@laboi_22 wrote:
So my business AMEX is up for the AF. I want to cancel but was thinking about transferring my points to a frequent flyer program. I have a green for business. If I don't transfer now the points will be MRE. So has anyone done this. I'm not sure about Star Alliance etc. what is the best bang for my buck. I'm looking to use them for a trip to SFO in November. Any suggestions are helpful. A quick google search about this yields tons of complicated methods/opinions
Unfortunately, that's because it's pretty complicated. If there was one easy fits all/fits most approach, that's what everyone would do.
How many points are you talking about? Are the dates for your trip to SFO already set? Have you looked at availability for the various airlines you can use for those dates? Depending on availability, that might answer the question for you right there.
I don't think there are any transfer bonuses right now, so you're probably going to get 1:1 for your points. Are you near a hub for a certain airline? That might help you choose as well. If you end up not doing the SFO trip, perhaps have greater flexibility with the points if you put them with an airline with more options.
Another option if you are not sure about the SFO trip is to just let them become MRE points. At the time when you decide you do want to use the points, upgrade your Zync (I'm assuming that's what is giving you the MRE points) to a green and make the transfer.
Starting Score: ~500 (12/01/2008)
Here's the sites I like most for this kind of info: thepointsguy.com, frugaltravelguy.com, millionmilesecrets.com, boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime, boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing, boardingarea.com/blogs/mommypoints. Of course there's also flyertalk and milepoint, but flyertalk is unwieldy.
If you're only talking about enough points for one flight, I'd just see what's available on the different carriers and then do the transfer. If you have a lot of excess points, then you may need to do some more research about where to park them.
