AMEX Card -- Which SkyTeam program??
 

Hello --

I live in Chicago and am AA Platinum and UA Premier Executive. My company just told us that we must get AMEX Corporate Cards and charge all expenses to that. I get to keep my points from the card but they are not transferable to UA or AA, only SkyTeam and some random other ones like Virgin Atlantic. Not surprisingly, SkyTeam is kind of inconvenient from Chicago, and my SkyTeam accounts are limited to 1800 miles with Delta.

I was wondering which SkyTeam program I should dump them into (should I stick with Delta?). I would probably use the miles to go to Europe in business class, probably on Air France. Should I get a Flying Blue account or is it fine to keep them with Delta? Any advantages to any particular program for my situation? Note that I will not really be flying SkyTeam with any regularity, just using these goofy AMEX points.

Thanks,
Brian

I wouldn't dump them at all until you are ready to use them. The partner options may change in the future making different/better things available. Also, there are UA/AA partners available so you could use the MR points to redeem on AA/UA metal, but the redemptions would be from partners meaning you wouldn't benefit from your elite status in booking them.

Great advice sbm. Still, I am likely to use these points on SkyTeam so I need to pick a program to put my SkyTeam miles in. I have 1800 Delta miles right now (earned on Czech and Aeromexico)...so I could stick with them. But since I'm going to likely dump my Amex into a program to by Air France tickets... should I collect my future SkyTeam miles on Flying Blue?

If you want to fly AF F you must have your points in FlyingBlue, so that is a consideration. On the down side, booking with FB will require fuel surcharges to be paid. Transferring the points to a US-based carrier (CO/DL) will require you to pay the excise tax (up to $50 on a transfer) while transferring to the foreign carrier will not have that tax.

And the 1800 miles you have now are not worth worrying about orphaning.

I really wouldn't move them until you are ready to actually redeem. They are way more fungible in the MR program than they are after they've been moved to an airline.