TravelPhotographer

My MR points will soon be available.
Want to use them on single airfare from
MIA to two or more international cities in
any one or more of following Central, South America,
Middle East -- or any mild weather destinations
in Dec-Jan. (65F to 90F daytime highs).

For those that have this knowledge
OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS
(not asking anyone to do my detailed research)
any pointers in the right direction highly
appreciated as the best way to use all 77K
points seems very unclear to a newbie.

regards.

guv1976

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Are these "Membership Rewards" points?

If you can find award-seat availability on AA and LAN -- and that's a big "if" for travel next month -- you can convert Membership Rewards points to British Airways Avios points with a 30% bonus currently. Avios points can be redeemed for travel to and within South America on AA and LAN with no fuel surcharges. If you use at least one flight on each carrier, you could also redeem for a BA multi-partner "oneworld" award, which would permit up to 14,000 miles of flying in Coach for 90,000 Avios points, I believe. (Double-check the redemption rate with BA.) Redeeming for a oneworld award might or might not cost fewer Avios points than redeeming for a series of one-way flights. Price your itinerary both ways to get the best value.

If you decide to go somewhere other than South America, I would not consider converting MR points to Avios points, as BA imposes hefty fuel surcharges on other redemptions.

TravelPhotographer

Thanks for response. These are sign-up 75K bonus points plus ~1800 actual spending points to trigger bonus.

Points will become availabe between 2 weeks to 8 weeks from Oct 28 so am not sure if 12/2011 travel is possible yet, but will study your suggestion. Is there conversion or usage deadline related to Avios 30% bonus?

guv1976

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Have you verified with Amex that the 75K bonus points have not yet posted? It's already been four weeks since October 28.

There is a thread in this forum about the 30% Avios bonus offer that should contain information as to the offer's expiration date.

TravelPhotographer

Yes, only 61,800 so far.
15K still coming thanks to code 6661 correction.

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Well, your current point balance would yield just over 79,000 Avios points (with the 30% bonus), which may be more than enough for a tour of South America. Suggest you start checking award-seat availability on AA and LAN immediately.

TravelPhotographer

Thanks for info. Previously you stated 90K Avios pts needed for 14K mile S.A. trip...? Is 79K Avios points for a shorter S.A. trip? regards

Also, no other suggestions yet. Safe to assume Avios is indeed best use of 76800 PRG MR points as described above in Jan 2012?

guv1976

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I believe that 70,000 Avios will get you a oneworld award good for up to 10,000 flown miles. You might or might not spend fewer miles redeeming for a series of one-way awards, rather than a single oneworld award, depending upon your proposed itinerary. Once you decide where you want to go -- and can find award seats -- you should price the trip both ways to determine best value.

TravelPhotographer

Call to Amex MR:
knew nothing about Avios 30% transfer bonus; asked for related promo code -- I haven't one; said no transfer fee for non-US program like Avios

UPDATE -- FOUND OFFER HERE:
http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...Ntt=&aid=82781

Call to BA Avios 800-452-1201: knew nothing about 90K Avios miles = 14K-or-less miles Miami-S.A. itinerary; said BA must know specific itinerary so they can tell me # Avios miles needed; sent me to: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...d/public/en_ca (am in US, not Canada, is that factor?)

Through whom do I arrange converting 90K Avios miles to 14K-or-less S.A. itinerary? (if OneWorld, a specific phone #?)

Newbie appreciates any guidance! Am I misunderstanding the order of proceeding?

guv1976

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All redemptions using Avios points must be made through BA. One-way flights can be booked at ba.com or via the BAEC Service Centre; the multi-partner "oneworld" award can only be booked through the Service Centre.

If you determine that the oneworld award provides better value for your itinerary than a series of one-way award flights, call BAEC and be sure to tell them that you are looking to redeem for a multi-partner oneworld award, lest they charge you for a series of one-way redemptions instead.

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Here's the correct link to BA's multi-partner, oneworld award redemption table:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...s/public/en_ca

TravelPhotographer

Thanks! Since my objective is to use all points on one itinerary & then downgrade Amex PRG card, I should earn another 151 MR points since:

Now have 76,849 MR points,
MR pts redeemed in 1K packets = 1300 Avios pts,
& 77K MR points x 1.3 = 100100 Avios pts,
would get me over 100K Avios pt barrier = <21K mile itinerary?

Is there way, other than outright buying Avios pts that one can add 151+ MR points more immediately than 1+ month credit card cycling?

guv1976, if you have site with ads that generate $$ via clicks, let us know!! (if allowed) regards

guv1976

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

I think you may be putting the cart before the horse. Depending on your particular itinerary, it might be cheaper to redeem for a series of one-way awards, rather than for the multi-partner oneworld award. A short, intra-South America Coach segment can cost as few as 4,500 Avios. Have you even checked award-seat availability yet on the routes that you wish to travel? This whole exercise may be moot if you cannot find award seats for when you want to travel. You certainly don't want to transfer a lot of MR points to BA if you cannot find a cost-effective use for them.

mia

To which card do you intend to downgrade? Do you have an existing BA points balance? You do not have to earn all of the points from one credit card. You could, for example, take a flight on AA or AS and credit it to BA. You could make a purchase through BA's online shopping portal, etc.

However, before planning your endgame you need to verify that the award flights you need are actually available.

TravelPhotographer

>>To which card do you intend to downgrade?

At 6-month point, to an Amex card without annual fee as advised by ThePointsGuy blog.

Have no BA points, unless sign up for ExecClub
generated pts.