Thread: Combining Reward Points From Different CCs

Just when I thought I was doing good, you guys are worrying me. Here's what I am trying to do:

We are a family of four (2 kids, 13 and 9).

We need to fly out of the NJ/NY/PHL area on 7/23 to AMS (doesn't matter if it's non-stop or not but should arrive to AMS by 10AM on the 24th).

We need to fly out of AMS on 8/2 to ATH (need a morning flight, prefer non stop).

We need to fly out of ATH on 8/14 back to NJ/NY/PHL (prefer before noon, doesn't matter if non-stop or not).

I have 300,000 MR points from AMEX and 150,000 World Points through BoA VISA. I want to use all those points to purchase / defray the cost of the four tickets.

What I found was KLM flying out of JFK on 7/23 at 6pm direct to AMS, then KLM flying out direct to ATH on 8/2 at 9:30am and finally KLM flying back to JFK via AMS at 6:30am. Price is $1800.

Since the points come from two different sources, AMEX and VISA, I opened the account with KLM so I could move the AMEX points there and use them towards the tickets. The VISA points can be converted to cash ($1,400) and I can use that towards the remainder of the cost.

If I could use all the points as stated above, I would pay out pocket $2700.

Judging from your posts, there are restrictions on using points to pay for tickets? Is that correct? Do you see other issues with my plan? Do you have a better way to utilize those points since I have no other use for them and I do not do much traveling on a regular basis?

Thanks for everyone's input.

Jim