American Express Membership Rewards - Best use of Amex points

So my spouse signed up for a promotion last summer for 50K from an Amex Gold. I kind of doubted the value of the points thinking they were like Hilton points or something. I know this is a very general question but -value wise - what is the best use of the points? The reduced fare coach on QF and CX seats don't seem all that exciting but they may be worth it.

Long-haul premium cabin travel.

A F seat from LAX-SYD on QF can be had for 135K points (assuming you find availability) passed through the CO OnePass program. That is great value. There are other, similar values out there.

You can go for $.01/point on gift cards, or $.005/point in cash, if you want, but the value there is lower. Of course, if you weren't planning on actually travelling then the value in the travel reward isn't that great.

S.

The highest financial value is typically to transfer to an airline and redeem for transoceanic business or first class. Problem is 50,000 points isn't enough to do this and none of the firms mentioned in your profile (Alaska, United, Marriott or Hyatt) participate in Membership Rewards. If you were to use the card to earn, say, another 40-50,000 points you should have enough to redeem a UA ticket through Aeroplan or ANA.

Failing that you can fall back on a popular solution, transfer to Hawaiian Airlines, then to Hilton HHonors. 50,000 Membership Rewards points become 50,000 HawaiianMiles becomes 100,000 HHonors points.

dennis

OK, but you are telling me that they are really worth 50,000 miles (100,000 Hilton points) ^

Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to most partner airlines. The rates to hotel programs vary, and they are poor if transferred directly to Hilton or to Starwood because they do not want to undercut the HHonors and SPG credit cards.

Details at www.membershiprewards.com

Failing that you can fall back on a popular solution, transfer to Hawaiian Airlines, then to Hilton HHonors. 50,000 Membership Rewards points become 50,000 HawaiianMiles becomes 100,000 HHonors points.

Mia-

I have the Hilton Hhonors Amex that automatically transfers points from my members reward to my hhonors account. Would I be able to make more points doing it the above way? Thats a new one I have never heard of, but if it can get me more points, Im all for it. :)

You get 3 pts per $ on your HH Amex. I'd stick with that.

I have the Hilton Hhonors Amex that automatically transfers points from my members reward to my hhonors account. Would I be able to make more points doing it the above way? Thats a new one I have never heard of, but if it can get me more points, Im all for it. :)

The HHonors credit card does not participate in Membership Rewards. Purchases automatically generate HHonors points, there is no option to receive any other type of reward with your card.

dennis

How many Starpoints do you get for 25000 MR points? Is there a list showing the ratios somewhere? Thanks.

How many Starpoints do you get for 25000 MR points? Is there a list showing the ratios somewhere? Thanks.

Dear Zhaunk...check this link out...it's pretty cool...

www.insideflyer.com/tools/mileage_converter/

How many Starpoints do you get for 25000 MR points?

25000 Membership Rewards = 8,325 Starpoints

Failing that you can fall back on a popular solution, transfer to Hawaiian Airlines, then to Hilton HHonors. 50,000 Membership Rewards points become 50,000 HawaiianMiles becomes 100,000 HHonors points.

Mia-

I have the Hilton Hhonors Amex that automatically transfers points from my members reward to my hhonors account. Would I be able to make more points doing it the above way? Thats a new one I have never heard of, but if it can get me more points, Im all for it. :)

Is it still possible to tranfer from HawaiianMiles to HHonors?

The options at
https://www.hawaiianair.com/hawaiianmiles/howtoredeem/use_pur.asp
do not include Hhonors.

HHonors website shows that it is done by telephone...

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/points/milesforpoints.do

HHonors website shows that it is done by telephone...

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/points/milesforpoints.do

Thanks!

What is the best transfer bonus that you have seen? I have seen the 20% and 25% delta bonuses last year? Anything better to wait for?

Getting back to this. I looked at the Hotel and other awards and they just don't seem to make sense compared to some of the Airlines Award. 1,000 points = 1,000 miles in Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Singapore, etc. Now looking at the Singapore website the redemption options seem terrible. Am I missing something. Over 200,000 points for F and 100,000 points if you upgrade business class to F.
Continental F to Europe does not seem too bad at 100,000 Continantal points. At least you could stop in New York on your way to Europe. Now if you book a Qantas award with Continental points it will cost 135,000 miles for F, not bad but pretty hard to attain with an AMEX unless you are spending way too much on your credit card. :rolleyes:

IMHO Hilton points are virtually worthless. It take so many points to book and an award these days (no more week long stays for 100,000 points). 2 points for 1 AMEX point is good but not as exciting as people seem to make it.

Getting back to this. I looked at the Hotel and other awards and they just don't seem to make sense compared to some of the Airlines Award. 1,000 points = 1,000 miles in Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, Singapore, etc. Now looking at the Singapore website the redemption options seem terrible. Am I missing something. Over 200,000 points for F and 100,000 points if you upgrade business class to F.
Continental F to Europe does not seem too bad at 100,000 Continantal points. At least you could stop in New York on your way to Europe. Now if you book a Qantas award with Continental points it will cost 135,000 miles for F, not bad but pretty hard to attain with an AMEX unless you are spending way too much on your credit card. :rolleyes:

IMHO Hilton points are virtually worthless. It take so many points to book and an award these days (no more week long stays for 100,000 points). 2 points for 1 AMEX point is good but not as exciting as people seem to make it.

I don't think you can compare SQ F and CO F :rolleyes: I think their relative cost in MRs is appropriate if not understated.

Continental F to Europe does not seem too bad at 100,000 Continantal points.

Continental Airlines does not operate international first class. Their "BusinessFirst" cabin is a business class product, and should be compared to other airlines' business class redemptions. Bear in mind also that CO offers notoriously limited availability at the Standard (100,000 mile) award level, and the corresponding EasyPass awards require 250,000 miles.

18,000 points can get you a night at the raddison. SO by adding 6000 more points you can get 3 nights at the Radisson. A night is usually valued at 200-250$ in most places. There for that reward could be valued at 600-750$

18,000 points can get you a night at the raddison. SO by adding 6000 more points you can get 3 nights at the Radisson. A night is usually valued at 200-250$ in most places. There for that reward could be valued at 600-750$Are there any Raddisons in the US worth staying at? I looked into this in the past and the NYC properties which should get you the biggest bang for the buck got terrible reviews. Any others you could recommend?

IMHO best value by far is to use for VS PE => UC MFU award.

40k points = ~$4k. Thats ~10 cents per point !!!!!!!

There is often reasonable confirmed award availability in advance if you can be a little flexible on dates, but the best thing is that UGs at checkin do not seem to be artificially capacity controlled - so if there is an open UC seat you can UG.

IMHO best value by far is to use for VS PE => UC MFU award.

40k points = ~$4k. Thats ~10 cents per point !!!!!!!

There is often reasonable confirmed award availability in advance if you can be a little flexible on dates, but the best thing is that UGs at checkin do not seem to be artificially capacity controlled - so if there is an open UC seat you can UG.

That took me about 15 minutes to figure out... found the VS in the glossary and had to google for PE, UC and MFU. For those that don't yet speak the flyertalk lingo, I think dgwright is telling us that using miles to upgrade from a premium economy class ticket on Virgin Atlantic is the best bang for buck that he(she) has found =)

IMO the best use of points is whatever you might need to use the points for, regardless of whether it is the theoretical "most value for the points." My GF needed to go to Florida recently on short notice to visit a sick relative, but she couldn't afford the ticket. I could pay for the ticket for her or use 50,000 MR points that I would never miss anyway (short notice on DL since they fly into MLB nonstop from DCA), so I used the points. Sure, there are "better" uses for points, but some things are more important than wringing out every last cent.

That took me about 15 minutes to figure out... found the VS in the glossary and had to google for PE, UC and MFU. For those that don't yet speak the flyertalk lingo, I think dgwright is telling us that using miles to upgrade from a premium economy class ticket on Virgin Atlantic is the best bang for buck that he(she) has found =)

Thanks for the translation on that. I needed that.

IMO the best use of points is whatever you might need to use the points for, regardless of whether it is the theoretical "most value for the points." My GF needed to go to Florida recently on short notice to visit a sick relative, but she couldn't afford the ticket. I could pay for the ticket for her or use 50,000 MR points that I would never miss anyway (short notice on DL since they fly into MLB nonstop from DCA), so I used the points. Sure, there are "better" uses for points, but some things are more important than wringing out every last cent.

Agreed. It is a similar concept behind CC - what is of value to one person may be of little value to another.

I have 25k MR points and am new to the program. I won't be accumulating more points soon. I don't need any airline miles... too many as it is.

I think my best options are either $250 in appropriate gift cards (most likely a restaurant) or possibly *points - though I'd rather have a $250 meal at Smith and Wollensky than 8325 *points.

Any other suggestions on my best course of action? Is there any way to convert 25k MR points into a weeklong (8 day) car rental?

Is there any way to convert 25k MR points into a weeklong (8 day) car rental?

Not directly, but 25,000 points can be redeemed for $250 at Avis, Enterprise or Hertz...

http://www.membershiprewards.com/catalog/search/?N=1070000&catalog=1&from=/catalog/travel/

You would have to claim one $200 certificate plus one $50 certificate and verify that more than one certificate can be applied to the same rental.

I think my best options are either $250 in appropriate gift cards (most likely a restaurant) or possibly *points - though I'd rather have a $250 meal at Smith and Wollensky than 8325 *points.

Most FT members do not think that the $0.01 per point is a good redemption value for points on gift cards so you will not see that option recommended often. I personally would evaluate if I were in need of a 1 night stay anywhere and then look at the Omni and Hyatt 25K awards. At least you get one free night vs. the 8325 *W points you mention which really don't get you much these days! The other alternative that requires a little more work but might work out for you is to transfer the points to Co then to Amtrak and then to Hilton Honors. For 40k HH points you will get a free Cat. 6 room (this 40k would require 20k AMEX MR points since the conversion is 1:2 from Amtrak to HH.)

Most FT members do not think that the $0.01 per point is a good redemption value for points on gift cards so you will not see that option recommended often. I personally would evaluate if I were in need of a 1 night stay anywhere and then look at the Omni and Hyatt 25K awards. At least you get one free night vs. the 8325 *W points you mention which really don't get you much these days! The other alternative that requires a little more work but might work out for you is to transfer the points to Co then to Amtrak and then to Hilton Honors. For 40k HH points you will get a free Cat. 6 room (this 40k would require 20k AMEX MR points since the conversion is 1:2 from Amtrak to HH.)

drawback being I have to pay a fee to MR to convert from MR to CO, right? The excise recovery fee or whatever they are calling it?

I am aware; as most folks are that, the Amex to Hawaiian Airlines conversion to get points to Hilton is now dormant. However, I am unsure if anyone has looked in to the possibility of transferring Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors through either Singapore or Virgin Atlantic, which are both members of the Hilton Exchange. Has anyone tried this option?

1 the fee to transfer to miles is negligible
2 http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/points/milesforpoints.do suggests mexicana might be possible, but since its never been mentioned before, i would assume its always been like hawaiian is now..

drawback being I have to pay a fee to MR to convert from MR to CO, right? The excise recovery fee or whatever they are calling it?

It maxes out at $75, or at least it did when I did my last big transfer. In the grand scheme of a "free" stay at a nice hotel, it is a minor cost.

Now looking at the Singapore website the redemption options seem terrible. Am I missing something. Over 200,000 points for F and 100,000 points if you upgrade business class to F.

If you want to fly SQ, book through VS.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/fcpartners/airlines/singaporeairlines.jsp

SQ has unrestricted awards (double regular) and thats the ONLY way to book the new F/J

routes/RT rates >
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7420531&postcount=41

also nice because CX doesnt have unrestricted awards except for Y, and i dont think BA does either. there is one middle eastern carrier that does, but im not sure how theirs work.