50% bonus for converting your hotel points to U.S. Airways miles
Mar 16, 2012, 3:15 pm
#46
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: SPG Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 280
There is an added value if you don't have status with AA. AA awards booked with Avios give you Priority Boarding and free checked bags.
Mar 16, 2012, 10:28 pm
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,469
Mar 17, 2012, 12:02 pm
#48
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
IMO, the two best uses for this are:
70K SPG Points (Nights and Flights II Package) gets 5 nights at a Category 4 property PLUS 75K US miles.
270K Marriott Points (Travel Package) gets 7 nights at a Category 5 property PLUS 180K US miles.
I've done both of these redemptions several times in recent years when these conversion bonuses arise. For Marriott, it has enabled me to milk almost 2 cents per point in value, for Starwood, almost 4 cents.
70K SPG Points (Nights and Flights II Package) gets 5 nights at a Category 4 property PLUS 75K US miles.
270K Marriott Points (Travel Package) gets 7 nights at a Category 5 property PLUS 180K US miles.
I've done both of these redemptions several times in recent years when these conversion bonuses arise. For Marriott, it has enabled me to milk almost 2 cents per point in value, for Starwood, almost 4 cents.
Mar 17, 2012, 1:17 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 28
People like US miles because US has a good awards chart and can be reliably used for good redemptions for star alliance flights. There is nothing really equivalent that you can transfer your Membership Rewards miles to if you want to book on *A. Aeroplan is a good option, particularly because it permits one-way awards for less than full round trip, but they now impose taxes. ANA and Singapore are also options, but they have some downsides -- I think ANA requires you actually to transfer miles before you can check for availability, for example. Accordingly, people who like to redeem for *A travel will generally prefer US. When UA was an Amex transfer partner, it was easier, but now occasions to get near 1:1 value to US for Amex is rare.
Thanks.
Mar 17, 2012, 1:48 pm
#51
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,135
Mar 17, 2012, 6:16 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BZN
Programs: AA:LT Platinum DL:LT Gold UA:1P MAR:LT Titanium
Posts: 8,289
Mar 18, 2012, 2:39 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
IMO, the two best uses for this are:
70K SPG Points (Nights and Flights II Package) gets 5 nights at a Category 4 property PLUS 75K US miles.
270K Marriott Points (Travel Package) gets 7 nights at a Category 5 property PLUS 180K US miles.
I've done both of these redemptions several times in recent years when these conversion bonuses arise. For Marriott, it has enabled me to milk almost 2 cents per point in value, for Starwood, almost 4 cents.
70K SPG Points (Nights and Flights II Package) gets 5 nights at a Category 4 property PLUS 75K US miles.
270K Marriott Points (Travel Package) gets 7 nights at a Category 5 property PLUS 180K US miles.
I've done both of these redemptions several times in recent years when these conversion bonuses arise. For Marriott, it has enabled me to milk almost 2 cents per point in value, for Starwood, almost 4 cents.
Mar 18, 2012, 9:03 am
#56
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 2,315
So I just moved 120,000 MR points into SPG (60,000 with the bonus) to US where it will become 75,000+37,500=112,500.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.
Mar 18, 2012, 10:54 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG & IHG Plat, & every airline program that I can join
Posts: 2,279
JudyJFLA
Mar 18, 2012, 11:00 am
#58
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Mar 18, 2012, 11:00 am
#59
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Programs: Hilton Gold, SPG & IHG Plat, & every airline program that I can join
Posts: 2,279
So I just moved 120,000 MR points into SPG (60,000 with the bonus) to US where it will become 75,000+37,500=112,500.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.
JudyJFLA
Mar 18, 2012, 11:17 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
So I just moved 120,000 MR points into SPG (60,000 with the bonus) to US where it will become 75,000+37,500=112,500.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.
While I "lose" 7,500 points in the transfer, I avoided the $99 ff excise tax AMEX would charge on a direct transfer to an airline program. At 2% those 7,500 miles are worth $150, so with saving the $99 this is pretty close to a wash on a 1:1 ratio.