Pay cash fare vs. Convert AMEX/Bonvoy to fly KE

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Jun 21, 2023, 5:50 am

anythursday

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2014

Posts: 68

Pay cash fare vs. Convert AMEX/Bonvoy to fly KE

If anyone can shed any light on this, that’ll be great!!

I make a regular trip from Toronto to HKG yearly. This year, I am to fly out on July 18 and won’t be back till July 1/2 2024.

I have a few options:

Fly round trip with Qatar Airways and pay 7K (company covers a portion - say around 3K)
Fly one way with Qatar and pay 4200 (company covers 3K). Then use miles. I have enough miles to fly Korean Air (will have to convert either AMEX MR or Bonvoy - around 50K points) and Cathay. However, Cathay either hasn’t released their business class seats or have very limited numbers as I cannot find any seats. Korean Air is generous and releasing seats, and it will cost 62,500 miles.

I was a little reluctant with option 2 because AMEX/Bonvoy is no longer a transfer partner with Korean Air. I am find better alternatives to transfer and get bonus points.

Jun 21, 2023, 6:29 am

mia

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Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Miami, Mpls & London

Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold

Posts: 48,958

Korean Air is a Skyteam member. You do not necessarily need to be able to convert American Express to Korean's program, you may be able to redeem a partner award through another Skyteam airline. American Express Hong Kong's transfer partners are listed here: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-h...rline_Partners China Airlines and Virgin Atlantic are Skyteam members.

Jun 21, 2023, 6:59 am

anythursday

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2014

Posts: 68

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

Thanks so much! That’s true - but I have existing points with Korean Air that’s expiring in December, hence I am contemplating transferring 50K points either from Bonvoy or AMEX to use it up!

Jun 21, 2023, 7:05 am

mia

Moderator

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Miami, Mpls & London

Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold

Posts: 48,958

Quote:

Originally Posted by anythursday

....contemplating transferring 50K points either from ....AMEX to use it up!

How would you do this if Korean is not an Amex transfer partner?

hhdl likes this.

Jun 21, 2023, 7:29 am

anythursday

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2014

Posts: 68

Quote:

Originally Posted by mia

How would you do this if Korean is not an Amex transfer partner?

Sorry, my mistake. They are both transfer partners - you just no longer get the bonus 5000 points when you transfer a certain amount of points into SKYPASS.