topic Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points? in Credit Cards

Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 15:36:16 GMT

Was just recently approved for both cards and wanted to know if I could combine the points from these cards? If so how do I do it?

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 15:56:48 GMT

The only way to "combine points" would be to transfer your PRG MR points to Delta. The Delta card's miles go straight to your SkyMiles account, and can't be transferred out to Amex MR. MR points, however, accumulated with the PRG, can be transferred to SkyMIles, too, at a 1:1 ratio with a fee per 10,000 miles transferred.

Short answer, yes, you can, but only if you turn them all into Delta SkyMiles.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:00:56 GMT

Could I get a link to that information for future reference when I reach the points I want?

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:04:25 GMT

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/earn-miles/convert-partner-points-to-miles.html

It's also available in your MR account profile. There is a side bar on the "Points Summary" page with a link that says "Link loyalty programs" where this is all done.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:05:33 GMT

Bravo! Thanks for all this information. I'm new to Amex and want to get the most out of my rewards

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:06:25 GMT

My pleasure, and I understand!

I just used 50k MR points for two round trip Delta tickets to San Francisco next month. No sense in having points if you don't know how to use them.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:18:09 GMT

Yeah I'm trying to gain some more knowledge about these reward miles haha.

I'm hoping to take a trip next winter with my fiance to the Virgin Islands or the Caymans

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:19:49 GMT

There are plenty of Twitter accounts and travel blogs out there, too, that alert you to when better redemption values on Delta flights crop up, as well as when Delta devalues their SkyMiles. I might suggest reading up on the program itself, too, so you can aquaint yourself with how it works and what changes are coming and when. Google is your friend..

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:25:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yeah I'm trying to gain some more knowledge about these reward miles haha.
I'm hoping to take a trip next winter with my fiance to the Virgin Islands or the Caymans

Make sure you start looking for redeeming your SkyMiles as early as possible. Their award space is very limited and it is oftentimes hard to find seats.

In general Delta is not the best value for redeeming MR points, although there is value to be had, especially in your case if you want to pool the points together.

Before you transfer MR points to Delta, crunch some numbers to see if you will be getting the best value. You can transfer MR points to BA and Singapore too, and until October the rate for transferring to BA is still 1:1. Comparing prices can be difficult because Delta no longer publishes an award chart, but you can tell how many miles you would need by doing a dummy booking with your preferred dates in mind. Then compare that to the cash rate of getting there (not just on Delta, on any carrier) to see if the value you are getting is good.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:51:58 GMT

Believe me when it comes to deals I wander the internet for endless days...I was able to go to San Juan, PR with my fiance this past Spring Break for $1000 for 5 nights plus round trip flights. Stayed in a 4 star hotel according to TripAdvisor. Had some nice rum and took a break from College

Anyways I'm just not to accustomed to these reward miles programs so I'm trying to get some knowledge on it. Any extra links with more information would be great!

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:00:49 GMT

I would wait to transfer them until you are absolutely sure. Some would argue to transfer them right away to avios.

Delta has tons of flights for 5-10k each way, many 25k round trip, and lots of 42k international flights. Don't forget to use skipgating. Even when redeeming points sometimes it will lower the amount. Just dont do it often or you will be banned from that frequent flyer program.

Amex bonuses sure do post fast. In a matter of 2 days. I dunno, I have always flown delta so much, once in a blue moon maybe united.... Delta ALWAYS lets me sit in an exit row with extra leg room for no extra charge. Other airlines cant say the same.

Delta is still a good carrier for infrequent travelers. Sometimes paying cash is better though. They have had several flights from chicago or NYC to paris to helsinki for only $537 bucks which basically means a non stop round trip flight to paris under $600. That is a great price. Also have seen several domestic flights for $130 or less I would not be redeeming points for those either unless it was 10k round trip.

Do you guys think I should transfer my MR to BA?

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:07:31 GMT

info on avios, not the MR devaluation, the Avios devaluation itself http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2015/01/hold-off-on-amex-to-british-airways-transfers-ba-announces-significant-rewards-program-devaluation-effective-april-28.html

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:18:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
info on avios, not the MR devaluation, the Avios devaluation itself http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2015/01/hold-off-on-amex-to-british-airways-transfers-ba-announces-significant-rewards-program-devaluation-effective-april-28.html

Important, but if you earn Avios from Credit Card points and redeem on short haul AA flights in the United States the points are the same.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:25:52 GMT

Yeah I don't plan on using my points for anything other than trips that cost 40k or more in points.

It seems useless because like you said sometimes you can get better deals paying cash or with a credit card that has 0% apr for X amount of months.

Also I've never heard of skipgating, I will definently have to look into it. But yeah I'd say im an infrequent traveler. I maybe go on flights 2-3 times a year.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

NRB525 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 18:25:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yeah I don't plan on using my points for anything other than trips that cost 40k or more in points.
It seems useless because like you said sometimes you can get better deals paying cash or with a credit card that has 0% apr for X amount of months.
Also I've never heard of skipgating, I will definently have to look into it. But yeah I'd say im an infrequent traveler. I maybe go on flights 2-3 times a year.

In spite of all the chatter about Delta devaluations, I find the changes to the Delta website makes it easier to search for good value, using both miles and dollars searches, if you use a "flexible dates" approach. You can get a grid with outbound / return possibilities that suggests the lowest fare or miles requirement for that trip. And I agree, it is important to be prepared to pay dollars if the miles redemptions don't seem to make sense for that trip. Delta also has a number of codeshare and partner airlines, so their booking system incorporates those seamlessly. I have found it a bit more challenging to figure out American and United, and nearly impossible to figure out British Airways site for any specific city pairs.

For the miles I'm gathering, most of them have come from work travel on Delta. I'm looking at CC spend bonuses, and tending to want to route those miles to Delta. Obviously American and United won't go there, and TY points and UR points are going to have to be used some other way, but MR and SPG points, from what I know so far, I'm planning on moving those to Delta as well.

Then, as these bonuses get used up, and since the AMEX MR bonuses are once in a lifetime, I suspect a lot of my basic spend is going to eventually work back to the Delta Gold card, with a few others around it.

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 19:29:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yeah I don't plan on using my points for anything other than trips that cost 40k or more in points.
It seems useless because like you said sometimes you can get better deals paying cash or with a credit card that has 0% apr for X amount of months.
Also I've never heard of skipgating, I will definently have to look into it. But yeah I'd say im an infrequent traveler. I maybe go on flights 2-3 times a year.

This is not a good mentality about this sort of things.

Short haul BA flights for example cost 4500 avios points between Chicago and Washington DC. The absolute cheapest cash price is usually around $80 each way, and usually more like $100-$150. That gives you a very good value of 2-3 cents per avios with zero fuel surcharges, which is better than many other redemption options for avios and MR points in general. Not THE BEST. The best will always be some first class over-the-ocean trip. But still pretty darn good

Re: Can I combine Amex PRG and Amex Delta Gold points?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:11:23 GMT

I dont really plan on flying nationally tbh. Like I said earlier I only plan on flying internationally like Spring Break or for travel abroad trips. Currently I see no reason to travel from Chicago to DC or any other city in the U.S.