Hi everyone, I don't know too much about amex MR points. I've been doing some reading on them and it seems like they can be lucrative for transferring to airline miles. How valuable are they in terms of not transferring to any travel/hotel partners? The reason I ask is because I was approved for PRG yesterday for the 50k promotion. Within an hour of approval, i received a targeted offer via email to apply for business card version offering 75k for 5k spend in 90 days. With this offer, I can potentially have 125k of MR points.
Based on the mileage converter i found online, if i transfer to:
1. Alaska Air = most i can get is a little over 52k miles (this is our carrier of choice)
2. Southwest = 36k RR (we fly SW on occassion)
3. Marriott = 30k points (don't stay here but will start to this year)
4. Hilton = double at 250k hhonors points
Of course the above conversions have steps to follow to get the end results. We stay on average about 25 nights/yr in Hilton properties for vacations. I know hhonors points have been devalued, but based on the above list, that is where I would get more points (considerably more).
There is no problem meeting min spend to get the signup bonus. I have until the end of March to accept the offer. So with that being said...how do you guys and gals make use of your MR points? Using it as straight MR points or transferring them somewhere else? If transferring/converting to something else, what program are you sending it to? Advise is greatly appreciated! TIA
@Anonymous wrote:
They can be decently valuable if transferred to BA Avios for use exclusively on short haul flights on AA
it really depends on where you want to travel i think with both MR and UR you can find good value if you know where you want to go.
@sapingo - yeah using points as statement credits are never the best way. You'd actually get better value on your points redeeming them for restaurant/retail store gift cards.
@Nixon - dont really have experience with domestic carriers except the 2 I mentioned above...but will read up more in BA Avios.
I was so excited about my PRG yesterday...but after 2 hours, i started to have buyer's remorse lol. I don't actually have a need for the card. I just got so caught up with reading that thread. That and i've been challenged by amex that my cli requests have always been denied.
When i got the trageted offer, started to get excited about the bonus again, then started thinking I have no idea how to get the most out of the points. And the fact that i also don't need the biz version (because I use my Ink card). Although both personal and biz cards waive 1st year AF, i dont see myself using the card (or cards if a pull trigger on biz in March) after getting the points. But i would still be stuck woth the points and not have an idea how to maximize ot to my advantage 
@TravellingNomad wrote:@Anonymous - yeah using points as statement credits are never the best way. You'd actually get better value on your points redeeming them for restaurant/retail store gift cards.
@Anonymous - dont really have experience with domestic carriers except the 2 I mentioned above...but will read up more in BA Avios.
I was so excited about my PRG yesterday...but after 2 hours, i started to have buyer's remorse lol. I don't actually have a need for the card. I just got so caught up with reading that thread. That and i've been challenged by amex that my cli requests have always been denied.
When i got the trageted offer, started to get excited about the bonus again, then started thinking I have no idea how to get the most out of the points. And the fact that i also don't need the biz version (because I use my Ink card). Although both personal and biz cards waive 1st year AF, i dont see myself using the card (or cards if a pull trigger on biz in March) after getting the points. But i would still be stuck woth the points and not have an idea how to maximize ot to my advantage
My best suggestion about using the points and maximizing transfer is to transfer them to one of my airline accounts. I'm not picky so I'll let you choose which one. No sense in letting them go to waste.
@Anonymous wrote:
@TravellingNomad wrote:@Anonymous - yeah using points as statement credits are never the best way. You'd actually get better value on your points redeeming them for restaurant/retail store gift cards.
@Anonymous - dont really have experience with domestic carriers except the 2 I mentioned above...but will read up more in BA Avios.
I was so excited about my PRG yesterday...but after 2 hours, i started to have buyer's remorse lol. I don't actually have a need for the card. I just got so caught up with reading that thread. That and i've been challenged by amex that my cli requests have always been denied.
When i got the trageted offer, started to get excited about the bonus again, then started thinking I have no idea how to get the most out of the points. And the fact that i also don't need the biz version (because I use my Ink card). Although both personal and biz cards waive 1st year AF, i dont see myself using the card (or cards if a pull trigger on biz in March) after getting the points. But i would still be stuck woth the points and not have an idea how to maximize ot to my advantage
My best suggestion about using the points and maximizing transfer is to transfer them to one of my airline accounts. I'm not picky so I'll let you choose which one. No sense in letting them go to waste.
Transfer it to the one where you can have companion fly for free...then i'll fly around with you? 
i decided not to app for biz. Don't want to get more of amex's attention. Im pretty sure with the PRG its going to be a bunch of SP's again for the next few months (like when i got BCE last year).
Didn't amex put a stop into transferring points unless person is AU on the card and its your immediate family?
@TravellingNomad wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@TravellingNomad wrote:@Anonymous - yeah using points as statement credits are never the best way. You'd actually get better value on your points redeeming them for restaurant/retail store gift cards.
@Anonymous - dont really have experience with domestic carriers except the 2 I mentioned above...but will read up more in BA Avios.
I was so excited about my PRG yesterday...but after 2 hours, i started to have buyer's remorse lol. I don't actually have a need for the card. I just got so caught up with reading that thread. That and i've been challenged by amex that my cli requests have always been denied.
When i got the trageted offer, started to get excited about the bonus again, then started thinking I have no idea how to get the most out of the points. And the fact that i also don't need the biz version (because I use my Ink card). Although both personal and biz cards waive 1st year AF, i dont see myself using the card (or cards if a pull trigger on biz in March) after getting the points. But i would still be stuck woth the points and not have an idea how to maximize ot to my advantage
My best suggestion about using the points and maximizing transfer is to transfer them to one of my airline accounts. I'm not picky so I'll let you choose which one. No sense in letting them go to waste.
Transfer it to the one where you can have companion fly for free...then i'll fly around with you?
Didn't amex put a stop into transferring points unless person is AU on the card and its your immediate family?
Yes they did. People are still doing it and some are getting whacked in the progress. I think it's supposed to only be to spouse or domestic partner.