Maldives would be great but can't get there in premium without paying an arm and a leg. BA has no availability until Jan 2011!

Hi Folks

After continuous research we are leaning towards the dream of Maldives... and we are almost there. I actually have on hold with AA various AA and BA flights to get us to/from Dubai but need to find a way to do that last hop DXB to MLE. Could actually pay for it but $4k roundtrip for two in biz is a bit steep. Is there any way of spending any of my available miles (eg converting Amex MRs to continental or virgin or us) and using them on Emirates??

Thanks to everyone for help and suggestions

You won't be disappointed

How about taking coach for the last leg from DUB to MLE, then using the money saved for a room upgrade or other activities at the hotel?

The extra $$ will come in handy. Plus, a leg in Y is not going to breakup your marriage now-- you've been together 10 years!

The slight discomfort of a Y class ticket will quickly be washed away and long forgotten, in the warm Indian ocean waters off your OWB or private plunge pool.

Thanks again everyone for great advice. Just booked and ticketed the following to get us over to Singapore:

YUL-DFW (AA F), DFW-NRT (AA F), NRT-SIN (JAL J)

Back

SIN-HKG (CX F), HKG-SFO (CX F) (STOPOVER) SFO-DFW (AA F), DFW-YUL (AA F)

Starting and ending in YUL as in-laws are there and we are going to drop off the kids!

All this booked for 270k aa miles and 200$ taxes!!!!

Then the last part is going to be sin-mle return... Have not booked but showing availability in biz on SQ just need to tfr the amex mr's... Can't wait!!!

Got that last SIN-MLE booked. Ended up buying USAir Dividend miles to do so (100k miles for $1478). Here's why: SQ wanted 65k miles per person in biz with availability showing as "waitlisted". CO wanted 80k per person, and Air Canada 85k. Because USAir's *A table does not have separate indian-subcontinent section it comes out at just 30k per person in SQ BIZ!!! So for fifteen hundred we have return flights in biz plus 40k divi miles for future use (already planning our free Whistler ski trip in Jan....!)

This has all gone so well we're going to go to Maldives for 5 days then come back and shoot over to Langkawi for 3 days before heading home. Looking forward to the home trip on Cathay's first suites, got seats 1A and 1K for us on both legs from SIN-SFO - wait for the trip report in June!!!

THANKS POGO for kicking this whole idea off....

jesus thats a lot of miles man. Seriously. You will have a blast for sure... : )

yes it is a long haul. wonder how american domestic f going to dfw will feel after getting off cx's new f suites!!!!

Maldives sounds fantastic. I have family members who have visited and came away impressed. You will enjoy it.