Buying parents first/business tickets with Amex points
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 176
Buying parents first/business tickets with Amex points
I have somewhere around 150,000 Amex points(platinum bonus) and am hoping to send a few members of my family on a trip somewhere from the US east coast on a first class flight. I would be willing to go business if it was a nice business class(lay flat seats, etc) as well. Any suggestions for the best value? I have no real ideas, probably europe is the best bet, but I guess asia is feasible too. The flights would probably be from DC, or Orlando/miami
Are there any sweet spots for AMEX redemptions that would allow me to pull this off? I was looking at avios but I'm fairly clueless.
If I had to find another signup bonus somewhere to get more miles I might be willing to do that, but I was hoping this would be enough. Any thoughts would be great, thanks!
Are there any sweet spots for AMEX redemptions that would allow me to pull this off? I was looking at avios but I'm fairly clueless.
If I had to find another signup bonus somewhere to get more miles I might be willing to do that, but I was hoping this would be enough. Any thoughts would be great, thanks!
#2
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I hate to be discouraging, but 150K Amex points is enough to get a a few folks back and forth to Europe in business class, not to mention first class. Plus there is the challenge of securing a three or four award seats on the same flights.
If you want to pursue this further, though, one route to go is to focus on getting bonuses through the various credit cards that can in turn be converted into Singapore Air Krisflyer miles. Your Amex points can be used for this, as can Chase ultimate reward points, Citi thank you points and Starwood Amex (which are different from the regular Amex membership reward) points. The appropriate threads in the credit card forums are places to learn more about these options.
Good luck!
If you want to pursue this further, though, one route to go is to focus on getting bonuses through the various credit cards that can in turn be converted into Singapore Air Krisflyer miles. Your Amex points can be used for this, as can Chase ultimate reward points, Citi thank you points and Starwood Amex (which are different from the regular Amex membership reward) points. The appropriate threads in the credit card forums are places to learn more about these options.
Good luck!
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
As Thunderhead said, 150,000 points is really not very much to go on. For example, if you were to transfer to Air Canada, you'd need 90,000 points for a single business class ticket to Europe from the US. First class would be 125,000 points.
Avios, incidentally would not be a very good strategy as BA tacks on significant surcharges.
Avios, incidentally would not be a very good strategy as BA tacks on significant surcharges.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 176
what about a decent business/first class to italy from the US east coast?
have 150k+ Amex points
somewhere between 80-100k avios
at the very least I think I'll be ok with business first one way and economy on the way back, but I'd rather round trip.
I thought I remembered seeing Alitalia round trip business being reasonable?
have 150k+ Amex points
somewhere between 80-100k avios
at the very least I think I'll be ok with business first one way and economy on the way back, but I'd rather round trip.
I thought I remembered seeing Alitalia round trip business being reasonable?
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
what about a decent business/first class to italy from the US east coast?
have 150k+ Amex points
somewhere between 80-100k avios
at the very least I think I'll be ok with business first one way and economy on the way back, but I'd rather round trip.
I thought I remembered seeing Alitalia round trip business being reasonable?
have 150k+ Amex points
somewhere between 80-100k avios
at the very least I think I'll be ok with business first one way and economy on the way back, but I'd rather round trip.
I thought I remembered seeing Alitalia round trip business being reasonable?
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...m-bright-spot/
#6
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
I believe FlyingBlue runs promos on various routes each month in both Y and J. If you are flexible with US gateways you might be able to snag one of those.
I think they charge the same prices as DL saver TATL (aka 62.5k OW before the promo discount)
I think they charge the same prices as DL saver TATL (aka 62.5k OW before the promo discount)
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 176
Thank you for your replies. It looks like I'll be SO close to being able to get 3 round trip tickets from miami to madrid in business, argh. Still a possibility though.
For those flyingblue promos, where do I find those? I didnt see them listed in the forum here anywhere.
Thanks
For those flyingblue promos, where do I find those? I didnt see them listed in the forum here anywhere.
Thanks
#8
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Dubai
Posts: 125
Here is the link to the current promos for travel between 1 April and 31 May.
https://www.flyingblue.com/promo-awards.html
https://www.flyingblue.com/promo-awards.html
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
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As this post is specific to using MR points, we'll relocate this to the AMEX forum.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,222
I'm pretty sure that 42.5k MIA to MAD rate posted above is one-way. So you don't even have enough for two round-trips.