD. Diamond Zone on EY is nothing to sneeze at.