New routes sometimes mean good to wide-open availability for a short time. Take advantage of these while you can.
This Month: Time to Burn Amex Rewards, Starwood Points, American, Alaska, or British Airways Miles from the U.S. to the Middle East (and vice versa)
Emirates
New Route: Chicago-Dubai starts Aug. 5
Easily Connect From: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington, DC and many more cities
Going Beyond Dubai: Amman, Delhi, Doha, and Hong Kong can be tacked on to your award for 5,000 to 45,000 more miles in Business Class. See the airline destinations.
How to Nail It:
With Emirates Skywards Miles: 217,500 miles round-trip in First and 145,000 in Business Class. Request award space online.
Amex Reward Points: Transfer 218,000 for First Class and 145,000 for Business Class from your Amex account.
Amex Point Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point including taxes; 500,000 annual purchase limit. Reduces a First Class ticket to $5,450 (not including taxes with Emirates), which can cost $16,678 without a Saturday-night stay or advance purchase.
Starwood Points: Takes 180,000 Starpoints in First, 120,000 in Business Class.
Your Best Shot: September to December for First Class; August to January for Business Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Emirates for One Traveler: Chicago-Dubai
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With Alaska Miles: Even better: 180,000 miles round-trip in First Class and 145,000 miles in Business. Request award space online.
Starwood Points for Alaska Miles: Takes 145,000 Starpoints in First, 120,000 in Business Class
Eminent: All Emirates First Class Suites on the B777-200LR come with sliding privacy doors, a personal mini-bar, a 78-inch-long bed, and 23-inch LCD monitor. Business Class seats arranged 2-3-2, convert to a 78-inch-long flatbed, and are equipped with a 19-inch LCD monitor and in-seat power supply for laptops and USB power connections.
Qatar Airways, oneworld
New Routes: Philadelphia-Doha, April 2; Dallas-Doha, July 1; Miami-Doha, June 10.
Easily Connect From: Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Francisco and many more cities.
Going Beyond Doha: Bangkok, Cape Town, Moscow and Perth can be tacked on your award (if available), for 40,000 to 120,000 more miles. See the airline destinations.
How to Nail It:
With Qatar Privilege Club Miles: 140,000 miles round-trip in Business Class.
Starwood Points: Takes 115,000 in Business Class.
Your Best Shot: For Business Class from Dallas in October, from Philadelphia, October and November.
Survey of Award Availability on Qatar Airways for One Traveler in Business Class to Doha
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[aside headline="Attention International Residents" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]This information applies to you, not just to U.S. residents, as you can use miles and points to book the long-haul segment from Doha to Dallas or Philadelphia, or Dubai to Chicago.[/aside]
With American Miles (oneworld): 135,000 miles round-trip in Business Class from most U.S. cities that AA serves to connect to a Qatar Airways gateway: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia.
Starwood Points:110,000 in Business Class with AA miles.
With All Nippon (a Qatar partner): 90,000 (Philadelphia), 105,000 (Dallas and Miami) round-trip in Business Class.
Amex Rewards: Transfer 90,000 to 105,000 to All Nippon for Business Class.
Amex Point Purchase: 2.5¢ per point including taxes; 500,000 annual purchase limit. Reduces a Business Class ticket to $2,625 (not including taxes) from Dallas, which can cost $13,088 without a Saturday-night stay or advance purchase.
Starwood Points: 75,000 to 85,000 in Business Class on All Nippon.