microcosm

like poster said above, having variety is 100% key at this because they all suck, and shoot their Freq flyer point holders foots at every chance they get, so you need to learn to coordinate your movements. For example, use AP for mini rtw or something similar, then use avios to do relatively short 650mile 7.5k one way avios travel from that location (no fuel surcharge in north and south america). Need availability which Aeroplan doesnt really offer, but at reasonable redemptions for longer distance which avios isnt good for? Then use one of the american FFP's like delta which MR convert at 0.75:1 but worth every point if you need to make that trip. Even then if you dont want to be limited, you can still transfer to one of the programs to open up more options/better redemption e.g. to delta then to SPG at 1:1 instead of direct route of MR-SPG at 0.5:1

prmetime

I am not aware you can transfer Delta skymiles to SPG. Could you please provide me with a link to this info? Thanks.

mahasamatman

There's a reason for that. It can't be done. Delta is a dead-end program.

Preacher7

I guess it's good Amex didn't run that 50% BA transfer bonus this year. Read View from the Wing or Milevalue to hear of the potential gutting of BA short hauls.

flyertalker00156

Hence why they did not run a 50%. They devalue their program then run the 50% to try to make people believe in them again :S

microcosm

i misread the site as ive never done it personally and was doing research quite quickly for OP that asked, even then delta skymiles are great for all the partner airlines you can potentially redeem for, and best part is when theres a 20% promo going on, you can boost your xfer ratio (which usually exludes AP)
i think people are looking for the usual 2 per 1 year 50% bonus but realistically theyre going to give out 1 which is near oct/dec.

2nd point to the guy saying BA is doing devaluation, canadian BA operations makes a VERY VERY small dent of BA Avios point holders, so no theyre not doing 2x this year (usually 1 july and 1 in nov/dec) because theyve given out too many avios to canadian holders. I personally think they dont give a frick because theres no one to compete with really, no other FFP offers transfer bonus in canada (even the only one is RBC AVION -> BA AVIOS 50%), so BA doesn't feel it needs to put up incentives like in US where other FFPs constantly have promos

tommy99

FYI: Alaska Mileage Plan bonus now on:

Buy miles from August 26 – October 14, 2014, and you'll get more miles for less:

Buy bonus:
5,000 - 19,000 miles, get a 20% Bonus
20,000 - 34,000 miles, get a 30% Bonus
35,000 - 40,000 miles, get a 40% Bonus

Nice long window too!

Preacher7

If I couldn't double dip in the US, I'd be buying.

Cruban

Any sweet spots in the Alaska program for Canadians?

crimsona

CX to Asia and beyond from YVR or YYZ, F or J to South Africa (although no F HKG to JNB), free stops on one way tickets in HKG

roastpuff

CX F at 70K points to most destinations!

Preacher7

Or my personal fave: Emirates 380 F on the shower plane, 90K one way DXB-North America! I say that direction b/c then u can spend ample time in the F Lounge at DXB, which is over the top great! Last time I flew that route it was just me, George Clooney and his fiancée in F. Serious.

yerffej201

lots. ek f for 90/100k, cx f for 70k, and qf f is decent although award space is near impossible. they also have a fiji airways chart which is cool. from canada ex-yvr flights are much easier since they allow you to fly alaska to the international north american gateway which thus doesn't require you to position. Toronto is a bit harder since there's no as service to that city.

msp3

So we can finally view MBNA cards inside TD EasyWeb?

LearningToFly

On milevalue you can now read this post:"How and Why I Was Totally Wrong about the Avios Devaluation". And I can't read anything on View from the Wing that predicts any Avios devaluation.