I am considering a trip to Europe (Munich, Salzburg, Zurich area) later in the year (depending on the "war"). I plan to use AmEx points and would like to be in a sleeper seat. I will "pay" to go first if I have to but would prefer to travel in business and save the 20K miles. Is anyone aware of carriers other than BA that has sleepers (180 degrees flat) in business class? Although I like BA, I am not aware of a way to get the AmEx points to BA. My options are Star Alliance (via ANA) and DL, US, CO, Virgin, and their partners. Any suggestions? If I end up going in first, any recommendations or suggestions?

I believe SQ and CX has flat business class seats, but they are not 180 degree horizontal, and many FTers has complained that they kept sliding down the seat.

Would it be possible to get your AmEx points into America West(HP)'s FF program? You can redeem 80K HP miles for BA's Club World to Europe, or 100K miles for BA First. You even get free stopover in London on both directions too

Perhaps other FTers can point out additional airlines that partner with BA for redemption purposes, and which accepts deposit from AmEx.

For the same amount of miles (80K), I think BA's Club World is by far the best choice.

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British Airways seat desirability map

Jet2K - thanks much for the post on the BA "Seat Desirability Map".....quite a nice feature if one is trying to decide on which CW seat to get!!
Best wishes.

As far as I know, BA is the only airline in the world with 180 degrees flat beds in business. Other airlines claim to have beds (CX, SQ, Virgin, etc) - but they are all on a slant under the seat in front.

No, at least not without serious devaluation from transferring to another program first.

For instance, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Starwood and then to America West. Or, you could transfer Starwood points to QF or AA or directly to BA. BA is also a redemption partner directly with Starwood, but I'm not sure how that works.

There was a deal last year where 2 MR points converted to 1 *Wood point instead of the usual 3:1.

[/b]I don't believe there are any. MR points can't be moved directly to AA or QF.

Membership Rewards can be transferred to: El Al partners with QF and AA -- but not BA.

CO and Hawaiian both partner with VS.

ANA and MX are * Alliance.

DL and AeroMexico are SkyTeam.

I don't think you can go MR --> Airline program --> BA flight directly.

But maybe pose this question on the Amex board?

Thanks to all. I have gone ahead and booked in F on LH via ANA.

Moderators, OK to close.

[This message has been edited by TRRed (edited 03-27-2003).]