Lap Infants on First Class Awards

[jaywhy]

Need some help with this dilemma.

Looking to go to Thailand this summer with my wife and 2 kids who will both be under 2.

Optimally, I'd like to use my AA miles to fly in Cathay First, but the issue with the lap infants. AA charges 10% of fare to bring lap infants which came out to around $7k when I had it quoted yesterday. Obviously, I won't be paying that. US Airways is the same story at 10% of fare. Alaska does not issue any infant tickets for partners and referred me to CX, who will charge 25% of full fare.

The only reasonable option at this point is to redeem via BA, which charges 10% of the miles.
However, the mileage requirements are much higher with BA, especially when you include positioning flights.

So I can either redeem for 2 CX F seats with lap infants via BA or redeem 4 CX J seats via AA.
Or I can redeem 2 KE F seats with lap infants.

Am I missing anything? Opinions?

[Dan]

To add a monkey wrench in there, CX doesn't allow any carseats in J.

[jaywhy]

To add a monkey wrench in there, CX doesn't allow any carseats in J.

Not such an issue for me. I probably wouldn't bring car seats onboard anyways.

[Dan]

Not such an issue for me. I probably wouldn't bring car seats onboard anyways.

How do you plan to secure 2 kids in their own J suite?

[jaywhy]

How do you plan to secure 2 kids in their own J suite?

The older one can sit herself or with me. The baby will be with my wife most of the time.
Only redeeming the 4th seat to burn AA miles and not to pay cash for it.

[Dan]

Only redeeming the 4th seat to burn AA miles and not to pay cash for it.

In that case just make 1 BA redemption with 1 infant.

[jaywhy]

In that case just make 1 BA redemption with 1 infant.

in J?

[Joe4007]

Or you can redeem 2 CX F seats via AA and 1 via BA with a lap child.

I think that's what Dan meant, CMIIW.

[jaywhy]

Or you can redeem 2 CX F seats via AA and 1 via BA with a lap child.

I think that's what Dan meant, CMIIW.

3 CX F seats is pushing it.

[Joe4007]

3 CX F seats is pushing it.

Then do it in J. The point is to mix BA with AA as to avoid paying the cash and still redeem with less miles for the other tickets (through AA).

[Joe4007]

IIRC, Dan did this on his Argentina trip.