thanks for all the advice! I've spent so much time looking up every single one of the abbreviations!
sorry for all the questions, but if looking at redemption on *A partner airlines (amex points can transfer to all nippon, singapore, and air canada from what I can see) is there one place on UA website where I can look at this, or do I have to sign up for FF accounts with all the partner airlines and look at each place individually to figure out my options before I initiate any AMEX MR transfers?