Using Amex Points with Singpore Airlines

[MAX_1]

Congratulations and Thanks to everyone who offer their experiences and knowledge to those of us who are not so experienced in Air Travel.This is a great site.
My question to the forum is about using my Amex points to fly from Australia to Europe for my family - 4 adults and 1 child (4 yo).
I am a KrysFlyer Member and am adding all the family to my information.
I have over 1.3 M points with Amex.
I need to know if Singapore will make reservations and then put them on hold,tell me how many Amex points I need ,so I can transfer them to my KrysFlyer Account and finalise the flights after this.
I know that this method can be used with Thai Air,but not sure with Singapore Airlines.
I am also a member of QFF but trying to get 5 seats is harder than winning Lotto.
Thanks,
Max

 

[NM]

Can't help you with SQ's policy, but AA will hold an award booking for a short time for you. You could transfer 1.3M Amex points to become 429,000 Starwood points, which can then be transferred to AA for 513,000 AA miles. An AA award from Australia to Europe in economy costs 90,000 each.

You could also try VS as they have a 1:1 transfer from Amex. But you will need to call them to check on their policy of holding awards while you transfer the points in. Someone posted recently where they have transferred to VA Flying Club only to find that their award was not available when they wanted to travel and the points are now stuck in the VS program.

Also, having that many Amex points allows you to use the Travelkey option to get over $10,000 worth of travel services with no restrictions on availability and with whatever airline you want.

 

[brightdoc]

Dear MAx - join Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (free - online) and transfer points from AMEX to that account. You will need something like 150000 each for Business return Aus-Europe on SIA and 220000 each for First. You make the booking through Virgin in Sydney.

I have done just this and booked on SIA Mel-Sin-LAX then JFK-FRA -SIN - MEL using a total of 315000 points for First and had an excellent trip - what's more, I only booked in September 06 and travelled in Jan 07! It was terrific!

 

[brightdoc]

Added to my previous post: in my view you have to take a chance and put the points in to a program such as Virgin Atlantic and trust that you will be able to get award bookings on one of their airlines. 5 on the same flight could be pushing it - but perhaps in different classes it may be possible. It depends on the flexibility of dates.

I should add that one of their partner airlines (Air NZ) offer MEL-Auckland-LAX-LHR return in Business for 180000 as well - which seems fantastic esp if you want to stopover in USA.

 

[armanie]

Hi Max_1,

You should be able to ring up Kris Flyers and book the seat first, before you have to transfer your points from Amex.

I did that last year for my flight SYD-SIN rtn in business class.

I needed 4 seats. When I rang up, they put me on wait list for the return flight.

I waited until the waitlist was confirmed before I transferred my Amex points over to Kris Flyers.

I suggest you ring Kris Flyers. I don't think you can do it via the net.

Good luck.

armanie

 

[brightdoc]

Can't help you with SQ's policy, but AA will hold an award booking for a short time for you. You could transfer 1.3M Amex points to become 429,000 Starwood points, which can then be transferred to AA for 513,000 AA miles. An AA award from Australia to Europe in economy costs 90,000 each.

You could also try VS as they have a 1:1 transfer from Amex. But you will need to call them to check on their policy of holding awards while you transfer the points in. Someone posted recently where they have transferred to VA Flying Club only to find that their award was not available when they wanted to travel and the points are now stuck in the VS program.


With Virgin, you will only need 1.1 M points for five retrun in First Class, or 900000 for five return in Business - both on Singapore Airlines - which is half the number needed going through Krisflyer. This is an incredible loophole - you could fly an Airbus 380 through it! My own experience with Virgin in this way is that while they may not hold a booking until you transfer points - although they may - at least they can tell you what availability is like. If dates are flexible this is surely the best way to go. Better to burn points on First than Economy!