MilesBuzz! - Making the most of AMEX Membership Awards

I have about 70,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points that I have to use or transfer within 90 days due to canceling my AMEX account. I am trying to decide if I am better off using them to purchase a store gift certificate or transfer them to an airline.

I currently have about 70K Delta points and 150K USAir points. It looks to me like I would get much more cash value out of transferring the points to an airline (vs. a GC) but I'm not sure which airline to transfer to. Any advantages of one over another as far as redeeming for award tickets? I just redeemed some Delta points for the first time and the rate seemed high.

Thanks!

[This message has been edited by jaxdeltablues (edited Mar 23, 2004).]

This was on another thread..

Here is the info I received in the mail today with my latest AMEX statement. Travel to either Japan or Hong Kong for 30,000 Continental OnePass miles (50% reduction from the normal 60,000 )