Hi All

I'm new here, 2nd post and hope some of you might be able to shed some light on something for me.
I've got a slew of Amex Membership Rewards points that I'd like to transfer somewhere to fly firstclass to London from (SAN, SFO, LAX). What's the best way to get them from MR points to the the airline with the BEST First Class service (comfort, ameneties etc) to London.
For example - I can transfer them straight in to Delta, Continential or Virgin but what if I want to fly American, can I send them someplace else and then into AA?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi TOFOI;

You may want to search around in the AA forum, but I believe that the only way to get AMEX points to AA is first to go to Marriott or Starwood, and then transfer to AA. But you do loose value in the conversions. For example: 125,000 AMEX points = 125,000 MA points = 50,000 AA miles, unless you do a travel package, where: 250,000 AMEX points = 250,000 MA points = 120,000 AA miles plus a 7-night category 6 MA hotel stay. For Starwood, 300,000 AMEX = 100,000 *wood = 125,000 AA miles.
If you are not tied to AA, you could transfer your AMEX points to ANA, who partners with United and Air New Zealand, and fly their first class non-stops LAX to LHR.
Just be sure to call ANA(or AA if you go that route) and hold a reservation before transfering the AMEX points!!!!

You could also post on the CouponConnection forum that you'd like to trade an Amex MR award for an AA award.

Although it's not first class, the new flat bed seat comfort in Virgin's Upper Class might be pretty good and they fly nonstop SFO-London, so you might consider that if you can transfer direct without a mileage loss.

Welcome to Flyertalk, tofoi.

Since you posted the same question in the American Express forum I'm going to close this thread here.

Folks, please continue to discuss this subject in the aforementioned thread.

And, tofoi, enjoy your flight across the pond in comfort and style!

Regards,
Gary
aka gleff
MilesBuzz and Delta moderator