Should I transfer American Express points to Delta?
 

I am so confused over how to make best use of my points. I am trying very hard to get a free ticket overseas for next year. Delta and Northwest both have availability for award travel for 75,000 miles (price of ticket is $1400) I also can purchase tickets using my american express points. But since the ticket is $1400, I believe it would take 140,000 American Express points. So does it not make more sense to transfer American Express points into either my delta account or NW account? Would 140,000 american express points not be almost enough for 2 FF tickets? Am I missing something? I think I am reading they transfer 1point for 1 mile. :confused: If anyone can help me decide it would be most appreciated.

Well, there's a fundamental question there that I will address in a sec, if you don't mind. Can you tell me where you're going that Delta wants 75k points for? (I have a feeling that you can go in business class for 80k Amex points instead of, presumably, coach, for 75k).

Thanks for the quick reply. I should have stated that it is an international flight. JAN to FCO return is ATH to JAN travel date is May 2010

Price of ticket is about $1282 to taxes bringing it to around $1400

let's see if i read this correctly. you're going from Jackson to Rome and then Atlanta to Jackson? So how are you getting from Rome to ATL? :confused:

Btw..i had to look up what JAN was lol.

too funny. Who the heck would know JAN? And didn't you know I am a bird?! LOL. I meant ATH. Going on a cruise out of Rome that ends in Athens.

if it transfers at a 1:1 basis then i would go for it! make sure you do it soon because availability changes all the time. i've always been able to redeem NW/DL miles, but it's only because im flexible and willing to do obscure routings.

welcome to FT

I'm not a DL/NWA expert but could the cost be 75k because it is an open jaw routing or does DL allow that on regular economy class awards?

I would also like to point out that transferring AmEx MR points to a US based airlines is not free. effective 09/01/2009 (today!), there is $0.0006 per point tax, with a maximum fee of $99 (till yesterday it was $0.0005 with a max of $75). Now this is a small fee when you look at the overall cost of your ticket, but it is worth adding to the math. There is no tax if you transfer the MR points to a non-US based airline. Maybe you can explore options with non-US airline.

Exactly. Okay, please don't do either of those things.

Send me a PM (or post here, if you'd prefer), your origin city and dates. I would bet that for 80k Amex per person you can fly business class - instead of burning 75k Amex per person for coach.

I've done this same transfer to Delta for coach trans-Atlantic flights several times.

Can you give me a hint about how to go Business for a bit more?

Can u guys play it out here instead of pm... also wondering how this could be done :P

Note:

You can book tickets on DL and hold them for 2-3 days while you wait for amex points to transfer. You are getting 2c / amex point by transfer to DL miles.

DL often has bonus miles for transfers and you may get 30-40% more for waiting - that may get you enough from 75 k points for a Biz trip - from 100k points - but "low" awards are often scarce.

Also, you can transfer Amex to several airlines that may cover your trip in Biz for same miles ~80k. Read all the websites for award redemptions tables.

Lastly find friends to PM and swap free tickets with you.

20% MR to DL bonus currently available!!
 

Get your 20% MR to DL bonus here:

https://www.delta.com/marketing/read...0809/index.jsp

I got this information from our trusty FT AMEX forum.

A little correction is due on your information...Delta offers transfers from Amex to Delta or 20% and less often for 30%. In the past few years the 30% transfer bonus is done durring way off peak travel times. I have not seen a 40% bonus in over two years.

Is this the option where you book your award ticket and Delta fills in your mileage deficit with Amex miles as part of the booking process? And do you get the bonus when you do this?