Need help maximizing points & programs I have!
 

Hi guys, long time lurker here. I'm somewhat credit card obsessed and trying to get the most out of them for travel rewards and benefits that I can to be able to travel internationally on a budget (or free! :)). I know some of these points are more valuable than others and there's a lot of possibilities for converting/transferring them to other programs, so I just need some advice on what I could do to maximize what I have.

I really want to try and redeem my points for trips to Europe (Greece, Germany, France, etc.) or SE Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, etc.) or Australia/New Zealand. Here is what I have:

Point balances:

• Amex 80k MR points
• Citi (Prestige) 60k TY points
• Hilton Surpass 125k points
• IHG 180k points
• Marriott 90k points
• Chase 22k UR points

Hotel status I have:

• IHG Platinum Ambassador
• Hilton Diamond
• Marriott Gold
• SPG Gold

I don't have status with any airlines and I'm open to traveling on any decent airlines internationally. I'm open to any advice on how I can use my point balances & affiliations to get deals on travel and otherwise what I could do to possibly better leverage what I have.

Thank you!

Unless I missed it, you left out one of the most crucial pieces of info:

where are you based :confused:

Oh, and welcome to posting instead of just lurking ;)

Also, if you want free, I'm guessing you are OK with coach (which some of us try to avoid on longhaul).

haha, sorry! I'm in Florida. I am definitely OK with coach. I've never even flown business class on an international flight before, though I'm sure once I did I'd never want to go back to coach :D I've only been to Japan, Italy, and Canada as far as international travel is concerned. I'm definitely up for fancy travel, but I'd rather take 2 free trips coach than 1 trip businesses class I think. I would like to travel with a companion as well.

IIRC Norwegian flies to Florida, and while I just checked their website right now and found it pretty much useless, they have fares so cheap it might be worthwhile to look at paying to fly to Europe. Or even Asia if you are willing to fly via Scandinavia.

I second Norweigian, I just booked a trip to Paris for $450 round trip but my hotels are all free!

From what it looks like they don't fly from Florida...only NY, SF, and LA. I was more looking for feedback like if I could convert MR points to XYZ Airline and use them to get 2 R/T tickets to Japan, etc. I know there's reciprocity on a lot of those hotel programs back and forth to airlines, I just don't know the specifics of which give you most bang for your buck.

They fly from Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale (MCO and FLL)

I'll let the experts on conversion address that, as I'm fond of using points in their native form to get the most bang for the buck.

But just looked at flights, and Norwegian flies to/from London Gatwick to FLL on Wednesdays and to Orlando as well, though I didn't check what days.

Found you could buy FLL-LGW for as low as $240 one way (though for overwater longhaul you normally need to purchase round trip).

The reason I suggested looking at them is that there are posters who were looking at using points, but found better value in using points in other ways and just paying for the cheap airfare on Norwegian. I am pretty sure you can fly to BKK, and there are plenty of LCCs flying from there to all over Asia.

And yes, all this while keeping in mind that this IS Credit Card Programs forum :)

With your points balances scattered across programs you're really going to have to cobble things together one leg at a time if you use points for flights. 22k UR points aren't going to get you anything internationally, you could use it to top up your United account. Your Amex points would get you one 1 way ticket to Japan/Asia in coach transferred to ANA, maybe Singapore.