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Old Apr 22, 2011 | 6:26 am
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guv1976
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Originally Posted by inY
Originally Posted by rwalia99
I'm about to get 25,000 of them and was wondering what is the best place to transfer them. I have 60,000 to 100,000 miles in all of these carriers (US, United, Continental, British, Virgin, Alaska, and American). I pretty much fly only these airlines, and I usually only fly domestic. Thanks!
Keep the MR in your AMEX account until you need them. Transfers are often instant and are quite convenient for topping off accounts to make awards. Also, you can wait for a transfer bonus. However, Continental will disappear September 30.

Of the airlines you have miles with and fly, only Continental (including United through a 2nd transfer), British, and Virgin are transfer partners. British and Virgin charge a hefty "fuel surcharge" when redeeming miles. Continental never does.

If you're doing a short-haul redemption and it's on US carriers, then ANA probably costs less miles to redeem on *A. Also, Iberian can get you awards on AA and British.
BA currently imposes no fuel surcharge for award travel on AA within North America, or between North America and South America. And BA permits free, en-route stopovers on award travel -- even on partners.

I don't think BA imposes a fuel surcharge for travel on AS, either.

For domestic travel, BA miles are best for Coach redemptions on AA/AS flights, because BA charges three times the Coach redemption rate for F awards, even on two-cabin aircraft. (Business Class, where offered, is available at twice the Coach redemption rate.)
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