Beginner’s Guide to Leveraging Amex Membership Reward's Lucrative Premium Travel Opportunities

October 2016
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The inspiration for this report stemmed from a recent conversation I had with a local restaurateur friend, and specifically how he used his Amex points for travel in a way that I wouldn’t normally advise.

He owns several very successful restaurants, and he expenses everything to his American Express Centurion card, meaning he has a zillion points. On his last trip to Europe, he cashed in more than 480,000 Amex Rewards points for one ticket on Aer Lingus in Business Class.

I did a double take. You can get a ticket for 80,000 miles through Alitalia to Europe in Business Class. So why would anyone spend 400,000 points more?

The Road Most Traveled

I sometimes forget that many (too many) travelers who have American Express points do not redeem them through the Amex Membership Rewards airline miles program, which allows the transfer of Amex points to 19 airline mileage programs.

Instead, they (as my friend did) cash in points based on the ticket price. His Aer Lingus ticket cost $4,800, which translated into 480,000 points. Big mistake: He got one cent in value for each point instead of at least three (FCF's preferred minimum) and as much as 10, which is not hard to do. That's the kind of ROI I seek for my points.

The Missed Opportunity

Aer Lingus is not an Amex Rewards transfer partner, but its partner British Airways is, meaning you can transfer Amex Rewards points to BA and then use them to fly on a mileage award ticket with Aer Lingus. That mileage Business Class award ticket cost would have been 150,000 BA Avios points round-trip—330,000 fewer points than using points based on the cash value for a ticket. It would have been even cheaper with other Amex Reward partner airlines, which offer Business Class mileage-award tickets starting as low as 80,000 round-trip to Europe. Had I done this itinerary, I might have flown First Class to London on British Airways and made a connection to Dublin, all for 185,500 points round-trip, at a minimum.

[aside headline="Redeem Amex Points for Lucrative Upgrade Opportunities, Too" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]

In addition to all the ideas here to use your points for 'free tickets', remember most airlines will let you use miles to upgrade to the next class of service. Take British Airways for example: The cost to upgrade to First from Business Class to London from New York is 18,000 miles (off-season) one-way and the upgrade is valid with any published fare. You can also upgrade to Business Class from Premium Economy, which starts as low as 24,000 (off-season) one-way. Go here for more on using miles for an upgrade on BA, here for an upgrade on Cathay Pacific, and here for an upgrade on All Nippon or Singapore.[/aside]

Which is what led to this report, most of which is contained in the chart below, the most efficient way of presenting the myriad benefits of the Amex Membership Rewards Program.

But here's just one, pretty representative example. Singapore Airlines charges 114,750 miles First Class on New York-Frankfurt (the A380). A First Class ticket costs $7,517, yielding a return of almost seven cents per Amex Rewards point. That's much better than redeeming points based on the value of the ticket (751,700 points).

See chart below for ways to get the most for your Amex points—from the perspective of ‘Value Per Point’—and get ideas on the vast options available to American Express Rewards points accumulators.

Best Opportunities at the Amex Points Buffet:

[table_opt id="5438" style="gray-header" width="wide" alignment="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]

[["Alliance","Airline \/ Mileage Program","Operating Airline","Class of Service","Sample Route","Miles Needed","Published Fare","Value Per Mile*","Alliance and Other Partners","Misc Note \/ More Uses","Operating Airline Mileage Costs"],["SkyTeam","Alitalia \/ MilleMiglia","Korean","Business","New York - Seoul","90,000","$3,949","4\u00a2","SKYTEAM: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian, Tarom Romanian, Vietnam, Xiamen. PARTNERS: Etihad, Etihad Regional, NIKI, Jet Airways, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, GOL, Malaysia, Virgin Australia","Instant point transfer. Current Mileage chart is valid until Oct. 14, 2016.","Korean cost 125,000 to 185,000: save 35,000 to 95,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta","Business","Seattle - London**","80,000","$4,865","6\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta cost 125,000: save 45,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Los Angeles - New York","40,000","$1,206","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta cost 135,000: save 95,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Atlanta - Sao Paulo","75,000","$5,892","8\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta cost 150,000: save 75,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Air France","Business","Atlanta - Johannesburg","120,000","$7,965","7\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Air France cost 200,000: save 80,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Alitalia","Business","New York-Rome**","80,000","$3,517","4\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#",""],["#rowspan#","Air France & KLM \/ Flying Blue","Air France","Business","New York-Amsterdam**","62,500","$4,344","7\u00a2","SKYTEAM: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian, Tarom Romanian, Vietnam, Xiamen. PARTNERS: TransAvia, HOP, Air Calin, Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, Alaska, Bangkok Airways, Chalair Aviation, Comair, Copa, GOL, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Malaysia, TAAG Angola, Twin Jet, Ukraine International","Instant point transfer. Business Class Promo awards up to 50% off. (Details <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flyingblue.com\/promo-awards.html\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.)",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Los Angeles - Paris**","125,000","$4,423","4\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","KLM","Business","Atlanta - Amsterdam**","#rowspan#","$4,344","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","Delta \/ SkyMiles","Delta","Business","Detroit - London**","105,000","$4,789","4\u00a2","SKYTEAM: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya, KLM Royal Dutch, Korean, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian, Tarom Romanian, Vietnam, Xiamen. PARTNERS: GOL, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Alaska, Great Lakes, Hawaiian, West Jet","Instant point transfer. Occasional mileage-award deals; most recent 105,000 miles. (Details <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/business-class-u-s-europe-delta-miles-amex-citi-thankyou-chase-starwood-points-book-april-21-save-20000-delta-miles\/\">here<\/a>.)",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta","Business","Los Angeles - Tokyo","140,000","$3,498","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["N\/A","Virgin Atlantic \/ Flying Club","Virgin Atlantic","Business","New York - London**","80,000","$3,883","5\u20b5","PARTNERS: Air China, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Delta, Hawaiian, Jet Airways, Malaysia, Scandinavian, Singapore, South African, Virgin America","Instant point transfer. Occasional mileage-award deals; most recent 38,500 to 49,000 miles in Premium Economy to London. (Details <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/free-upgrade-to-premium-economy-to-london-and-beyond-on-virgin-atlantic\/\">here<\/a>.) Low mileage Biz Class upgrades to London: 20,000 to 22,500 miles one-way with no co-pay.",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta","Business","Atlanta - Sao Paulo","90,000","$5,892","7\u20b5","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Delta cost 150,000: save 60,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Virgin Atlantic","Premium Economy","Chicago - London","38,500","$1,788","5\u20b5","#rowspan#","#rowspan#",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Virgin Australia","Business","Los Angeles - Sydney","188,000","$6,125","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Virgin Australia does not offer U.S. mileage program"],["oneworld","British Airways \/ Executive Club","British Airways","First","New York - London**","136,000","$5,883","4\u00a2","ONEWORLD: Air Berlin, American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan, LATAM, Malaysia, Qantas, Qatar, Royal Jordanian, S7, Sri Lankan. PARTNERS: Aer Lingus, Alaska, Meridiana","250 Rewards points = 200 Avios points. Instant point transfer. Occasional mileage-transfer deals to BA (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/low-cost-upgrade-strategy-saves-33-first-class-new-york-london\/\">50% bonus recently<\/a>). BA often has good First Class mileage-award availability.",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Upgrade to First","Los Angeles - London**","45,000","$7,096","6\u00a2","#rowspan#","No co-pay, and upgrades start as low as 18,000 miles from Business to First, and 24,000 miles from PE to Business one-way.","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Premium Economy","Washington DC - London","52,000","Upgrade for free: At 52,000 miles r\/t. United charges 60,000 r\/t for economy.","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","<a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/three-ways-to-get-business-class-to-canada-the-caribbean-central-america-and-mexico-on-american-for-less-than-the-price-of-coach-or-just-a-bit-more\/\">Avios & Money option<\/a>: A great deal. Requires more cash and fewer miles. The upshot: You\u2019re\nbuying miles at 1.4\u00a2 each (with no limit), more than a penny-a-mile less than the usual cost.","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","American","Business","Charlotte - Toronto","30,000","$825","3\u00a2","ONEWORLD: Air Berlin, American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan, LATAM, Malaysia, Qantas, Qatar, Royal Jordanian, S7, Sri Lankan. PARTNERS: Aer Lingus, Air China, Air New Zealand, Alaska, Bangkok Airways, China Eastern, Dragonair, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Royal Brunei, Srilankan Airlines","Instant point transfer. No co-pay on Cathay or American upgrades.","American cost 60,000: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/three-ways-to-get-business-class-to-canada-the-caribbean-central-america-and-mexico-on-american-for-less-than-the-price-of-coach-or-just-a-bit-more\/\">save 30,000 miles or get a two-for-one<\/a>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Dallas - Cozumel","#rowspan#","$1,048","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","American cost 50,000: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstclassflyer.com\/three-ways-to-get-business-class-to-canada-the-caribbean-central-america-and-mexico-on-american-for-less-than-the-price-of-coach-or-just-a-bit-more\/\">save 20,000 miles<\/a>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Montego Bay-Charlotte","#rowspan#","$1,043","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","Cathay Pacific \/ Asia Miles","Cathay Pacific","First","New York - Hong Kong","220,000","$29,248","13\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Premium Economy","Los Angeles - Hong Kong","Upgrade for free: Starts at 72,000 miles r\/t. United charges 80,000 r\/t for economy.","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","British Airways","First","Chicago - London**","120,000","$6,485","5\u00a2","ONEWORLD: Air Berlin, American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan, LATAM, Malaysia, Qantas, Qatar, Royal Jordanian, S7, Sri Lankan. PARTNERS: Avianca, Binter, Meridiana, Royal Air Maroc, TACA","","British Airways cost 136,000: save 16,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","American","Business","New York - London**","80,000","$4,483","6\u00a2","#rowspan#","","American cost 115,000: save 35,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","First","New York - Los Angeles","70,000","$2,096","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","","American cost 100,000: save 30,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","Iberia \/ Iberia Plus","Iberia","Business","Chicago - Madrid**","125,000","$4,111","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","Point-transfer time is 1 day",""],["N\/A","Emirates \/ Emirates Skywards","Emirates","First","New York - Milan","135,750","$7,457","4\u00a2","PARTNERS: Air Mauritius, Alaska, Easy Jet, Japan, Jet Airways, Jet Blue, JetStar, Korean, Malaysia, Qantas, S7, South African, TAP, Virgin America","Point-transfer time is 1 day. Many A380 routes, including this one.",""],["Star Alliance","Air Canada \/ Aeroplan","United","First","San Francisco - Frankfurt","140,000","$6,881","5\u00a2","STAR: Adria, Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, COPA, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopean, EVA, LOT, Lufthansa, Scandinavian, Schenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United","Instant point transfer.","United cost 160,000: save 20,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","All Nippon \/ ANA Mileage Club","All Nippon","Business","Houston - Tokyo","85,000","$5,714","7\u00a2","STAR: Adria, Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, COPA, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopean, EVA, LOT, Lufthansa, Scandinavian, Schenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United. PARTNER: Air Dolomiti, Air Macau, Etihad, Eurowings, Garuda Indonesia, Germanwings, Hawaiian, Jet Airways, Philippine Airlines, Virgin Atlantic","Instant point transfer. Business Class mileage rate is 75,000 (low season) to 90,000 (high season) to Japan.","United cost 130,000: save 45,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","SWISS","#rowspan#","Chicago - Zurich**","88,000","$3,975","5\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","SWISS cost 105,000: save 17,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","#rowspan#","Newark - Hong Kong","95,000","$7,577","8\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United cost 140,000: save 45,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Lufthansa","#rowspan#","Los Angeles - Johannesburg","104,000","$3,941","4\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Lufthansa cost 185,000: save 81,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Etihad","#rowspan#","New York - Abu Dhabi","104,000","$5,985","6\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Etihad cost 176,782: save 72,782 miles"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","#rowspan#","Washingon DC - Sao Paulo","88,000","$5,220","6\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United cost 110,000: save 22,000 miles"],["#rowspan#","Singapore \/ KrisFlyer","Singapore","First","New York - Frankfurt","114,750***","$2,496","2\u00a2","STAR: Adria, Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, All Nippon, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, COPA, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopean, EVA, LOT, Lufthansa, Scandinavian, Schenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United. PARTNERS: Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Vistara","Instant point transfer. 15% discount for online mileage-award bookings.",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Los Angeles - Tokyo","148,750***","$7,516","5\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United","Business","Los Angeles - New York","40,000","$1,296","3\u00a2","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","United cost 50,000: save 10,000 miles"]]
<small>*Net value per mile cost does not include taxes, which range from $50 to $1,100. Some international airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic often have high mileage award taxes, but the cost is negligible relative to the opportunity. Rate is rounded-off to the next cent. **90 day advance purchase for fares to Europe. ***Booked online.</small>