Best Transfer Value for Economy Int'l Amex MR?

[CantSmashThis]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to transfer my AMEX points to an airline that has good redemption rates for economy flights. Originally, I looked into ANA, and with offpeak travels to Japan, it would be only 40k MR points. However, they were charging around $230 for fuel surcharges. I have looked up some other dates, and it looks like it's jumped up to nearly $400 for surcharges!

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations, or tips to best make use of my MR points, preferably to places in Asia (I mainly fly out of SFO) in Economy class, without such high fuel surcharges.

TIA!

[fittiger]

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@CantSmashThis wrote:

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to transfer my AMEX points to an airline that has good redemption rates for economy flights. Originally, I looked into ANA, and with offpeak travels to Japan, it would be only 40k MR points. However, they were charging around $230 for fuel surcharges. I have looked up some other dates, and it looks like it's jumped up to nearly $400 for surcharges!

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations, or tips to best make use of my MR points, preferably to places in Asia (I mainly fly out of SFO) in Economy class, without such high fuel surcharges.

TIA!

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I've never priced trans-pacific flights, but I've always had good luck with Delta on trans-atlantic flights.  Just booked a one-way to Madrid for 23k points.  Check for availability on Delta, Korean Air and Virgin Australia and if any have good award availability you could book through Delta.

You might check Cathay Pacific or American Airlines too and maybe transfer to British Airways?  I know BA has high fuel surcharges, but maybe if its a AA/Cathay flight it won't be applicable?

[Shadowfactor]

ANA is honestly your best bet.
While you will have to pay fuel surcharges, You are saving 10-20K in points over the next cheapest option.

Personally I would rather have 20K points then spend another 20K in points at 1 CPP.

If you would rather use points for the entire thing. Look at Avianca. They are a amex partner now and don’t pass along fuel surcharges the last time I checked.

Delta can be a good value during a flash sale.

[wasCB14]

United also flies from SFO to NRT and HND.

I currently see a 15% MR transfer promo for Avianca. MRs also transfer to Air Canada.

I haven't looked at award availability or surcharges.

[Anonymous]

Considering how much it would cost you in cash to fly there, $200-400 in fuel surcharges is a deal IMO. 

Nothing is ever truly free.

[iced]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Considering how much it would cost you in cash to fly there, $200-400 in fuel surcharges is a deal IMO. 

Nothing is ever truly free.

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This. Fuel surcharges and airport departure fees are a pretty common thing internationally, so getting a ticket for only a few hundred in fees is still going to beat paying full price. I don't think I've ever done an international award redemption that didn't cost me at least a few hundred per ticket. If you absolutely, positively must bring that cost down, try some oddball airports - avoid NRT and KIX, for example. It's inconvenient, but might find yourself saving a few bucks that you can instead have squeezed out of you once you arrive. Japan is expensive.

Domestic is another matter - the $5.60 TSA fee or whatever is pretty much all you should ever pay for each direction.

[Shadowfactor]

It’s very possible to do International award tickets without surcharges/fees.

Avianca is one program where they don’t pass along surcharges, but the tickets cost more points. In this case an extra 20K.

ANA - 50K RT plus ~$250 in fuel surcharges

Avianca - 70K with around ~$30 in fees.

You have to decide what you think the better value is, I personally would rather pay the extra $220 to keep 20K points for the next ticket.