American Express Membership Rewards - Amex MR into United miles?

I know this question has been asked before but the replies seem to be outdated - is there any way to get MR's into a United frequent flier account?

I have over 100K MR points and am searching for a way to use them to upgrade a flight from LAX to SYD. If I go through a partner (Continental or ANA), then you need to purchase a Y or B class fare and the cost is the same as just buying a business class ticket on my own. I'm trying to get them into United, so I can upgrade a lower class fare.

Welcome to Flyertalk.

There are no recent discussions of this topic because nothing has changed and there is no sensible way to do it. Membership Rewards has no relationship with United, the transfer would need to pass through an intermediate program with substantial devaluation.

Examples

100,000 Membership Rewards
=33,000 Starwood Preferred Guest
=19,000 United

100,000 Membership Rewards
120,000 Priority Club (reflects 20% bonus through 11.30.2009)
=24,000 United

Depending on what your goal is, you can move AMEX points into Aeroplan (Air Canada) and then use those points for United flights.

I know this question has been asked before but the replies seem to be outdated - is there any way to get MR's into a United frequent flier account?

I have over 100K MR points and am searching for a way to use them to upgrade a flight from LAX to SYD. If I go through a partner (Continental or ANA), then you need to purchase a Y or B class fare and the cost is the same as just buying a business class ticket on my own. I'm trying to get them into United, so I can upgrade a lower class fare.

With CO you can buy less than Y/B fares and upgrade with a co-pay. I flew EWR-PEK on lower fare and upgraded with $250 each way plus miles. I transferred miles for the upgrade even though I was crediting to NW account (Even ahd CO agent open an account for me). Fare + $500 was WAY less than business class ticket and you only use miles and co-pay when upgrade clears, compared to Y/B where you pay up and still may need upgrade to clear.

I know this question has been asked before but the replies seem to be outdated - is there any way to get MR's into a United frequent flier account?

I have over 100K MR points and am searching for a way to use them to upgrade a flight from LAX to SYD. If I go through a partner (Continental or ANA), then you need to purchase a Y or B class fare and the cost is the same as just buying a business class ticket on my own. I'm trying to get them into United, so I can upgrade a lower class fare.

It will be tricky to get pure UA miles without huge losses. It may be easier though to fly *A family or even UA metal especially with Continental now being *A.

I have NOT done the actual research, but you may be able to buy a UA codeshare flight on UA metal through the CO website. If you can isolate the flight and the ticket, maybe you can get it with your MR points or get AMEX to buy it. I am sure that those stories or stories of those tests will be coming out in the next few weeks.

Depending on what your goal is, you can move AMEX points into Aeroplan (Air Canada) and then use those points for United flights.The OP stated what his goal was. Your suggestion doesn't help him accomplish it at reasonable cost.

With CO you can buy less than Y/B fares and upgrade with a co-pay.That would be great if CO flew LAX-SYD, but they don't.

msamar33 -- you could try the DL flight on this route, and transfer from MR directly into SkyMiles. Though DL requires an expensive ticket purchase to be able to do a mileage upgrade as well, so not sure how much better off you'd be.