Membership Rewards worth it?
Apr 9, 2008, 10:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Portland, Or. AA Lifetime Plat, Bonvoy Lifetime Plat, AMEX Plat
Posts: 195
Membership Rewards worth it?
Probably someone can direct me to a long thread, but I can't find. I'm going to earn 1.5 million miles/points this year (and probably next). Have been AA Visa for years, but AA is reducing PDX flights so maybe time to change alliance. Joined AMEX PLAT and have 650K points. Now I'm reading maybe this is bad choice. Where is best place to compare c/c and programs?
Thanks!
p.s. I'm open to all comments/suggestions
Thanks!
p.s. I'm open to all comments/suggestions
Apr 10, 2008, 1:32 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: Hertz PC, Avis PC, Global Entry
Posts: 346
I think Membership Rewards are great if you often use your points for flights at the last minute (most MR transfers are instantaneous compared to Starwood which can take up to two weeks to post). Also, Amex Platinum has a great EOS deal where you can get a JFK<->London ticket for $500 and 50k miles.
That being said, if none of that particularly interests you, Starwood has a wider range of carriers to which you can transfer miles. Since you accumulate so many, if you, for some unbelievable reason, need to fly United, you at least have the option to transfer 2:1, whereas with MR, it's just not possible. Also, you can still fly AA at 1:1. Furthermore, you get the extra 5k miles for every 20k points you transfer. And you can use the miles for Starwood hotel stays, like at the St. Regis.
What I wouldn't do for 650k miles, let alone 1.5m...
That being said, if none of that particularly interests you, Starwood has a wider range of carriers to which you can transfer miles. Since you accumulate so many, if you, for some unbelievable reason, need to fly United, you at least have the option to transfer 2:1, whereas with MR, it's just not possible. Also, you can still fly AA at 1:1. Furthermore, you get the extra 5k miles for every 20k points you transfer. And you can use the miles for Starwood hotel stays, like at the St. Regis.
What I wouldn't do for 650k miles, let alone 1.5m...
Apr 10, 2008, 1:38 am
#3
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
I got an MR card a while ago when there was a 25K bonus points promotion for first use.
I didn't see any point in using the card much, transfered my bonus into Delta miles and closed the card before the annual fee was due.
I agree, I'd rather have Starwood points.
I didn't see any point in using the card much, transfered my bonus into Delta miles and closed the card before the annual fee was due.
I agree, I'd rather have Starwood points.
Apr 18, 2008, 10:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LA/London
Posts: 33
I think Membership Rewards are great if you often use your points for flights at the last minute (most MR transfers are instantaneous compared to Starwood which can take up to two weeks to post). Also, Amex Platinum has a great EOS deal where you can get a JFK<->London ticket for $500 and 50k miles.
Last edited by zou; Apr 18, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Apr 19, 2008, 4:58 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Gold, AMEX MR, BA, DL, SPG, UA, US, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 461
My opinion of AX MR.
1. Good way to fill out your CO, DL, ANA, FF accounts. If you are short of miles on a FF program that partners with AX, you can transfer in some points.
2. Best part of AX MR is first year free AX cards (including Delta Skymiles) that give 5,000 -25,000 signup /minimum spend bonuses. You get points for free.
3. Eveyone speaks about AX Starwood Preferred Guest card as a great card. But for me, I don't spend much on credit cards and I do most of my spending fullfilling Citicard Aadvantage minimum spend requirements (now up to $750). So I usually spend $750 per month on the Citicards (the newest card I got) and get 15,000 to 25,000 per card.
1. Good way to fill out your CO, DL, ANA, FF accounts. If you are short of miles on a FF program that partners with AX, you can transfer in some points.
2. Best part of AX MR is first year free AX cards (including Delta Skymiles) that give 5,000 -25,000 signup /minimum spend bonuses. You get points for free.
3. Eveyone speaks about AX Starwood Preferred Guest card as a great card. But for me, I don't spend much on credit cards and I do most of my spending fullfilling Citicard Aadvantage minimum spend requirements (now up to $750). So I usually spend $750 per month on the Citicards (the newest card I got) and get 15,000 to 25,000 per card.
Apr 19, 2008, 7:41 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
My opinion of AX MR.
1. Good way to fill out your CO, DL, ANA, FF accounts. If you are short of miles on a FF program that partners with AX, you can transfer in some points.
2. Best part of AX MR is first year free AX cards (including Delta Skymiles) that give 5,000 -25,000 signup /minimum spend bonuses. You get points for free.
3. Eveyone speaks about AX Starwood Preferred Guest card as a great card. But for me, I don't spend much on credit cards and I do most of my spending fullfilling Citicard Aadvantage minimum spend requirements (now up to $750). So I usually spend $750 per month on the Citicards (the newest card I got) and get 15,000 to 25,000 per card.
1. Good way to fill out your CO, DL, ANA, FF accounts. If you are short of miles on a FF program that partners with AX, you can transfer in some points.
2. Best part of AX MR is first year free AX cards (including Delta Skymiles) that give 5,000 -25,000 signup /minimum spend bonuses. You get points for free.
3. Eveyone speaks about AX Starwood Preferred Guest card as a great card. But for me, I don't spend much on credit cards and I do most of my spending fullfilling Citicard Aadvantage minimum spend requirements (now up to $750). So I usually spend $750 per month on the Citicards (the newest card I got) and get 15,000 to 25,000 per card.
John