Tips on possible ways to use points accrued
Jul 7, 2015 | 2:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
Tips on possible ways to use points accrued
Hi there flyertalk!
I have a few points saved up and I was wondering if you guys could give me recommendations based on your knowledge or past experiences.
I will have 77,000 UR points and 51,000 MRP by the end of this month.
I am trying to plan a getaway for a 25 year anniversary efficiently using my points + cash if necessary.
I was considering doing a UR transfer to united and then getting flights to Cancun/Barbados/Bahamas and then transfering MRP to hilton for a 4-6 night stay. I considered a better redemption of my MRP by transfering to Avios for domestic flights but I cant seem to pull up availability on the website at all! However I am also not against flying to a state within the US to explore their wonders (canyons, ice caves, beaches, etc).
Basically I'm just looking for a memorable experience for my and the SO and was wondering if anyone would know off the top of their head immediately what they'd do in this situation. Thank you in advance!
Edit: Forgot to add key data points.
- 2 people travelling, ideally for a week +/- a few days.
- flexible dates, ideally as early as august, but as late as next spring (wiling to wait if amazing deals justified it)
- flexible on location. As long as there's sites to see, things to keep them busy for a week.
- Flying from JFK but can go to neighbooring airports (LGA, Newark if necessary)
I have a few points saved up and I was wondering if you guys could give me recommendations based on your knowledge or past experiences.
I will have 77,000 UR points and 51,000 MRP by the end of this month.
I am trying to plan a getaway for a 25 year anniversary efficiently using my points + cash if necessary.
I was considering doing a UR transfer to united and then getting flights to Cancun/Barbados/Bahamas and then transfering MRP to hilton for a 4-6 night stay. I considered a better redemption of my MRP by transfering to Avios for domestic flights but I cant seem to pull up availability on the website at all! However I am also not against flying to a state within the US to explore their wonders (canyons, ice caves, beaches, etc).
Basically I'm just looking for a memorable experience for my and the SO and was wondering if anyone would know off the top of their head immediately what they'd do in this situation. Thank you in advance!
Edit: Forgot to add key data points.
- 2 people travelling, ideally for a week +/- a few days.
- flexible dates, ideally as early as august, but as late as next spring (wiling to wait if amazing deals justified it)
- flexible on location. As long as there's sites to see, things to keep them busy for a week.
- Flying from JFK but can go to neighbooring airports (LGA, Newark if necessary)
Last edited by knhieu; Jul 7, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Jul 7, 2015 | 2:30 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
Sorry forgot to add that in the edit! Will be flying from JFK but can also do LGA or newark if necessary. Thank you for your answer though, that is exactly the kind of advice im looking for. I saw 4-5 nights in the Caribbean for about 50,000 so i figured MR redemption at 1.5:1 wouldn't be too bad (even though this forum values it at 0.33/point) but I will look into hyatt now!
Jul 7, 2015 | 4:13 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,009
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
The best value would be to redeem BA Avios on one of AA's handful of nonstops from JFK to the Caribbean. Just 10,000 Avios one way in Coach, or 20,000 Avios one-way in Business. The ba.com website has been having trouble for the past week displaying award availability on AA, but we're all hoping that that will be resolved soon. In the meantime, if you can find SAAver award seats on those nonstops at aa.com, you might be able to book the flights with Avios by calling the BAEC Service Center.
You can see a list of AA's year-round and seasonal nonstops from JFK to the Caribbean by viewing Wikipedia's JFK Airport page. (Google "JFK airport wiki" for a link.)
If Bermuda is of any interest to you, AA's JFK-BDA nonstop would cost even fewer Avios.
The best value would be to redeem BA Avios on one of AA's handful of nonstops from JFK to the Caribbean. Just 10,000 Avios one way in Coach, or 20,000 Avios one-way in Business. The ba.com website has been having trouble for the past week displaying award availability on AA, but we're all hoping that that will be resolved soon. In the meantime, if you can find SAAver award seats on those nonstops at aa.com, you might be able to book the flights with Avios by calling the BAEC Service Center.
You can see a list of AA's year-round and seasonal nonstops from JFK to the Caribbean by viewing Wikipedia's JFK Airport page. (Google "JFK airport wiki" for a link.)
If Bermuda is of any interest to you, AA's JFK-BDA nonstop would cost even fewer Avios.
Jul 7, 2015 | 4:19 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 35,009
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Also, Amex occasionally runs transfer bonuses to BA. Note, however, that Amex will be reducing the MR => BA Avios transfer ratio shortly (if it has not already done so). So if you think it likely that you'll be converting MR points to Avios, you need to monitor this closely.
Also, Amex occasionally runs transfer bonuses to BA. Note, however, that Amex will be reducing the MR => BA Avios transfer ratio shortly (if it has not already done so). So if you think it likely that you'll be converting MR points to Avios, you need to monitor this closely.
Last edited by guv1976; Jul 7, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Jul 7, 2015 | 7:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, AS, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,075
Jul 7, 2015 | 10:58 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
Hey guys, I'm a visitor of quite a lot of forums and on some its common courtesy to edit your last post if you were the last responder, and in some forums it doesnt matter. Can anyone inform me whats the common formality for FT?
Also quick question. After looking at excursions and stuff in all the Caribbean islands / mexico it seems like it'd be worth it (point/cash conversion wise) to book an all inclusive hotel deal from one of those sites since food quickly adds up. Would it be more worth it to save the second set of points for another two round trips within/around the US? Thank you.
Edit: Upon searching around, it doesnt seem like any conversion of points -> hotels (while leaving the other set for 2 RT tix) would allow me to get more than 2 or 3 rooms in these prime locations.
Also quick question. After looking at excursions and stuff in all the Caribbean islands / mexico it seems like it'd be worth it (point/cash conversion wise) to book an all inclusive hotel deal from one of those sites since food quickly adds up. Would it be more worth it to save the second set of points for another two round trips within/around the US? Thank you.
Edit: Upon searching around, it doesnt seem like any conversion of points -> hotels (while leaving the other set for 2 RT tix) would allow me to get more than 2 or 3 rooms in these prime locations.