FlyerTalk Forums - D.C. to Dubai on Emirates: Worth $3,000...??

So I'm going to Dubai for 4 days then off to Seychelles for 10. It's a 40th birthday trip.

As a "baby churner" I have only been able to get about 4 hotel nights covered during this trip. Mostly because I used a ton of points recently on a two week trip to Europe last month.

Anywho, I was also able to get my Dubai-Seychelles flight for about half off using AmEx points (not great but better than nothing). I thought I was being smart in planning out what cards to get for this IAD-DXB flight as I realllly wanted to try to get a first class Emirates seat for free (I figured if I planned right, I could do it). But I made quite a few mistake over the past 6+ months when obtaining cards, wasn't able to get one I really needed for this trip, and also misunderstood some things that I found out about later on that meant barely any miles would be going towards this D.C.-Dubai round trip ticket.

With all of that said, I am splitting room costs with another friend who is going and I am willing to splurge a bit on the flight as flying First in Emirates is on my bucket list and I doubt I'd ever do it again in my life. With that said, Alaska Airlines has a half off sale going on with their miles at the moment. I also have some Alaska Airlines miles already. I have calculated that I could get a R/T ticket to DXB for ~$3k which would put me in economy departing and first coming back. I'd like to hear opinions on if people think this is a 'decent' price and for those that have flown Emirates first class if it might be worth the splurge.