I remember reading somewhere a while back that if I am short some miles/points for a redemption, I can use whatever I have and owe the reminding miles/points. Does anyone remember which program/credit card this was from?

For example, I have 40k miles/points and I want to redeem 50k. I can reserve it for 50k and owe 10k.

Maybe I'm wrong.. but I thought there was something like this.

Thanks.

I know you can buy the miles needed or transfer from an eligible partner which airlines you are talking about

If I recall correctly, that was Continental that allowed me to owe less than 1,000 miles. Reward was placed on hold until miles transfer/purchase was complete.

I believe Amex lets you borrow MR points.

American Express Membership Rewards (USA) has a feature called Points Advance. A cardholder may borrow 15,000 points (Green, Gold) or 60,000 points (Platinum, Centurion), and earn them over the next 12 months. Advances are only available after one has been an American Express customer for at least six months, and only in the process of redemption, such as when transferring to one of these airline or hotel programs:

http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...readcrumb=true

Some airlines will allow you to hold an award until you get the points, but not for a long time. I was able to hold an award on DL last fall for up to 72 hours. I needed 13K points, which I was planning in any case to transfer from my Amex account. In this particular case, I wound up changing the trip once or maybe even twice.

However, no airline will allow you to actually travel before you have the points. You have to get the points by whatever means - buying them from the airline, partner transfer, or getting your own travel to post.

American Express allows you to borrow 15K points if you have a gold card and 60K if you have a platinum. You can use them immediately. If you do not earn them back in the next 12 months, you have to pay 2.5 cents for each point you own. Amex also sells points for 2.5 cents, I think up to 500K per account per year.

I believe LH some something like this. But you need to have status.

What airline/hotel were you planning to do this with?

AF does. I have had negative balances with them.

I was hoping that AA would have something.

Miles&More does. But only for their golds and above (SEN & HON). Max 60K IIRC.

AA allows you to place an award on hold for five days even if you don't have enough points in your account. But you need the right number of points to book the award.

Any one familiar with United? I need to book Dec flight now (ASAP), I expect the points in my account by July 15th?

I immediately thought of AMEX MR wrt this topic,
then noticed that AMEX no longer is showing me
that I can borrow the 15K. It was there before.

Apparently it is because I closed my personal card,
just keeping a Business card.

I don't wan't to borrow anything,
but had not noticed this distinction. @:-)

And I noticed that my personal card does not offer the points advance anymore either. Was wondering about that.....