Amex MR (.6cpp) vs Chase UR (1.5cpp) Hotel Point Redemtions for non branded hotel

[CBartowski]

Hey Folks

Thought I'd share this DP for redeeming MR vs UR points for a hotel not in a national brand such as HH or MB.

Hotel in Telluride, CO on the same day at the same time with 2 different rates entirely in the Chase vs Amex travel portals and with 2 vastly different redemption rates (see photos).

Numbers come out to .69cpp through Amex's portal and the usual 1.5cpp with Chase UR.

Figured Chase has had some negative press lately with the updates to CSR so why not share what actually surprised me quite a bit.

Enjoy!

[wasCB14]

Amex isn't really known for flexibility with MRs. The Schwab Platinum allows 1.25 cpp cash deposits and a very few people are Marriott/Hilton wizards, but other than that they're really meant to be airline miles.

But despite the inflexibilty, Amex offers a lot of transfer partners, and often has transfer bonuses.

[CBartowski]

---

@wasCB14 wrote:

Amex isn't really known for flexibility with MRs. The Schwab Platinum allows 1.25 cpp cash deposits and a very few people are Marriott/Hilton wizards, but other than that they're really meant to be airline miles.

But despite the inflexibilty, Amex offers a lot of transfer partners, and often has transfer bonuses.

---

Indeed. I am definitely a Schwab fan boy. I haven't tried MRs with airline miles yet, I will give that a shot, thanks!

[simplynoir]

You don't use MRs directly with the AMEX travel site those are always horrible values (it'd be like redeeming MRs for cash without the Schwab Plat), with flights it makes sense if you have the Biz Plat because you get a percentage back and it counts as a revenue flight as well with the right timing. MRs are much better with transfer partners depending on your plans

To me this is a non-issue

[CBartowski]

---

@simplynoir wrote:

You don't use MRs directly with the AMEX travel site those are always horrible values (it'd be like redeeming MRs for cash without the Schwab Plat), with flights it makes sense if you have the Biz Plat because you get a percentage back and it counts as a revenue flight as well with the right timing. MRs are much better with transfer partners depending on your plans

To me this is a non-issue

---

I agree xfer partners are a much better redemption, this hotel wasn't with a partner so I checked it out anyway. Figured I'd share.

[CaptJOB]

If you have any flavor of Platinum, Fine Hotels and Resorts booked through the portal have the same one cent per point value as flights if that's how you want to redeem. Still not great but not as bad as the other rates available for hotels.

[Anonymous]

---

@simplynoir wrote:

You don't use MRs directly with the AMEX travel site those are always horrible values (it'd be like redeeming MRs for cash without the Schwab Plat), with flights it makes sense if you have the Biz Plat because you get a percentage back and it counts as a revenue flight as well with the right timing. MRs are much better with transfer partners depending on your plans

To me this is a non-issue

---

Yes, non issue for those that know, but for the rest!  We see people here get an MR earning card because, well, who knows why, and then struggle to find how to use their SUB points.   With the CSR, Chase made this very easy, while 1.5cpp is certainly not the best you can do, it is "acceptable" given the lack of effort needed compared to transferring to a partner, and, as OP noted, works for non-transfer partners as well.

So for some fraction of users, this is an advantage of the CSR compared to Amex MR.

Now, if you are only going to buy through the portal, there are other cheaper alternatives to look at (e.g. USB AR and the free Wells Fargo Propel/VS combo)!

[notmyrealname23]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@simplynoir wrote:

You don't use MRs directly with the AMEX travel site those are always horrible values (it'd be like redeeming MRs for cash without the Schwab Plat), with flights it makes sense if you have the Biz Plat because you get a percentage back and it counts as a revenue flight as well with the right timing. MRs are much better with transfer partners depending on your plans

To me this is a non-issue

---

Yes, non issue for those that know, but for the rest!  We see people here get an MR earning card because, well, who knows why, and then struggle to find how to use their SUB points. 

---

Not me. I've been playing the airline/hotel points and mile game for a while, it's just that now after a Ch 13 discharge in early 2019, and my credit no longer being in the toilet, I can join the game. I know where to put MR for at least 1.5 points. I went for AMEX when they approved me because otherwise I was going to have to hum the Jeopardy theme while Chase 5/24 timed out for me.

I'm going to garden since my lineup at the moment is pretty ideal for only being 14 months and change out of Ch.13. I plan to save a slot for Chase in 2021 once the BK finally drops off and I'm under 5/24, and at that point I can evaluate the whole CSP/Amex Green or Gold/CSR/Amex Platinum/Citi Prestige/other premium card matrix (assuming my scores keep bouncing back, I should be north of 750 pushing 800 by then) but they're definitely not going to make it too easy for me compared to AMEX and Capital One welcoming me with open arms.

I also want to intelligently chase SUBs, Chase (Hyatt/IHG/BA/Southwest) or otherwise (AMEX Hilton/Delta, Citi AA, Barclay's AA, BofA Alaska).

[mongstradamus]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@simplynoir wrote:

You don't use MRs directly with the AMEX travel site those are always horrible values (it'd be like redeeming MRs for cash without the Schwab Plat), with flights it makes sense if you have the Biz Plat because you get a percentage back and it counts as a revenue flight as well with the right timing. MRs are much better with transfer partners depending on your plans

To me this is a non-issue

---

Yes, non issue for those that know, but for the rest!  We see people here get an MR earning card because, well, who knows why, and then struggle to find how to use their SUB points.   With the CSR, Chase made this very easy, while 1.5cpp is certainly not the best you can do, it is "acceptable" given the lack of effort needed compared to transferring to a partner, and, as OP noted, works for non-transfer partners as well.

So for some fraction of users, this is an advantage of the CSR compared to Amex MR.

Now, if you are only going to buy through the portal, there are other cheaper alternatives to look at (e.g. USB AR and the free Wells Fargo Propel/VS combo)!

---

I can give you flip side of amex vs chase, this is more in line with my personal spend patterns. I choose amex primarily because there is more flexibility for spending MR vs UR. For me other than hyatt i find it very difficult to find decent value these days. I will still use my freedom/ink cash for 5x but not much else. I do have CIP for a flat 3x travel card. I use that in combination with amex gold to sort of replicate CSR but without the travel credits. Also for me a big part of my spend goes to grocery stores, not gc at grocery stores  just normal spend,  so amex has that corner of the market on lockdown. 

This may sound elitist but I think if you are settling for 1.5 cpp on your UR you are probably not using your UR properly. 

[Loquat]

With dynamic pricing it’s getting harder to get good value out of the miles and travel portals are looking better and better with each passing day.

Amex travel portal sucks extremely bad and can’t hold a candle to Chase even on their best day. Like it or not the OP pointed out what most folks who love MR (and UR/TYP) folks usually don’t like to discuss which is Amex, like Chase, or even Citi for that matter isn’t a ticket the “gravy train” that folks like to present.

Airline partners is where most transferable currency will shine. However the downside that no one likes to talk about is transferable currency is only as good as airlines allow. Award flights are typically only made available when an airline knows from history and data that they weren’t going to be able to sell the seat anyway.

Travel portal allows for one to go when they want without question. Downside is that it takes more points for the premium stuff.

Points and miles worth more but you’re only getting a seat when revenue folks don’t want it.