What to do with my MR points?

[Dustink]

---

If you're based in SFO then it's a lot harder since you're reliant on AA (whose closest hub is in LA). I'm sure they have flights from LAX-SEA, but flying from SFO-LAX-SEA seems a bit self-defeating.

Northern California is pretty much United country.

---

You also in northern CA? Is that why you have the United card?

[CreditScholar]

---

@Dustink wrote:

---

If you're based in SFO then it's a lot harder since you're reliant on AA (whose closest hub is in LA). I'm sure they have flights from LAX-SEA, but flying from SFO-LAX-SEA seems a bit self-defeating.

Northern California is pretty much United country.

---

You also in northern CA? Is that why you have the United card?

---

I have 2 homes, so the answer is sort-of.

My original home is in Northern California and I spend about 1-2 months per year there. My second home is in Australia, where I spend the other 10-11 months of the year.

The heat gets really bad around the holidays since we're in the southern hemisphere, so we spend a month or two travelling and seeing family back in the US during those months. Neither of us like hot weather that much.

I have the United card for 2 main reasons:

1. SFO is my main US airport and therefore UA is my airline by default. UA being in *A also has good availability/partners for those flying to the Asia-Pacific region.

2. The United Club card has no forex fees (in addition to offering a high earning rate and lounge access). Given how much time I spend outside the US, a no-forex card is essential.

QF and VA have awful loyalty programs so I don't bother with any of the Aussie-issued cards.

[Walt_K]

---

@Dustink wrote:

---

@Lambo23 wrote:
Thanks for the help. Might do that or gift cards.

---

Gift cards are usually one of the worst values. Try to get some kind of use with their partners. Maybe a hotel partner would benefit you

---

Hotel transfers are generally not a good idea with MR.  The transfer rates are not very good.

[Dustink]

---

@Walt_K wrote:

---

@Dustink wrote:

---

@Lambo23 wrote:
Thanks for the help. Might do that or gift cards.

---

Gift cards are usually one of the worst values. Try to get some kind of use with their partners. Maybe a hotel partner would benefit you

---

Hotel transfers are generally not a good idea with MR.  The transfer rates are not very good.

---

I agree, but they may yield better results that gift cards.