Membership Rewards to United Airlines? [Consolidated]
Jul 23, 2012, 4:57 pm
#31
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I think there are two questions being asked: Which *A airline should I fly and which *A should I transfer my miles to in order to book an award?
They are really different questions. The first turns on things like routes, availability, and taxes. The second is a bit less complicated and turns on the award charts for partner redemptions on the three Amex MR transfer partners. For example (I'm ballparking here to explain the concept, my numbers might be off a bit), ANA has a distance based chart, so you'd spend about 43,000 miles to fly 2,001 to 4,000 miles in business, but 63,000 miles to fly between 4,001 and 7,000 miles. AC charges based on zone. So, if you wanted to book EWR to LON to EWR, you could potentially save some miles by transferring Amex to ANA instead of UA, because it clocks in at under 7,000 miles (I think). Similarly, AC charges fewer miles for roundtrip travel to Western Europe (90k in biz), but charges a premium for one-way awards (60k for one-way). I don't think ANA allows one-ways, but does allow multiple stops. SQ is a big mystery to me. I just am not familiar with it, but you don't hear too many people talking about transferring Amex to SQ to book *A awards, so I assume that at least for many routes the award chart is not too favorable. Finally, you need to know about transfer times from Amex to each of the three. I know transfers to AC are fast, but I think I've read that transfers from Amex to ANA are not always instant -- which could be an issue if availability disappears.
They are really different questions. The first turns on things like routes, availability, and taxes. The second is a bit less complicated and turns on the award charts for partner redemptions on the three Amex MR transfer partners. For example (I'm ballparking here to explain the concept, my numbers might be off a bit), ANA has a distance based chart, so you'd spend about 43,000 miles to fly 2,001 to 4,000 miles in business, but 63,000 miles to fly between 4,001 and 7,000 miles. AC charges based on zone. So, if you wanted to book EWR to LON to EWR, you could potentially save some miles by transferring Amex to ANA instead of UA, because it clocks in at under 7,000 miles (I think). Similarly, AC charges fewer miles for roundtrip travel to Western Europe (90k in biz), but charges a premium for one-way awards (60k for one-way). I don't think ANA allows one-ways, but does allow multiple stops. SQ is a big mystery to me. I just am not familiar with it, but you don't hear too many people talking about transferring Amex to SQ to book *A awards, so I assume that at least for many routes the award chart is not too favorable. Finally, you need to know about transfer times from Amex to each of the three. I know transfers to AC are fast, but I think I've read that transfers from Amex to ANA are not always instant -- which could be an issue if availability disappears.
Last edited by lkar; Jul 23, 2012 at 5:16 pm Reason: Clarification and typos
Jul 23, 2012, 6:11 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Yes, Ikar. That is the type of information I am after. There are so many different award charts, based on different criteria, it is tough to know which program to be looking at.
Once I know which airline program is best for my specific route (DAY or ORD travel to BKK), I can handle the searches for flights and put the trip together. Just hard to know what is the best use of the MR points...
Is there a general idea which program is best for First Class award travel from USA to South East Asia? Best meaning the lowest amount of Amex MR points needed for the trip....
Thanks.
Once I know which airline program is best for my specific route (DAY or ORD travel to BKK), I can handle the searches for flights and put the trip together. Just hard to know what is the best use of the MR points...
Is there a general idea which program is best for First Class award travel from USA to South East Asia? Best meaning the lowest amount of Amex MR points needed for the trip....
Thanks.
Jul 23, 2012, 6:24 pm
#33
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Perhaps not. The award chart is determined by the program through which you redeem, not by the carrier which operates the route. If you wish to redeem for travel on Star Alliance you need only look at the AC and NH charts to begin.
Jul 23, 2012, 6:59 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Hi Mia. Thanks for the reply.
I do not have a preference for Star Alliance. I am a 1k with United and have experienced many of the *A airlines...in fact, as there is no mileage accrual anyway, it might be fun to try out a different alliance. My preference is to get the stated First Class trip (USA to Bangkok) with the least amount of Amex MR points.
If no one chimes in with any opinions, I will just have to dig into each of the airlines programs to see which requires the least points for this trip. I just thought someone would have already been down this path and would be willing to share their knowledge.
I do not have a preference for Star Alliance. I am a 1k with United and have experienced many of the *A airlines...in fact, as there is no mileage accrual anyway, it might be fun to try out a different alliance. My preference is to get the stated First Class trip (USA to Bangkok) with the least amount of Amex MR points.
If no one chimes in with any opinions, I will just have to dig into each of the airlines programs to see which requires the least points for this trip. I just thought someone would have already been down this path and would be willing to share their knowledge.
Jul 23, 2012, 7:29 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
It's one of the cool things about Amex -- you can figure out the best way to use your points after you find what you want.
The approach I'vetaken is to sort of group my education into frequent flier miles and awards by alliance. I started with star alliance. First, learning routes, different options to different continents, stopover rules, etc. Then I moved on to figuring out the best way to find availability on various routes and how to book tickets, with or without tax, etc. Then I moved on to one world and did something similar. I still haven't done much with sky team -- it's a bit more of a mystery to me.
Once you think you have a handle on things, something changes and you get thrown off -- British Airways changes its structure completely and throws a monkey wrench into your analysis. Or, Aeroplan goes on a week bender where tons of star alliance options open up at heavily discounted rates for reasons I think people still don't understand (happened about a year ago). Or Amex gives a 50 percent bonus on transfers to X program, and all of the sudden you're in the position of trying to figure out "will I be able to use those miles" instead of "I know what I want, to whom should I transfer"?
Sometimes there are short cuts or easy answers, but there are always nuances. For example, one can say, perhaps, US to EU in a great F product for four people booking less than 11 month out is most likely to be available on British Airways, albeit with high taxes. One can state simple truisms like that, but really you're doing yourself a disservice to just rely on them, instead of simply learning what you can and then giving yourself maximum flexibility when it comes time to book your ticket. What if Amex has a bonus on transfers to Iberia that month, and you weren't aware that Iberia can transfer to BA through Avios? Etc., ad infinitum.
The approach I'vetaken is to sort of group my education into frequent flier miles and awards by alliance. I started with star alliance. First, learning routes, different options to different continents, stopover rules, etc. Then I moved on to figuring out the best way to find availability on various routes and how to book tickets, with or without tax, etc. Then I moved on to one world and did something similar. I still haven't done much with sky team -- it's a bit more of a mystery to me.
Once you think you have a handle on things, something changes and you get thrown off -- British Airways changes its structure completely and throws a monkey wrench into your analysis. Or, Aeroplan goes on a week bender where tons of star alliance options open up at heavily discounted rates for reasons I think people still don't understand (happened about a year ago). Or Amex gives a 50 percent bonus on transfers to X program, and all of the sudden you're in the position of trying to figure out "will I be able to use those miles" instead of "I know what I want, to whom should I transfer"?
Sometimes there are short cuts or easy answers, but there are always nuances. For example, one can say, perhaps, US to EU in a great F product for four people booking less than 11 month out is most likely to be available on British Airways, albeit with high taxes. One can state simple truisms like that, but really you're doing yourself a disservice to just rely on them, instead of simply learning what you can and then giving yourself maximum flexibility when it comes time to book your ticket. What if Amex has a bonus on transfers to Iberia that month, and you weren't aware that Iberia can transfer to BA through Avios? Etc., ad infinitum.
Jul 30, 2012, 10:02 am
#36
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Jul 30, 2012, 4:39 pm
#38
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Jul 30, 2012, 6:18 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex MR, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 518
Hi Mia. Thanks for the reply.
I do not have a preference for Star Alliance. I am a 1k with United and have experienced many of the *A airlines...in fact, as there is no mileage accrual anyway, it might be fun to try out a different alliance. My preference is to get the stated First Class trip (USA to Bangkok) with the least amount of Amex MR points.
If no one chimes in with any opinions, I will just have to dig into each of the airlines programs to see which requires the least points for this trip. I just thought someone would have already been down this path and would be willing to share their knowledge.
I do not have a preference for Star Alliance. I am a 1k with United and have experienced many of the *A airlines...in fact, as there is no mileage accrual anyway, it might be fun to try out a different alliance. My preference is to get the stated First Class trip (USA to Bangkok) with the least amount of Amex MR points.
If no one chimes in with any opinions, I will just have to dig into each of the airlines programs to see which requires the least points for this trip. I just thought someone would have already been down this path and would be willing to share their knowledge.
Nov 20, 2012, 9:31 pm
#40
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KOA/PHKO
Programs: Starbucks Gold :-)
Posts: 831
Txfering to UA miles
Hey guys,
I have about 60k MR that I'd *love* to ideally move over to UA where I already have another 60 miles. UA have probably the best mile redemption that I've seen out there.
Every one of the 'pass thrus' that I've looked at ends up converting my 60 MR into about 12K UA miles which is less than ideal. Any thoughts on how I can do this? Aside from someone doing a physical swap? (Can this even be done, or arranged anywhere?)
I have about 60k MR that I'd *love* to ideally move over to UA where I already have another 60 miles. UA have probably the best mile redemption that I've seen out there.
Every one of the 'pass thrus' that I've looked at ends up converting my 60 MR into about 12K UA miles which is less than ideal. Any thoughts on how I can do this? Aside from someone doing a physical swap? (Can this even be done, or arranged anywhere?)
Nov 21, 2012, 6:56 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 558
Sorry. No work around or secret tips can make make this better.
You are better off transferring to another Star Alliance airline within the MR network, and then redeeming for UA flights (or another *A carrier). Use your UA miles one-way, and the other *A carrier for the return.
You are better off transferring to another Star Alliance airline within the MR network, and then redeeming for UA flights (or another *A carrier). Use your UA miles one-way, and the other *A carrier for the return.
Nov 21, 2012, 8:05 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: KOA/PHKO
Programs: Starbucks Gold :-)
Posts: 831
That's what I was thinking. I need to get from NYC (any) to LCA, ideally in J or F via miles.
One-way, via UA (operated by OS) is 50,000 miles and $0. Pretty much none of the airlines I've looked up to transfer miles to will show anything for the return. I was looking at Aeroplan, but they want 70,000 for the return flight and $200. It's workable, but r/t via UA would have been 100k. Trying to save on that 20k miles.
One-way, via UA (operated by OS) is 50,000 miles and $0. Pretty much none of the airlines I've looked up to transfer miles to will show anything for the return. I was looking at Aeroplan, but they want 70,000 for the return flight and $200. It's workable, but r/t via UA would have been 100k. Trying to save on that 20k miles.
Nov 21, 2012, 8:37 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
Hey guys,
I have about 60k MR that I'd *love* to ideally move over to UA where I already have another 60 miles. UA have probably the best mile redemption that I've seen out there.
Every one of the 'pass thrus' that I've looked at ends up converting my 60 MR into about 12K UA miles which is less than ideal. Any thoughts on how I can do this? Aside from someone doing a physical swap? (Can this even be done, or arranged anywhere?)
I have about 60k MR that I'd *love* to ideally move over to UA where I already have another 60 miles. UA have probably the best mile redemption that I've seen out there.
Every one of the 'pass thrus' that I've looked at ends up converting my 60 MR into about 12K UA miles which is less than ideal. Any thoughts on how I can do this? Aside from someone doing a physical swap? (Can this even be done, or arranged anywhere?)
you could swap the miles with a friend who has miles on chase card (UR).