Questions and Answers

One of my bucket lists is a trip to the Maldives. I read the article about trying to develop a strategy to save up the miles for such a trip.

So the “goal” is:
First Class from east coast (JFK, EWR, BOS, possibly others) to MLE.
I really really like the Emirates A380 with the showers idea (I think it’s 12.5 hours from JFK to Dubai), so that’s my #1 choice.

#2 Etihad (I think they have a single shower)?

#3 Singapore

I’m open to others.

Partner and myself, and we’re both clearing up the 5/24 with Chase (next month I’ll be at 4/24 including an AU).

It seems that First (at least on Emirates and Etihad) are like 300k miles round trip?

Given our current amount of miles (apparently on the wrong airlines–LOL), this may take 2 years. I realize things can change a lot. But let’s pretend.

Me:
AA – 12,500 miles (I just burned 210k miles on first class to Hawaii, for a 3 week vacation, as that was on our bucket list). Partner can easily get more with the Barclay offers.
Delta – 133k
33k Korean Air
United – 45k
SPG – 13k
Chase UR – 107k

Partner:
AA – 10k miles
Delta – 80k miles
United – 75k miles
SPG – 40k miles

If I read the articles correctly, looks like stocking up on AA miles, or UR points is the way to go?

We don’t mind taking one airline one way and another the other way.
We plan on traveling during “low” season (end of April – June)–obviously not next year (I don’t think there’s any way to accumulate that many miles given Citi’s 24-month since open/close, along with Barclay’s once-in-lifetime (possibly 24 months), along with Chase’s 5/24 rule.

I’m debating about applying for the Ink Business once I’m at 4/24, since that shouldn’t report on my credit report? (ie, won’t put me at 5/24?) and then the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (I doubt we’ll see the 100k CSR offer any time soon and it doesn’t make sense to me for now to pay the $450 fee for CSR with the same 50k bonus offer).

I’m at my “lifetime” with Amex Plat. Delta Skymiles. Can do the Gold.
I have 9 more months to fall off the 24-month Citibusiness AAdvantage (but can do personal).
Partner could pretty much anything except Amex SPG and Amex Delta Platinum.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Well it seems that Singapore Airlines may be out. Even though they have lots of transfer partners, they apparently rarely if ever, release “saver” awards at least from the US.

Emirates has horrendous (IMO) fuel surcharges.

KE looks to be the best/easiest route, although their A330 First looks really, um, not that (no direct aisle access) and I think it’s close to an 11 hour flight from ICN to MLE on that. Although it is doable.

Etihad, seems to be very “sparse” in their Guest awards as well.

Going to also investigate Qatar.