NPR posted this ridiculously naive article about flying first on Emirates LAX to DXB for $32,840. I say "naive" because it assumes the only way to do this is "luxury spending" and that the cost is evidence of financial inequality.

So, how about a game for the MSers: Let's see who can do the same flight for the least amount of spend. (I'm going to assume round trip)

To kick things off, here's a super easy (not very challenging) baseline:

Emirates first class round trip 180k miles award via Alaska

• 2x Alaska Visa = 25k miles, $75 fee.
• 2x SPG Amex = 25k miles + 5k transfer bonus, 1st year fee waived: $0
• 70k miles MS at $0.02/mile (just a really generous baseline), $1400.

Total cost: $1550 (not counting taxes+fees on the award ticket). I did 2x per card assuming 1 personal, 1 business.

p.s. I don't think this belongs in the Emirates forum, but if it needs to be moved, then admins should feel free to do so. Also, if you can do it cheaper with a MR, then throw that in... it'll make the challenge more fun.

I think this is very germane to MS.
It gives us an great exercise in creative MS to reach a desired goal. There will be some interesting responses that will trigger new ideas.

It should stay here. ^
It has little to do with Emirates or OMNI.

If you allow this to be switched to Etihad (#1 rated 1st class according to skytrax), Qatar, Cathay Pacific, Japan, etc. I'd say very easy by accumulating AA miles by methods that are known to many, either free or close to it.

I myself just booked 4 1st class tickets for JFK to India roundtrip for later this year on Etihad to reach there.

Don't forget the $100 SC on alaska cards right now - OP that technically reduces your cost by $75 net. ^

Spend 821k on my BC. Pay $32,840 cash for ticket, $8241 toward MS expenses. Net cost = 0.

Paying for points.... Bah.

Easy solution, game over...

Ms spending of certain gift cards via a certain portal, gets you 3 miles per dollar, paid by a cash back card of 2% or so that covers the 1.2% liquidation fees.

Voila... 60k ms spend, and you are done.

I will MS $32k in profit and put 17.5k in my 401(k), 10k in my wife's IRA, and use the rest for everyday expenses. That's way better than spending 32k on a flight.

We sent one of our guys from DXB to AKL with Emirates on a marine fare a few years ago.

He got upgraded to First (they used to upgrade guys on marine/offshore fares somewhat more than regular passengers for some reason, good repeat business I guess). Flight cost us about �1800 rtn all in. He stayed in economy on the way home.

Of course even that could have bought a lot of things in a poor country. Even the cost of a taxi ride in New York could. But , excuse the political statement, poor people will not be lifted out of poverty by the rest regressing to their income level, nor will anybody strive if anyone who gets ahead simply gives them money.