American Express Membership Rewards - Advice on best use of MR points for NYC-MAD tickets?

My sister is sitting on a few hundred thousand MR points and has asked me what the best use of them would be for tickets between NY and MAD.

She's going to be living in MAD for a few months and needs to get her husband a ticket to visit from NY about twice a month. With the very limited number of US airlines that now take MR points, I suspect that going with a European airline might be a better choice, but I don't know much about the European FF programs.

Also, she wanted to know which airlines offer one way awards to/from Europe and I only know of AA and UA.

Any advice on the best way to use her MR points for her purpose would be appreciated.

My sister is sitting on a few hundred thousand MR points and has asked me what the best use of them would be for tickets between NY and MAD. .

Try Iberia: direct flight JFK-MAD and they do have one way awards

You have many options, check availability for your dates....

1) Delta from JFK
2) United from EWR (book using Aeroplan miles)
3) Iberia from JFK (book using Avios points for current 50% bonus)
4) AA from JFK (book using Avios points for current 50% bonus)
5) Air Europa from JFK (book using Flying blue points)

Avios does have obscene fuel surcharges so you are probably better off with Delta or United.

You have many options, check availability for your dates....

1) Delta from JFK
2) United from EWR (book using Aeroplan miles)
3) Iberia from JFK (book using Avios points for current 50% bonus)
4) AA from JFK (book using Avios points for current 50% bonus)
5) Air Europa from JFK (book using Flying blue points)

I think Iberia or AA using the Avios 50% bonus would be your best value if there is availability. Note, the bonus expires 5/31.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm gonna have to do some research on the Avios program.

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Be aware that redeeming Avios for TATL travel on AA or IB will incur significant fuel surcharges.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Be aware that redeeming Avios for TATL travel on AA or IB will incur significant fuel surcharges.

That might be a stop to the plan. I don't have a BA account to try making a reservation, so can someone give an estimate of about how much the expected surcharges be for a RT EWR-MAD award would be?

That might be a stop to the plan. I don't have a BA account to try making a reservation, so can someone give an estimate of about how much the expected surcharges be for a RT EWR-MAD award would be?

You can create an account for free on their website & then check availability. http://www.britishairways.com/travel/spend-avios/public/en_gb

Avios does have obscene fuel surcharges so you are probably better off with Delta or United.

You could also check with Iberia itself and see if they have a reasonable fuel surcharge since they are also a MR transfer partner. http://www.iberia.com/iberiaplus/?language=en

That might be a stop to the plan. I don't have a BA account to try making a reservation, so can someone give an estimate of about how much the expected surcharges be for a RT EWR-MAD award would be?

Also, the only non-stop from EWR-MAD is on United. The rest of the options are from JFK.