topic Re: How do I maximize AMEX points? in Credit Cards

How do I maximize AMEX points?

MontegoMack — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:10:39 GMT

I have just over 120k MR points and I got the prompt on the AMEX site suggesting that I tranfer points to Delta up to 120k points for up to 120k miles. The miles sound like a good buy, but I looked closer to see what gets me close to 1:1. Didn't find much.

Are there any other ways to redeem these points close to 1:1 or even better? I'm not sure what other details you might need, but I'm looking for the best bang for my buck, as I'm sure you all are.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:16:31 GMT

@MontegoMack wrote:
I have just over 120k MR points and I got the prompt on the AMEX site suggesting that I tranfer points to Delta up to 120k points for up to 120k miles. The miles sound like a good buy, but I looked closer to see what gets me close to 1:1. Didn't find much.

Are there any other ways to redeem these points close to 1:1 or even better? I'm not sure what other details you might need, but I'm looking for the best bang for my buck, as I'm sure you all are.

. ThePointsGuy values Delta points at 1.2c per point. But then he values MRs at 1.9c per point, so if you trust his valuations, moving them to Delta isn't so great!

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

mongstradamus — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:28:02 GMT

I think a better way to look at is where do you want to go ,then you can find best value.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:40:25 GMT

Agreed, for MR it can be quite variable. It seems to be that figuring out where you want to go and then figuring out which affiliated airline gives the most bang for buck with one of Amex's partners is the way to go. Personally I don't find MRs as easy to work with so I've just been converting mine to Starwood points 3:1, then to Marriott points 1:3 and getting well over $0.02/MR that way. Of course you're not going to fly on a hotel so not sure how helpful I really am.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

MontegoMack — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:41:17 GMT

I keep an open mind. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck, but I'm reasonable to know that not every opportunity will be for me. Just knowing what my options are puts me in a better position to make that decision.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

MontegoMack — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:42:41 GMT

Delta would be the best airline for me, but I know there are other ways to redeem.

I just don't know what they are nor do I really understand the value. I'm just asking for a little help.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

wasCB14 — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:47:04 GMT

Consider both the point value and the transfer ratio. Hilton transfers are 1:1.5, but many people feel Hilton point values are very low, making it a bad option.

One strength of Delta is the lack of a close-in award booking fee for non-elites...though with other airlines there are sometimes ways to avoid that.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

MontegoMack — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:47:23 GMT

My apologies. I didn't realize there was an implication that I was only looking to fly somewhere. I thought I was just search for information on how to "maximize AMEX points" as I indicated in the title of my post.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:54:03 GMT

That changes everything!

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

MontegoMack — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 23:56:21 GMT

K -

It sounds like you have your finger on the MR-point-transfer pulse!

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

K-in-Boston — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:11:49 GMT

I spent the first 14 years of MRs cashing out for gift cards at $0.01 per point. Since getting my SPG I have been going full blast converting MRs and URs to SPG or Marriott and then figuring out how to get the best value with 5th night free or Marriott packages. Finished a stay last week that got me almost 8 cents per SPG point that I transferred so that's 2.67 cents per MR, a pretty good return I think.

Re: How do I maximize AMEX points?

chris4434 — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 04:52:42 GMT

MR points are pretty limited if you want to get greater than 1c per point in value unless you transfer to airline partners. I've found the best use of my MR points to be with Air France redemptions. Example: Today I was looking for a flight from Atlanta to Anchorage in January 2018. The cost of the flight on Delta is $859 or 45,000 skymiles + 11.20 in taxes. The same flight booked via Air France True Blue (since they partner with Delta) is 25,000 points plus $5.60 in taxes. By transferring MR to Delta Skymiles you'd be getting 1.9 cents per point in value which is ok but with Air France for the SAME EXACT flight you'd be getting 3.4 cents per point in value which is much better. Also, the taxes are cheaper with Air France AND American Express charges an offset fee when transfering MR points to domestic airlines but not with international ones (you'd have to pay the offset fee when transferring MR to Delta but not when transferring to Air France) It really depends on where you're going because sometimes other airlines (such as Korean Air) have better point values. Overall, I'd say air travel is your best way to redeem MR points for maximum value and which transfer partner you should use heavily depends on where you're going. MR points are generally a horrible value for hotel redemptions (3:1 to SPG when the SPG Amex is a minimum of 1 point per dollar) and if you redeem for hotels on the Amex travel website you get less than 1 cent per point in value. My point stragety is to use MR points for all airline travel, SPG points for hotels and Chase UR points for either hotels or air travel (Hyatt and Southwest mostly)