With the upcoming fee with any transfer to airline and hotel partners, what is the best way to utilize about 150,000 MR points? I don't need anymore DL milesor HH points, and the merchandising seems expensive - you basically receive about $0.01 per mile. I could always use some extra SPG points - is the 3:1 ratio a good deal?

PS - posting here since it combines aspects of all mile related programs.

There are countless "how can I best use my MR points" threads in the Amex forum. Have you reviewed them?

[This message has been edited by UpgradeMe (edited Feb 15, 2004).]

Yes - that is where I confirmed my estimate of the merchandising value. None of the searches brought up anything useful with SPG, only with Hilton (which I have enough) and Marriott (which I don't use).

While it s*cks that Amex is applying the transfer fee to points already earned, you're looking at a max fee of $60- Since I find the travel options to be the best use of MR points, I'd find it worth $60 to have the max. flexibility of 150K points.

If you find a better option, go for it; but to rush to do a redemption/transfer that you later regret, might "cost" you more than $60.

Landspeed - actually, the max fee is $50, but that does not detract from your astute advise at all.

Runningshoes - Definately the best bang for your buck is Airlines. Do you fly internationally? If you transfer to ANA, you have access to any STAR Alliance partner - New Zealand, Lufthansa, United, etc. In fact, I am taking my family to Europe this summer on Lufthansa, booked thru ANA, with AMEX miles!!!!!

As for the SPG 3:1 - I think it is a little steep - I am still waiting for another 2:1 promo. But, yes, I still do it for special occasions where I think it is worth it. For example, in January my family and I spent a long weekend (fri/Sat/Sun) at the St. Regis Aspen in a Jr. Suite on the Club floor. With the large room and great food in the Club, it was worth 168K AMEX points --> 56K SPG points for the 3 nights. Since this room runs $1,000 a night on weekends, that's 1.8 cents per AMEX point.

But now compare that to a Marriott example. We will be staying one week at the category 7 Paris Champs-Elysees this summer on a 150K certificate. The lowest rate I find on Marriott's web site is about $4,800 a week. That's 3.2 cents per point!!!

Anyways, it all depends on what is important to you. And even though I calculated cents/point in this post to show some examples, I rarely let that decide what I do, but rather let what I want to do decide where I move my points and how I use them.


[This message has been edited by Chuckles (edited Feb 15, 2004).]

Do Canadian AMex Cardholders get charges this transfer fee also ?--or is that just the US guys?