My mother is in a position where she wants to make her first ever rewards booking in business class on EK, but she doesn't really know what's she's doing so i've offered to help. However, i'm unfamilar with Skywards so help somene may be able to help us:

She and my dad each have 113,000 Skywards miles.
They want to travel to either Sri lanka/Maldives or Dar es salem in business class - which requires 130,000 airmiles each or 37,500 (Columbo) or 40,000 (Dar es Salem) each to upgrade. I don't know whether a stop-over is allowed FOC in Male or whether they would have to book another rewards ticket for that leg?

So.....what is their best option? They can buy upto 25,000 skywards miles each i belive - the 17,000 each that they would need for this trip to be done entirely by airmiles would cost them $425 each. Otherwise, they have more than enough miles already to upgrade - but i am assuming that an economy fare that is permissable for upgrade would cost a whole lot more than $425?

Finally, this trip will be a huge treat for my parents - they have never travelled business class before despite pretty extensive travel - and so in your opinion, would they have a more enjoyable experience do you think doing the Colombo/Male trip or the Tanzania trip?
Thank you very much in advance for any help!

Having flown EK from the UK to Male, the only real problem with this route was the timing of the flight from DXB to MLE. It leaves at about 3am which is precisely when you want to try and get some sleep, but only takes about 3 or 4 hours. Although they didn't serve a meal after take off (just breakfast before landing) you only get a couple of hours sleep so you land and are exhausted.

That said, can't think of many nicer places to be exhausted.

The lounge at MLE was nothing special, but I suspect the one in DAR is probably about the same.

BTW, there is very little going on in the Maldives. You get to the resort and that's it, you're as good as stuck on the island for a week. Ideal for a honeymoon, but if they want anything a bit more stimulating (i.e safari) and assuming they don't scuba dive, Tanzania might be the better choice!

Skywards is excellent in one way and terrible in another.

It is excellent in the way that ALL ECONOMY FARES ARE UPGRADEABLE!!!

It is terrible in the way that J rewards cost 2 x the Y rewards - which is ALOT. I would definately recommend upgrading with miles - they even confirm it before.

It really depends what they like - personally i prefer the peace of the Maldives vs Tanzania. It comes down to Romance / Relaxation vs Adventure


but i agree - very little is going on in the Maldvies - its for people that enjoy doing nothing

I have to agree; providing you pick one of the quiet islands. (no water ski-ing, jet-skis). I really enjoy playing Robinson Crusoe, just spending the morning wandering VERY SLOWLY along the beach (ie around the island) watching the fish skim around the shallows, maybe the odd ray, and then the display of 6 - 8 bigger fish cruising up and down parallel to the shore, only to suddenly turn in and drive a shoal of tiddlers into the shallows for a mini feeding frenzy. It's like being in a huge aquarium. I love it!

Thanks guys for the responses.
A couple of quick thoughts...are ALL ecomony fares upgradeable? Would this mean they could book the whole trip with someone like Emirates tours and then apply the upgrade to their flights? Is there a way of checking that an upgrade will be permissable before booking the ecomony ticket....i would hate them to go ahead and book flights with the intention of upgrading, to then find they can't (they'll be wishing they never asked for my help!).
Also, you say it's bad that reward booking Y-J is x 2 miles - surely this is Ok - the J class fare is usually significantly more than x 2 in price terms isn't it?
I'm also thinking - as my parents want to go to Srilanka and the Maldives, would this give them the option of travelling with Srilankan airways as well as Emirates themsleves - does anyone know how the 2 compare?
Finally, how long do Skywards miles last - what is their expirey period?
Thanks

WOW studyolic; I was there for a second or two . Thanks ^ ^ . Would love to visit that part of the world some day soon I hope... Sounds like my kind of place...

The Maldives are amazing, really amazing, however there is nothing to do except laze by the beach, read some good books, do some thinking about life, and eat... Its costly as there is no competition once your on an island, the only choice is what you are going to eat not where .

Rangali Hilton can be recommended, i even belived they recently renovated the rooms. I was there 3 years ago and it was gorgeus!

I was in Tanzania in october, this is "real africa" and in my opinion only great if you are looking for safaris.

I would pick the maldives...

Simply put - yes i am 99% sure all paid for regular eco fares can be upgraded. Im not sure about EK holidays fares or specials / berevament fares etc... it might be good to confirm with EK.

J is 2 x or more in terms of buying the ticket, but most (if not all) major carriers offer J fares at a much more reasonable price (eg YYZ-LHR on *A is 50,000 in Y and 80,000 in J)

If you had UA miles you could purchase the ticket for less miles (I think)

Sri Lankan and EK are extremely similar in most ways, although I think UL is better in J on the A330/340 (2x2x2 in J) although I may be wrong

Oh yea, and also.... if you have a Y ticket and at check in you cant uprgade for some reason... they will allow you to upgrade by paying the One Way difference between your fare class and a one way "C" class ticket (the lowest Business Class fare)