Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - 25% bonus when tranferring AMEX MR points to FB during February

Via Deals we like (http://boardingarea.com/blogs/dealswelike/2012/02/01/25-bonus-for-transfering-amex-membership-reward-points-to-air-france-klm-flying-blue/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter):

During the entire month of February 2012, you will receive a 25% bonus when you transfer your Amex Membership Reward points to the AirFrance-KLM Flying Blue program. Typically, points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, but for this limited time you’ll receive 1,2500 Flying Blue miles for every 1,000 Membership Reward points.

Presumably only for US/North American customers. My Dutch-registered Amex says nothing about an MR special with Flying Blue.

I see they get a better transfer rate, too - 1:1, as opposed to 5:4. Not to mention that a US cardholder would pick up more MR points on the same spend (the US dollar being worth about €0.75).s

Presumably only for US/North American customers. My Dutch-registered Amex says nothing about an MR special with Flying Blue.

I see they get a better transfer rate, too - 1:1, as opposed to 5:4. Not to mention that a US cardholder would pick up more MR points on the same spend (the US dollar being worth about €0.75).s

There are many differences between US Amex cards and European ones (or even Australian etc.). Both earning and burning are far better in the US.

At which rate can US AmEx holders purchase MR points?

At which rate can US AmEx holders purchase MR points?

AFAIK you can't purchase MR points, only earn by paying with the card.

I get 1.25 FB miles per MR whenever I do a transfer directly from my AMEX account, so I don't see what the big deal is, here.

-- Henry

I get 1.25 FB miles per MR whenever I do a transfer directly from my AMEX account, so I don't see what the big deal is, here.

-- Henry

Let's not forget that £1 is approximately $1.50, so that for the same spend, a US member is already getting 20% more MRs, before this bonus is even taken into account.

$1.50 (=1.5 MRs) ~= £1 (=1.25 MRs)

What card do you have? The only cards that I can see that earn MRs on the UK website - the Gold (http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/cards/gold-card/?filter=membership) and Platinum (http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/cards/platinum-card/?filter=membership) cards - are stated as saying they only earn 1MR per £1 spent (base rate) - in which case a US member is 50% ahead without any bonus even being added!!!

I get 1.25 FB miles per MR whenever I do a transfer directly from my AMEX account, so I don't see what the big deal is, here.

-- Henry

USD: earning 1 MR / USD => burning MR:FB 1:1 (normally, now 1:1.25)
EUR: earning 1 MR / EUR => burning MR:FB 5:4
GBP: earning 1 MR / GBP => burning MR:FB 1:1.25

The differences are not only for FB:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1181768-how-get-1-5-ba-miles-per-amex-uk-membership-rewards-point.html

But when you follow the directions in that thread will give you even higher bonus!

Unfortunately, the burning rate for the International Dollarcard is worse for FB: MR:FB 3:2 so even with the conversion rate it is a bad choice, but for other miles/points it can be a very good one!

It's that 'post it and jinx it' syndrome again! Email received today from AMEX:

Dear HENRY

We would like to inform you that the number of Membership Rewards points needed to redeem for rewards with some of our partners will be changing.

On 15 April 2012, our airline loyalty programme partners' transfer rates will all be one point = one mile. To help you keep making the most of your Membership Rewards points, we've highlighted the two partners below whose rates will be changing.

Current rate New rate
Alitalia 2 points = 3 miles 1 point = 1 mile
AF/KLM 4 points = 5 miles 1 point = 1 mile

Not impressed! :(

-- Henry

PS: Sorry that the table doesn't align.

So it's changing for the worse - again.

Dear Henry,

You mean something like this:

Current rate New rate
Alitalia 2 points = 3 miles 1 point = 1 mile
AF/KLM 4 points = 5 miles 1 point = 1 mile

So it's changing for the worse - again.

Dear Henry,

You mean something like this:

Current rate New rate
Alitalia 2 points = 3 miles 1 point = 1 mile
AF/KLM 4 points = 5 miles 1 point = 1 mile

NO!

It's changing for the better...

@ the moment it's 5 MR = 4 FB Miles. It's going to be 1 MR = 1 FB mile now, so it's a 20% increase in FB miles exchange rate.

Only question is, which country are you from Henry?
The exchange rate for the Dutch is the same for AF/KLM then Alitalia. So either the e-mail is incorrect, or we become to enthusiastic for this change will not take place in Holland...

NO!

It's changing for the better...

@ the moment it's 5 MR = 4 FB Miles. It's going to be 1 MR = 1 FB mile now, so it's a 20% increase in FB miles exchange rate.

Only question is, which country are you from Henry?
The exchange rate for the Dutch is the same for AF/KLM then Alitalia. So either the e-mail is incorrect, or we become to enthusiastic for this change will not take place in Holland...

You misread the information. (Glaschu -I guess it's Scottish for Glasgow- is not in Holland)

In Holland (EUR-based) 5 MR=4 FB miles
In the UK (GBP-based) 4 MR=5 FB miles, and that's changing in 1 MR=1 FB

You misread the information. (Glaschu -I guess it's Scottish for Glasgow- is not in Holland)

In Holland (EUR-based) 5 MR=4 FB miles
In the UK (GBP-based) 4 MR=5 FB miles, and that's changing in 1 MR=1 FB

Yes, I know see :) sorry

I just spoke with a friend of mine, which I helped to a AMEX Gold (yes bonus benefit :D) and he told me he also got a letter that things are changing in April. He also mentioned that the miles were going to be 1:1.

Any Dutch that can confirm that here?

Because I have about 100.000 MR points, so I'll gladly wait to transfer then.