Is it possible to transfer MR points between different countries?
 

Hello

I have both UK and US Platinum cards with associated membership rewards accounts.

Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer MR points from a UK account to a US account?

I spoke to a UK CSR and he wasn't sure if it could be done so I thought I would tap the collective knowledge here.

Thanks in advance.
HG

Transfering directly is only possible when you move to another country, Amex has a special possibily for this:
http://www.americanexpress.com/globa...nsfer_en.shtml

When you don't move, it's not possible FAIK.

I'm afraid this is incorrect.

What the OP is referring to is called an international consolidation. It's allowed once per year and transfers the points at the current exchange rate. I do this once per year from my Aussie accounts to my US accounts and same from my UK accounts (although admittedly less than once a year :o ).

Thanks for the info
 

Thanks Brobbel and stevenshev for your responses.

I have in fact moved from the UK to the US but decided to keep my UK account should I decide to move back there at some point.

It looks like I need the "international consolidation" to be performed. I was surprised to hear that AmEx has an internal exchange rate for converting MR points but I guess it makes sense since they are earned in different currencies. Here's hoping that the UK-US conversation rate for MR points is as good as the GBP to USD exchange rate - should be able to double my points (almost)!!

HG

I also transfered MR points between countries and it worked without any issues. But I have only done it once, so no experience for repeat offenders ;)

Transfer of MR points from a German MR-account to a ICC MR Account?
 

Hi,

I'm still wondering if it would be possible to transfer some of my MR-Points from my German MR-account to my International Euro Amex MR-account?

Is there somebody who has done this? If yes, does there apply an exchange rate (both cards are in Euro) or would it be better to transfer to my International Dollar MR-account, as the exchange rate must be more than 1:1 ?

I'm considering doing that, because the exchange rate of 3:2 for transfering MR points to CO and DL-Miles isn't very good (ICC and IDC offer 1:1).

Transfer MR points between MR programs in different countries.
 

I heard it is possible to transfer MR points from one program into another.
This I already got confirmed by AMEX Germany.
I have to open an account let's say in UK or USA and become also a MR member there.
After, I can call MR Germany ( where I held my points ) , and they will transfere them into the other program.

Now the question, they could not answer me :

How is the ratio, they transfer the points ?
I think to remember, that I read here on FT, that the ratio is the same , as the two curencys one change between.

So for 125k DE-Euro-points one gets 100K UK-GBP-points, or 200 US-US$-points.
Can anyone help here ?
If this is correct, which is a good MR program to change to ( when needing point/miles for * aliance and SPG / HH ) ?
I compare again, for the 125k DE would get 100K UK = 100k DC BMI miles = 2 free flights in first between Italy and Hongkong in first class + total 680 GBP cash I have to pay.
Going via the USA > 125k DE would get 196k US = 196k Aeroplan = 1,4 rt. to far east in first without cash.
If one compares Europe-USA in first, with DC it stays the same 2 free first class rt's + 560 GBP cash, but here is Aeroplan better for 200k one gets 2 free first tickets without adding cash.

SPG should be good via Australia until 30 Sep.
Any other sugestions, or good ideas.?

In SIN, you typically earn one Membership Reward point for S$1.60 spend. In US, you earn on Membership Reward point for US$1 spend. This is because Amex has fixed the USD-SGD rate at USD 1 = S$1.60 for this purpose(although the - current rate is USD1 = S$1.34). So I think they try to give you one Membership Reward point for roughly equivalent spend whichever country's Amex card you have, and so the value of one Membership point across Membership Rewards programs in different countries should be the same, IMHO.

No,
In Europe you earn 1 MR for 1 Euro spent.
In the USA you earn 1 MR for 1 US$ spent
In Australia 1 MR for 1 AUD spent

chabge these MR into SPG pints

in Europe 3 : 1 I have to spend 3 Euro for 1 SPG point
In the USA also 3 : 1 but US$ so I need to spent 3US$ = 1,90 Euro per SPG
in Australia until September 1000 MR = 600 SPG so, 1,66 AUD = 0,97 per SPG

That's a big difference !

Or see Continental One Pass
In Europe 3 MR = 2 miles , so 1 mile 1,50 Euro
in the USA 1 USD = 1 MR = 1 CO mile , so 1 mile only 0,64 Euro

Also the AMEX Germany MR is limited to skyteam airlines and CO/DL only ( and this with very bad conversion rates ).
So it makes sense to open an account in another country, and transfer the points bevore into another countrys MR program.

"Except for promotional offers, Bonus Programmes and affinity Cards with certain professional associations and Corporate Cards, every Cardmember enrolled in the Programme will accrue two Points in the Programme Account for every S$1.60 spent on goods and services, charged and billed on the Card Account and Linked Accounts (if any). Every Corporate Cardmember enrolled in the Programme will accrue one Point in the Programme Account for every S$1.60 spent on goods and services, charged and billed on the Card Account and Linked Accounts (if any). "

Wow, I scored Triplicates this time!!!! sorry

When I immigrated to the USA from UK, and transferred my gold amex account over, they moved my MR (from GBP points to $US points) at a rate that approximated the exchange rate at the time.

IIRC this resulted in quite a substantial improvement in the value of points when converted to miles.

Wow, I scored Triplicates this time!!!! sorry

Sorry, my mistake. In Singapore, I do earn 2 points for every S$1.6 spend, i.e 1 point for S$0.80 spend. However I need 8 Membership points for 5 Krisflyer miles, i,e S$6.4 spend for 5 krisflyer miles or S$1.28 spend for 1 Krisflyer point. At US$1 =S$ 1.36 now, I effectively get 1 Krisflyer point for approx a little under US$ 1.

I dont know the rules for converting Rewards points in the US to Krisflyer miles, (the Amex site says call SQ to enroll) so am not in a position to find out the exact conversion rate. But if it is 1 MR point = i Krisflyer mile, then the cost of 1 Krisflyer mile would be US 1 versus just under USS$1 via the Singapore Amex MR.

There may be some arbitrage here, partly because of constantly moving FX rates, but we need to know the rate at which MR points can be moved from one country to another.

Did you manage to find out from AMEX at what rate AMEX will transfer Rewards points from one country's AMEX program to another?

Since AMEX Germany confirmed to you that they will let you transfer MR points from one country to another, why dont you ask them the conversion rate? they should be the best people to answer that!

I did this 2002 when I moved from Germany tot he US. First it was great because they moved also the credit history to my new US ss-number. I called the us card service exchanged my gold Germany card for a us gold card (was a member for 3 years @ that time) Additional I wanted to et a real credit card so my credit report locks better. In Germany i had a blue card for private charges so I wanted to move that card as well. That move was not so easy because in the us that is a card with a real credit line. After talking to 2-3 supervisors they moved it with a 5000 USD credit line. For Amex membership rewards the move was easy the just moved it with the gold card. exchange rate was 1:1 no questions asked....
Juergen

Interesting. You got 1:1 exchange from German MR program to US program in 2002.

dgwrght99reported "they moved my MR (from GBP points to $US points) at a rate that approximated the exchange rate at the time."

OP thinks ratio is in line with exchange rates ("How is the ratio, they transfer the points ?
I think to remember, that I read here on FT, that the ratio is the same , as the two curencys one change between.")

OP, did AMEX Germany confirm the rate at which they will exchange to you? Would be interesting to know