Sorry for this rather uninformed and open-ended question...but I wanted to benefit from the collective wisdom here...and I've been out of the mileage-maven scene for several years.

Any opinions where the most cluck for the buck is obtained when transferring miles from AMEX into a specific FF program? Now that most of the airlines programs don't have expiry dates the choice is a little less strategic, but nevertheless...

When I left corporate employment 5 years ago, and the AMEX card that went along with it, I had c. 75,000 miles in my AMEX travel account. Before I left they assured me that even though I would no longer be a card holder that my miles would remain viable "indefinitely." Eighteen months ago I called to test this, and the revalidated the general facts.

Again, I don't travel that much anymore, and as a result have not been staying as current on the ongoing changes in the different programs, and think I'm at some risk of seeing my banked miles diluted, lost or at least of missing some opportunites. Current balances are approximately (UA-150K; AS-350K; DL-160K; US-80K; AA-40K; also have lesser but significant points in Hilton, Starwood/Westin and Hyatt programs). Sorry to be asking for generic Mileage Makeover, but with your broad overview of the programs above, do you think I *should* go ahead and stick my AMEX balance in a specific rewards program...and which one?

I don't have any specific travel plans for the coming year, but when I do cash in miles it will probably be for biz or first class travel to South America or Asia.

Thanks for not savaging an old mileage junkie who's now asking rookie questions.

I think it is a good deal to take advantage of the bonuses AMEX offers from time to time. Last year I received a 20% or 25% bonus for transferring miles to Delta and US Airways.

Piegow

If you are considering Hawaii as a possible future travel destination, I would suggest moving them to Delta. At 30k miles for a r/t coach ticket, Delta requires the lowest miles for any airline to Hawaii.
You could also use 35k miles for a coach award on United, which has probably the most extensive travel to Hawaii (think the only major carrier to fly to every island).

Jeff

AMEX and CO just ended their 25% transfer promo.

I've always consider DL's 80k BizE to Europe a good deal

US's 80k Envoy award to Europe is a similarly good deal

Delta is probably your best bet followed by US, I'd avoid CO like the plague because of severe restrictions on international redemption.

I have some bad news for you: American Express will most likely say that your points are gone. They will tell you that you should have transferred the points out of your account to another travel program.

Right now, AMEX Membership Rewards is jerking me around with respect to 40,000 points I earned on corporate business in 2000 and 2001. I am considering having an attorney write a strongly worded letter on my behalf.

Best of luck -

JTB

Thanks for the responses.

And yes, I did just today hear the bad news. Found my most recent statement (w/103K pts.) but the 800 number folks said there was no record in "their database." Some persistence and pushing later, a supervisor found my account, and former credit card account, but said my points were "swept."

The fact that the program's terms and conditions did NOT provide for termination when I was a member and paid the a couple hundred dollars for the privilege of accumulating said points from my corporate card; the fact that prior to giving up my card and twice in the years following, they confirmed (orally in phone calls) my points balance AND again the fact that they would not terminate; the fact that the apparent change in their terms and conditions is something of which I was not notified...none of these change the facts as they see it.

Thus my only remedy, as it was explained to me, is to petition their Member Services department in writing, which I will do. Ugh, I know that I should not have been reassured by the previous customer service reps' (now apparently inaccurate) statements. Having experienced AMEX' smug and condescending approach to any dispute resolution makes me think the only response my letter requesting some equity in redemption will be a mealy mouthed form letter. Oh well, easy come, easy go. Wait a minute...those points did NOT come easy!

Your first post said they remained "indefinitely" in Amex no?

It sounds to me as though you and I are in a very similar set of circumstances. It really aggravates me that American Express - which for years had an absolutely stellar reputation from the consumer's standpoint - has recently adopted a confiscatorial stance.

What are you planning on doing about it? Perhaps we could work together on this?

JTB

I wonder if either of you currently have American Express Cards?

No Matter how many Corporate Cards I have gone through, I have always maintained the same AMEX Classic card that I got when I was 19. It might help for you to have an active AMEX card (even AMEX Blue) when you petition, so that they have some place to reinstate your points. I'd imagine that they'd be more likely to help out a current active customer than they would somebody who no longer uses their services.

As for the mileage makeover, I've been thinking about this myself, I have orphaned miles on many airlines that don't accumulate to very much at all. I've been considering transferring them all to HHonors, and seeing if I can come up with enough miles for one of their Gold Vacation packages...I just wish I could figure out where I could move my US Air miles.

I recently contacted Amex about closing my MR account which was associated with my past employer's corporate card. They told me that I could:
* open up a new MR account and affiliate it with my exisiting Blue Card (no card annual fee)
* not pay an annual fee on my new MR account because it was affiliated with Blue
* transfer my points and not have them expire

Time will tell if they are correct.
Doug

Hotlancer-
I'm just going to write a letter as persuasively as possible. Certainly won't try anything "tough" in my first request, as I figure anything on lawyer's letterhead would just get them to bunker down. Besides, they've probably reserved sole perogative in determining such matters...so I'm hoping that a factual request may garner a helpful response.

****
No, I no longer hold any AMEX cards...if I did I would have tied the points to it long ago. But (again it's all oral statements made by their folks on the phone) during my pointed inquiries they previously stated that my points would not expire whether I held a card or not. In my request for reinstatement I will ask if my opening a card account would help them to make a decision in my favor...

Thanks, ~Geo.

Are you sure were not notified of the changes. They do send volumes of mail to me ever quarter telling me new term, conditions and other stuff that few people read, but are obligated to know.