This is my very first post so sorry if I am not in the right section.


I am trying to Fly from DFW to AMD on Feb 5 and coming back to DFW on Feb 16.

Two options I have are

1. Qatar Airways on 5th DFW to DOH to AMD on Feb 5th on Qatar Airways an coming back on 16th of FEB AMD to DOH to DFW. This flight is Qatar Airways 730 Boein 777

2. Emirates 222 Airbus 380. on 5th DFW to DXB to AMD and coming back on 16th AMD to DXB to DFW.


My main goal in this flight has been to fly first class from DFW to DOH/DXB and DXB/DOH to DFW. the other flight can be economy if it has to be. I had heard about points and miles last year so in a year I have just been accumulating points and now not sure what is the best way to use it as I am getting confused.

Here is what I have. I have 50K in Chase Ultimate Rewards, 260K in AmEx Points,I have 135K in American Airlines miles and 120K in SPG rewards

My goal to fly the first class 1 person for this trip and have once in a life time experience specifially for the long flight of 17 hours. Would appreciate some pointers and advice on this. Just not sure how best to utilize the points I have.

Thanks

rjay152207 Welcome to FT

Have you flown business or first class long haul on international airlines? It’s not like USA domestic first. Many airlines do not have first class on long haul. It can be hard to get first class award flights. More so if specific dates. Generally for awards you need to be flexible with date & route.

QR is a partner of AA, so AA miles can be used for an award, if available . Similarly a paid QR flight earn AA miles, subject to the t&c's. AA miles cannot be used for an upgrade.

Others will respond if possible to transfer to EK (or a partner), but I doubt if it is.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...help-here.html

Edit
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lidated-8.html

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Does QR offer First Class on its DFW-DOH route? If so, a one-way DFW-DOH-AMD will cost 90K AA miles. In Business Class, the same flight would cost 67.5K AA miles, or 135K AA miles roundtrip. Of course, whether there is award-seat availability on your desired flights is a whole nother question.

To redeem on Emirates, look to see who their redemption partners are, and whether any of them is an Amex MR transfer partner. (I believe that Emirates itself would require very many of its own miles for such a redemption; redeeming from an Emirates partner might cost less.)

Welcome to FT!

No I have never flown first class or business class ever overseas flights only in the states. But have family and friends who have and they rave about emirates 1st class experience. Normally they say flight is about 10K in 1st class for that leg. QR people have said is good but emirates people have been the most crazy about. Have flown on QR economy twice from houston about 3 years ago and service was better than when I used to fly out of Detroit via Europe in KLM. So definitely prefer to fly through DOH or DXB.

Just look for business class awards.
USA domestic first class, for most (but not all) flights/aircraft, would be no better than an international airline long haul premium economy or low grade regional-short haul business class.

Go the AA web site to look for QR award availability.
There is a dedicated thread on the AA forum about AA partner awards (that I cannot find just now)

Edit
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...2015-a-23.html

Edit 2
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...lidated-8.html

When I search on AA no QR flights come up. However when I look through QR website those flights are there. Its so confusing. So Do I have to call the QR to figure out how to book through AA miles? or Does AA can help me book tickets on QR?

I still am trying to have 1st class experience in Emirates if I can but not sure how to go about it. DOn't want to transfer points from my AmEX account and then not be able to book flight on emirates at the dates I need as its only 45 days away.

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"When I search on AA no QR flights come up."

Unfortunately, aa.com cannot display award-seat availability for QR flights. (You were given bad advice up-thread.) Call AA and ask.

For Emirates, check their website (or Google "Emirates airline wiki") to try to find a list of their frequent-flyer partners. Then, compare that list with the list of MR transfer partners and see if there are any matches. If there are, contact the partners to see if they have the Emirates award seats that you seek, and at what cost (miles + cash surcharges, if any). Do not transfer any MR points unless and until you can find Emirates award seats at a cost that is acceptable to you.

And, keep in mind that in booking this close to your flights dates, most of the award inventory has already been snapped up. It is probably not very likely that any new award inventory will be released.

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The OP might find this blog post helpful:

http://thepointsguy.com/2015/04/3-wa...-class-awards/

(It looks like MR does not have any direct transfer partners -- other than Emirates itself -- whose points/miles can be redeemed for reward travel on Emirates.)