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-   -   Looking for booking advice using AMEX reward points (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/information-desk/1894786-looking-booking-advice-using-amex-reward-points.html)

Ruber74 Feb 19, 2018 4:32 pm
Looking for booking advice using AMEX reward points
 
New to the forum and hope fully I'm posting in the right section. I'm planning a trip to Bangkok from JFK leaving April 10th & returning on the 20th. I'm looking to try and get into business class and wondering what are my possibilities.
I have 21500 skywards miles with Emirates and 82000 AMEX reward points. I was thinking just purchase a regular economy ticket and upgrade at least one way with the points and the other way hoping for pay upgrade email from Emirates.
I'd appreciate any suggestions or other airline recommendations.

Mwenenzi Feb 19, 2018 7:50 pm
Originally Posted by Ruber74 (Post 29435769)
New to the forum and hope fully I'm posting in the right section. I'm planning a trip to Bangkok from JFK leaving April 10th & returning on the 20th. I'm looking to try and get into business class and wondering what are my possibilities.

I have 21500 skywards miles with Emirates and 82000 AMEX reward points. I was thinking just purchase a regular economy ticket and upgrade at least one way with the points and the other way hoping for pay upgrade email from Emirates.
I'd appreciate any suggestions or other airline recommendations.
What research have you done yourself?

Do not fully understand your plan.
Buy 2 separate one way tickets and try for upgrades?
One way long haul fares can be very expensive. And can be more $$ than a return
You will not be able to "upgrade" directly with AMEX points

Long haul upgrades to business class are hard with any airline.
Depending on the airline, some low cost economy fares may not be eligible to upgrade.

Ruber74 Feb 19, 2018 8:00 pm
Not separate tickets but roundtrip economy and upgrade using points oneway, since I don't have enough miles to upgrade roundtrip.
Sometimes you get cheap paid upgrade email from Emirates couple of weeks before the flight, but thats not always guaranteed.

Mwenenzi Feb 19, 2018 8:03 pm
Originally Posted by Ruber74 (Post 29436314)
Not separate tickets but roundtrip economy and upgrade using points oneway, since I don't have enough miles to upgrade roundtrip.
Sometimes you get cheap paid upgrade email from Emirates couple of weeks before the flight, but thats not always guaranteed.
You will not be able to use AMEX points directly with EK

There will be other airlines that can get you NYC BKK

Ruber74 Feb 19, 2018 8:06 pm
I thought EK was an AMEX airline partner and I can do an instant ponts transfer to EK

whyturnright Feb 19, 2018 8:18 pm
I scoped out a few things and sent a pm.

Mwenenzi Feb 19, 2018 8:19 pm
Originally Posted by Ruber74 (Post 29436327)
I thought EK was an AMEX airline partner and I can do an instant points transfer to EK
Transferring Amex points to a ffp is not the same as "using points".

Have a look in the EK forum about upgrades. Upgrades are not guaranteed.

If you transfer and do not get an upgrade you will have a bunch of marooned EK points. EK points have a hard fixed expiry.

Ruber74 Feb 20, 2018 8:48 am
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi (Post 29436365)
Transferring Amex points to a ffp is not the same as "using points".

Have a look in the EK forum about upgrades. Upgrades are not guaranteed.

If you transfer and do not get an upgrade you will have a bunch of marooned EK points. EK points have a hard fixed expiry.
Got it. Thanks. Maybe look into some other options.


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