Swapping Amex MR for Chase UR
 

Looking to fly on a ticket that is with airline that requires Chase UR points. Unfortunately, I have Amex. Anyone know a good way to swap with someone?

Theis is kinda neat, but the programs are not interchangeable.

http://www.webflyer.com/programs/mil...rter/index.php

Wouldn't it just be easier to book the flight through AmEx travel with MR points? Certainly avoids any snoops from voiding your points if they catch you.

If it's a J or F, he likely doesn't have enough MR to get the ticket through AMEX Travel. And it would be bad value even if he could.

What's the airline? With all of the alliances, it's possible there is another AMEX transfer partner option which would allow you to book the ticket through a partner.

You cannot transfer Membership Rewards points to any other person's account, there simply is no mechanism. This means that any "swap" must be made by redeeming for a reward in the other person's name.

which airline?

have you tried the loopholes (transfer MR into first airline in MR program... first airline can redeem flights on second airline)

Thanks. I have tried all the alternatives. What is really frustrating is the fact that each partner airline charges a different amount for the same seat. For example, Korea Air has avails at 125K R/T in biz class. Delta, even if they had a seat available would want nearly 2x that number. When I look on Flying Blue, they want 200K for a flight on CZ. CZ, on their own, wants 120K for the same flight.

Isn't that the premise of FFP competition, though? Would you prefer if FFPs colluded to fix prices, as the US airlines have done for revenue tickets?

Anyway, perhaps if you can be more specific about what your ultimate goal is, one of us might be able to propose a workaround.

Alitalia has a very competitive award chart - they are also in SkyTeam and would have access to the same SkyTeam partner award seats as Delta or Korean. They are an AmEx MR transfer partner. Award chart here: https://www.alitalia.com/content/dam...m-2016-ENG.pdf

Find the flight availability on Air France or Delta site, then call Alitalia to book (can't book partner awards online). Get the phone agent to confirm availability before transferring points though.

One issue I have run into is that while Delta or AirFrance may have seats, Alitalia may not. Is that your experience as well? In other words, seats are allotted to each carrier vs. just to "Skyteam" as a whole? If so, I will need to confirm that Alitalia specifically has the seats, correct?

Theoretically they should all have access to the same Skyteam partner seats. But yes, definitely confirm that Alitalia has access to the seats before transferring MR points. But if you see availability on Delta or AF and the phone agent says they don't have it, hang up and call again. Alitalia phone agents aren't always the best...

Moving to I.D. Forum for broader exposure.

Nice idea in theory, but not always 100% accurate.

The best way to get your dilemma addressed here is to provide some details. Where are you going? From where? When? Which airline are you wanting to travel on? Which cabin class?

Having said all that, one thing that you need to keep in mind when booking award travel is that you need to be flexible and work within the often maddening, inconsistent rules. It's not Burger King.

I understand all the nuanced detail - and I appreciate what you are saying. I am not going to burden a message board with the level of detail you suggest. I know what I want to do can be done - is available, etc. Unfortunately, I have Amex and not Chase - so i want to know if there is an easy way to swap - but it does not appear so.