How do I best use my AMEX gold card points?

[cabronsaim]

It will soon be a year that I opened an AMEX gold card for the first time.

My credit was around 670 with one collection and one late payment on accounts that were about 3 years old when I applied. Perfect on time payments on everything else since the collection happened.

I have been using AMEX gold for almost all my day to day expenses, which arent much really but I do have something like 25000 points.

i know this isnt a lot but I do want to know what a good use for them when i decide to use them

I see that buying gift cards, etc isnt really a good bargain.

What do you guys recommend?

I do not have any "miles" cards, I heard some good stuff about them, can anyone explain how these 2 go together?

thanks in advance.

[koalablue]

You can transfer MR points to any of Amex's partners, which include some airlines and some hotels.  I know for some of the airlines, like British Airways, there are occasional bonuses, like a 30% bonus where you transfer your points to their program and you get 30% more miles (for BA they're called "Avios") when you do.  I would pick an airline or hotel program to transfer your points to, then wait until there's a bonus period and transfer them then.  You have to be signed up for that airline's program, but that's not hard to do. The British Airways program is a good deal since you can use Avios on the British Airways partner American Airlines, and they're a great value for short-haul flights, like its only 4500 Avios for San Francisco to LA flight, where on most airlines it would be a lot more.

[cabronsaim]

Thanks for your reply.

Im still confused tough...

Do I need to have one of those "miles" credit cards open for this matter or should i just open a membership account with the airline?

[icetrap06]

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@cabronsaim wrote:

Thanks for your reply.

Im still confused tough...

Do I need to have one of those "miles" credit cards open for this matter or should i just open a membership account with the airline?

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You don't need the airlines credit card to obtain membership status.  Simply go to the various airlines and sign up for free.  Once registered you will have an account number/membership number. Use that number to link on the AMEX website.

[cabronsaim]

Ohhh my....
Is this for real?
I just followed your advise and, even tough the 30% more promotion seems to be over, i t appears to be that MR points are WAY more valuable with british airways.
Their website just quoted me 12500 avios for a trip from LAX to NYC when the regular price for that on american airlines is around 500 dlls....

[RhubarbPie]

It is 12500 avios one way. So a round trip transcon would 25000 avios.

[cabronsaim]

Okkkkk....
Still way better than using within AMEX.
Thanks!

[koalablue]

Glad it worked out!  Yes, Avios are a great deal on American.  If you happen to need Visa down the line, the Chase British Airways Visa is offering 50,000 Avios for spending $1000 in the first three months you have the card.

[koalablue]

Actually, I think that offer ended in February - double-check before you apply.

[cabronsaim]

Damn.
Thats tempting but i dont think i should be applying right now.
I have about 43% Util.and several HP's on my CR. My FICO is 673 Equifax, 696 TU and 692 Experian fako with one 6 y/0 late payment and one 6 y/o coll still showing on one CRA.
I was actually thinking of doing the Amex delta... thats 30000 points in 3 months with 5$00 spent...
Shoukd I??
My Amex npsl is over 12k right now..