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Additional Posts in All things points
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Transferring to travel partners for international business or first class airfare is generally what I see as the best use. Most folks try to get 1.7 cents of value or greater per point, but in my opinion no meaningful redemption is a bad redemption.
For example, if you have no desire to travel first class, why not use them on domestic tickets in basic economy? Planning on getting married? Save them up and go on an extravagant honeymoon! The best use of your points is something that makes you happy.
Generally I avoid booking through AMEX travel unless I’m purchasing a fine hotels / resorts property or American Airlines basic economy fare. Booking direct with the hotel is always cheaper, plus if you have points saved up - Marriott and Hilton offer fifth night free when using points. If you’re just shy, take advantage of a bonus offer Amex does a few times each year for transferring points.
The worst value by far is buying gift cards or paying off purchases.
If you really want to churn value and find the best possible redemption strategies, Google and r/churning will be your best friends.
Thanks!
Pro
If you don’t value Intl premium cabin redemptions or some often expensive domestic or Caribbean ones (for which transferring points to BA and redeeming on AA using BA’s distance-based chart is usually optimal), then it’s the wrong card for you. You generally get 1 cent per point at most for other redemptions. Get a Citi Double Cash Back card, which gives you 2% back on all purchases, instead. Or if you value hotel redemptions, get a Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5 points per dollar) and Chase Sapphire Preferred (2 points per dollar on travel and dining and unlocks transfer of points from both cards to travel partners) and transfer the points to Hyatt.
This is helpful thanks. Ok I will consider that.
This article tells you everything you need to book awards
https://frequentmiler.com/amex-membership-rewards-sweet-spots/
Really good guide, but there are absolutely fringe cases that aren’t covered. Iberia to Spain is a really good redemption value as an example.
Pro
I’m currently on a trip to Europe and Thailand using Air Canada points transferred from AMEX. It’s 85k points for a one-way business class ticket from the US to Asia, and AC has generous routing and stopover rules. I paid 5k points more to add a 30-day stopover in Europe. So basically two trips in one. I could even add a story over in Australia (if it was open) on my way back from Asia to the US if I wanted to.
Ah good plan
ANA 70-90k round trip in biz to europe or asia
international biz class, had great success with klm / air france
Definitely this. Especially upgrades to business class to Asia. Alas, I often find myself wasting them on Amazon (the worst use of them). I should know better. But I suppose the first step is admitting you have a problem, right?
If I don’t fly business class and don’t ever want to use points for that: Is the consensus still economy international flights is best use of points? Anything else hotel wise that is still good value ? I hate searching through all the different airline websites for award redemption :)
Rising Star
Domestic AA flights using BA Avios is where I use a lot of my points.
I got ~$0.08 per point by transferring to Iberia and booking biz class to Spain
This is my favorite question!! I️ think google is usually your best friend for this. I️ personally ignore my points unless I’m looking to spend money, bc sometimes the transfer rate is sometimes in your favor and sometimes not. I️ think this really depends on current offerings and your personal interest