NYTimes: "Amex, Challenged by Chase, Is Losing the Snob War"
May 18, 2017, 9:15 am
#331
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,064
There would be two reasons why someone would do this:
1) The person is close to a lifetime status level. (Marriott counts all sources except, somewhat ironically, SPG transfers toward lifetime status.)
2) The person wants to do an air + hotel package. For example, up until earlier this year, the transfer to Southwest this way would count toward a Companion Pass.
1) The person is close to a lifetime status level. (Marriott counts all sources except, somewhat ironically, SPG transfers toward lifetime status.)
2) The person wants to do an air + hotel package. For example, up until earlier this year, the transfer to Southwest this way would count toward a Companion Pass.
May 18, 2017, 12:48 pm
#332
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
There would be two reasons why someone would do this:
1) The person is close to a lifetime status level. (Marriott counts all sources except, somewhat ironically, SPG transfers toward lifetime status.)
2) The person wants to do an air + hotel package. For example, up until earlier this year, the transfer to Southwest this way would count toward a Companion Pass.
1) The person is close to a lifetime status level. (Marriott counts all sources except, somewhat ironically, SPG transfers toward lifetime status.)
2) The person wants to do an air + hotel package. For example, up until earlier this year, the transfer to Southwest this way would count toward a Companion Pass.
May 18, 2017, 2:11 pm
#333
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,255
It's awesome that you have found sweet spot redemption with Hyatt (but as you said, it's not always about inspiration travel a la WN) but that's not a consistent redemption. And you deflected my question, doesn't UR have awful transfer partners? UR having good travel partners doesn't preclude UR from having awful partners. What about the other UR transfer partners that you fail to mention? Wouldn't you say IHG, Marriott and others are awful?
Note, I don't think IHG and Marriott are awful transfer...I'm applying your MR logic to UR.
IHG? If you can tell me with a straight face that you've transferred UR to IHG I will concede the debate to you.
Does anyone, I mean anyone, transfer to Marriott? That is seriously awful.
See what I'm doing here...
Btw, ANA via MR is awesome too!
TPG values UR 0.2 CPP (or 10%) more than MR...I wouldn't classify that as SIGNIFICANT.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a MR fanboy nor am I a UR hater. I'm a CPC with many UR earning cards. As I said, I find UR and MR to be complementary. Both programs have their strengths and weaknesses.
Note, I don't think IHG and Marriott are awful transfer...I'm applying your MR logic to UR.
IHG? If you can tell me with a straight face that you've transferred UR to IHG I will concede the debate to you.
Does anyone, I mean anyone, transfer to Marriott? That is seriously awful.
See what I'm doing here...
Btw, ANA via MR is awesome too!
TPG values UR 0.2 CPP (or 10%) more than MR...I wouldn't classify that as SIGNIFICANT.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a MR fanboy nor am I a UR hater. I'm a CPC with many UR earning cards. As I said, I find UR and MR to be complementary. Both programs have their strengths and weaknesses.
May 18, 2017, 2:39 pm
#334
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
Transfer to IHG and Marriott can be useful if you have not quite enough IHG or Marriott points for a redemption. For example I transferred 20k UR to Marriott in order to redeem a nights and flights package. At the time I had built up considerable Marriott points but knew I wasn't going to be staying in a while. I also needed United points. So I turned 20k UR and 250,000 "orphaned" Marriott points into 132,000 United Miles and a certificate for later use.
Exactly this. I've never transferred to Marriott because I just don't stay at their properties very often. I have transferred a few points to IHG to top off my account in anticipating of a big award. I did that for the Thalasso Bora Bora early last year.
Except for Hyatt, I agree that hotel partners are not great. But Chase still has Hyatt and Hyatt is excellent value, even if not redeeming for the PH Maldives. There are lots of other sweet spots.
May 18, 2017, 2:53 pm
#335
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
Transfer to IHG and Marriott can be useful if you have not quite enough IHG or Marriott points for a redemption. For example I transferred 20k UR to Marriott in order to redeem a nights and flights package. At the time I had built up considerable Marriott points but knew I wasn't going to be staying in a while. I also needed United points. So I turned 20k UR and 250,000 "orphaned" Marriott points into 132,000 United Miles and a certificate for later use.
Yet MR to SPG at 3:1 (which is identical to UR to MR at 1:1) is awful?
May 18, 2017, 3:24 pm
#336
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
May 18, 2017, 3:28 pm
#338
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
Isn't UR to MR 1:1 ?[/QUOTE]
Example: 30,000 MR converts to 10,000 SPG points, which transfer back into 30,000 Marriott points. 30,000 UR = 30,000 Marriott points, so identical.
Nonetheless, when I said "exactly this" I was referring to the IHG top off which I've done on occasion, but pretty infrequently.
Example: 30,000 MR converts to 10,000 SPG points, which transfer back into 30,000 Marriott points. 30,000 UR = 30,000 Marriott points, so identical.
Nonetheless, when I said "exactly this" I was referring to the IHG top off which I've done on occasion, but pretty infrequently.
May 18, 2017, 3:42 pm
#339
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
Anyways, I think you're starting to agree with me
Although some/most of the MR and UR travel partners are not high redemption values (eg. IHG and DL), there are situations where those transfer partners become useful/valuable and not awful. The more options the better.
May 18, 2017, 6:14 pm
#340
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Jet Blue is my airline of choice when flying to Florida or the Caribbean because of their simplicity, the fact that their check-in lines are smaller, their planes have more legroom, aren't always 100% full, etc. I also am more hesitant to ask for additional soda and snacks on other airlines whereas Jet Blue will gladly give me more.
Without MR to Jet Blue, I'd have to apply for the Jet Blue card through Barclays, which is something I really don't want to do.
For Delta, Amtrak, American Airlines, and most other airlines, I'd just transfer my Starwood points over. at 1:1.
May 19, 2017, 2:27 pm
#341
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PIT-SCE-AOO-PHL-NYC-WAS
Programs: free agent
Posts: 1,036
too easy to see why Amex is losing customers like me. They blocked transfer to Virgin Atlantic, then identify security team DEMAND me to go bank to get the form notarized as proof of identify. It's unacceptable that they are using cheap tactic to stall transfers by using 1990s security method.
I am going to burn rest of my remaining MR balances, then close it out and going to stay with Chase all the way.
I am going to burn rest of my remaining MR balances, then close it out and going to stay with Chase all the way.
May 19, 2017, 5:52 pm
#342
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PIT-SCE-AOO-PHL-NYC-WAS
Programs: free agent
Posts: 1,036
No question, and AMEX really fail massively at simple business 101 such as not making it PAIN to use their products. Fine with me if AMEX decide to lock me out from view my account, or USING their card... Amaze how they fail to realize why their ship is sinking!
May 19, 2017, 9:42 pm
#343
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 117
I would venture to say that most MR fans posting here have never had their points frozen. I suspect they will be singing a different tune once that happens.
May 20, 2017, 2:48 am
#344
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
too easy to see why Amex is losing customers like me. They blocked transfer to Virgin Atlantic, then identify security team DEMAND me to go bank to get the form notarized as proof of identify. It's unacceptable that they are using cheap tactic to stall transfers by using 1990s security method.
Amex has flaws, but pretty much everything they do is automated, so some flag must have gone up somewhere.
May 20, 2017, 9:28 am
#345
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Austin (TX)
Posts: 308
Reading between the lines...if that happened to you, I am SURE that activities like you bragged about here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28317246-post11.html had NOTHING at all to do with their spidey senses going off...