American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX points transfer for Star Alliance reward flight

(cross-posted)
Want to travel SFO-SYD direct, r/t Aug. 1-16ish, looking to transfer AMEX points to Star Alliance member for business class reward flight on UA. So far, this has been difficult, as AMEX centurion only does points transfer for AC and SQ in the Star Alliance. AC seems not to have good reward availability, would SQ be any better? Or, is there another way to get a business class reward reservation on UA by using my AMEX points?

I have been wondering about a similar issue regarding Lufthansa. As far as I know, the only way to convert Amex points into M&M is going through SPG (at a conversion rate of 1SPG:3AMEX. I would appreciate it if anyone could also give their advice on this.

Thanks!

Not that this will help for your situation in August, but CO is switching from SkyTeam to Star Alliance by the end of this year. At that point, that should be the most obvious path to get *A awards from MR points.

You can transfer MR to SQ, AC or NH (that's ANA) to book a *alliance reward ticket on United, if one is available.

You should setup AC and NH FF accounts, then link these to MR, so you will be ready to do business.

Verify that StarAlliance award is available using ANA tool.

Different airlines charge different fees depending on the itinerary.

I would probably use AC (to book a *Alliance award on United or LH).

I don't know if any of the airlines will hold your reservation while you are transferring the points from MR, but the transfer are quick if you link the accounts in advance.

Lots of pre-existing threads on the above if you search.

I realize you were interested in United for your direct flight from SFO to SYD, but Quantas also goes direct from SFO to SYD. Quantas can be obtained using MR transferred to Continental. Continental has Quantas awards in all classes.

I have been wondering about a similar issue regarding Lufthansa. As far as I know, the only way to convert Amex points into M&M is going through SPG (at a conversion rate of 1SPG:3AMEX. I would appreciate it if anyone could also give their advice on this.

Thanks!

Can we lobby M&M to become partner???:D

Yes, this seems to be the only way - watch for promotions before doing it... I was lucky mid last year when there were promotions for both AMEX and M&M at the same moment and I managed to do 78500AMEX->47100SPG->57100M&M. Not brilliant, but I really needed those points in M&M.^

I realize you were interested in United for your direct flight from SFO to SYD, but Quantas also goes direct from SFO to SYD. Quantas can be obtained using MR transferred to Continental. Continental has Quantas awards in all classes.

A Qantas reward on CO is obscenely expensive (265K in F :eek:). I'd look for other partner options before going the CO route.

A Qantas reward on CO is obscenely expensive (265K in F :eek:). I'd look for other partner options before going the CO route.
Using CO for Qantas in Business is 190,000 miles RT. That is higher than United at 135,000 miles. One could argue that Qantas is a better flight.
Even Qantas in First for 265,000 points isn't a horrible MR value if you consider the price of Qantas in First from SFO to SYD carries ticket prices from $18k to $25k RT.:eek:

Can we lobby M&M to become partner???:D

Yes, this seems to be the only way - watch for promotions before doing it... I was lucky mid last year when there were promotions for both AMEX and M&M at the same moment and I managed to do 78500AMEX->47100SPG->57100M&M. Not brilliant, but I really needed those points in M&M.^

Even if M&M became a MR partner, it would still be an inefficient use of points (other than to top off an existing balance). For example, LH First US-Europe is 140k miles through M&M vs. 100k miles through ANA or AC. In general, M&M is only a good program if you're earning the miles through premium travel on *A airlines, where you can earn 2x or 3x miles flown. Otherwise the points required to redeem are way too high, and the taxes & fees are outrageous.

Not that this will help for your situation in August, but CO is switching from SkyTeam to Star Alliance by the end of this year. At that point, that should be the most obvious path to get *A awards from MR points.

I saw that, and I believe it's happening in October. When it does, that'll be wonderful!

You can transfer MR to SQ, AC or NH (that's ANA) to book a *alliance reward ticket on United, if one is available.

You should setup AC and NH FF accounts, then link these to MR, so you will be ready to do business.

Verify that StarAlliance award is available using ANA tool.

Different airlines charge different fees depending on the itinerary.

I would probably use AC (to book a *Alliance award on United or LH).

I don't know if any of the airlines will hold your reservation while you are transferring the points from MR, but the transfer are quick if you link the accounts in advance.

Lots of pre-existing threads on the above if you search.

Right. I guess I was wondering if SQ or ANA would have better reward availability than AC which doesn't have anything online in my time frame.

Even Qantas in First for 265,000 points isn't a horrible MR value if you consider the price of Qantas in First from SFO to SYD carries ticket prices from $18k to $25k RT.:eek:

Only a reasonable value proposition if you would actually consider paying that much cash for the ticket. If not it is just fun with numbers.

Only a reasonable value proposition if you would actually consider paying that much cash for the ticket. If not it is just fun with numbers.
If you want to fly from SFO to SYD, you only have two direct flight options; United and Qantas. My experience is Business and First awards with United are difficult to get on that route. If you can get a ticket, great! If you can't, your other choice is to spend lots of cash (United prices are typically $6k in Business and over $15K in First) or use more miles with CO/Qantas.
I guess there is ONE other choice: Spend 14 hours in the back of the bus!!

One more option, TravelStar: Money-buy a Coach UA ticket, then use an SWU :) ! I was lucky enough to be so upgraded SYD--SFO in April 2007.

One more option, TravelStar: Money-buy a Coach UA ticket, then use an SWU :) ! I was lucky enough to be so upgraded SYD--SFO in April 2007.

I stand corrected! But you know, that's not a sure thing...you take your chances. Good thing it worked out for you:)

The ana website is great for showing availability, but one thing to keep in mind is that the point transfer is NOT instantaneous like it is with CO/DL.

My last award redemption took 2 days to clear, but they say to allow 5 business days.

ANA might be able/willing to place the rez on hold if you call.

ANA might be able/willing to place the rez on hold if you call.
They were not 3 years ago when I tried. I do not know if it has changed, but I doubt it.

If you want to fly from SFO to SYD, you only have two direct flight options; United and Qantas. My experience is Business and First awards with United are difficult to get on that route. If you can get a ticket, great! If you can't, your other choice is to spend lots of cash (United prices are typically $6k in Business and over $15K in First) or use more miles with CO/Qantas.
I guess there is ONE other choice: Spend 14 hours in the back of the bus!!

We went (6 in F) last year on United from DC to SFO to SYD to AKL and back. No Problems with UA going to Australia (although they still blockl *A seats) Use MR for ANA or AC and look at their charts as well. ANA charges by distance, AC by region.

just wanted to give you warning. I just transfered 220,000 miles on Wednesday to Aeroplan from amex, and while the transfer was instaneous, the points have been sitting there useless since. Right now aeroplan is having a problem booking LH and TG award tickets and has been that way for a couple of weeks (I guess I should have researched that first:) ) If I had gone the ANA route the point transfer would be done by now and the tickets booked, as it stands now though the points are sitting in Aeroplan useless.