Originally Posted by MarkXS

With Amex you have many airlines (but NOT UA nor AA) to which you can transfer miles. Those include Delta, Continental, ANA (so there's a Star Alliance option), and I think Air Canada (also a *A option.) Of course, you cannot combine the Amex miles transferred into ANA with United miles, but you can get a ticket ON United FROM ANA after you transfer INTO ANA. In fact, if trying to get a Business (C) or First (F) award on other Star Alliance airlines, ANA is much more likely to have it available than does United.