Burning CO miles
 

All-

Would like to know the best deal and options to burn CO miles without flying. For example can these miles be transferred to Hilton or Marriott? Thanks.

Welcome to FT.

You can buy stuff on CO Auctions and/or magazines and other stuff as shown here.

You can also use the WebFlyer Mileage Converter to see what other options you have available, though most involve some serious devaluation.

For HH you can push 25K/year through Amtrak.

You can transfer 1:1 to Amtrak and then from there 1:2 to Hilton. Beware, though, that Amtrak only allows 25k miles to be transfered out per year per account unless you're an Amtrak Select (elite) member. Amtrak award tickets themselves are quite a good deal. NE corridor return tickets are 6k points each.

Completely agree. Amtrak tickets can be some of the best VALUE awards out there. 20k AGR points can get you many long haul 2-zone tickets (one way sleeper car) that would be priced at $1000 plus. And that covers 2 people. So for 40k AGR points roundtrip you could go from Chicago to Seattle, Portland, San Fran or L.A. and back, all meals included. That's 10k less than 2 coach tix on CO, but of course you'll need to be living the life of riley to have the little over 2 days each way travel time...

Amtrak GR tickets are a GREAT deal. In the days of the no fee AGR credit card, Mrs. ralfp was quite the philanthropist with AGR tickets; she would frequently give (note to any Amtrak lurker: give away; not sell/trade) friends & family Amtrak NE corridor tickets. 3000pts for a 1 way ticket worth $80-120 is better than 3¢/pt.

AGR tickets are available at short notice (2-3 days, maybe less). Never had a train unavailable. People pick up tickets at the station. No problemo...