Which FF program to reedem points on

[lahlee]

My partner and I are both going to cancel our Amex accounts, which means we have to transfer our membership rewards points out into a rewards program or we lose them (about 480,000 points in total).

In the past I've always transferred them to Singapore Airlines Krisflyer, but since the Krisflyer points can expire in 3 years I've preferred to park the points in the Amex points account. We tend to redeem points for International Y class seats. I'd move them to Qantas if allowed, but unfortunately that is not an option anymore.

I'm trying to choose between these, and any opinions/advice would be much appreciated.

- Asia Miles (480,000 Asia Miles)

- Etihad Guest (480,000 Guest Miles)

- Malaysia Airlines (480,000 Enrich Miles)

- Singapore Airlines (480,000 KrisFlyer Miles)

- Thai Royal Orchid Plus (480,000 Royal Orchid Plus miles)

- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (480,000 Flying Club Miles)

Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place, but it did seem to be a more general question than an Amex related.

 

[The Rok]

I think EY would offer the mist flexibility in terms of domestic & international rewards.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Asia Miles (Cathay) & Malaysia Airlines are both OneWorld as is Qantas. But check co pay fees each has on reward flights, award cost in miles & miles expiry. Are you likely to fly a Cathay or Malaysia flight? Or an award flight on another OneWorld airline (QF, AA, BA etc) ? A QF flight may keep these 480.000 miles alive (depending on fare bucket).

Some people move (or used to move) Amex points to American Airlines (AA) or other airline FFP via SPG hotels. Not sure if that is still available. Amex --> SPG--> airline FFP
http://catalogue.membershiprewards....ewards_and_accessories&newCategorySearch=true
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/account/starpoints/transfer/airline_partner_list.html

This web site may be of interest , but may not be up to date http://www.hotels-and-travel.de/ffp/

 

[an*g-bne]

It might be easier for members to assist if you could give us some idea of what you wanted to do with the points, e.g. business class flights to Europe, domestic flights only...

 

[lahlee]

Thanks for the help, everyone - I'll look at those options. In response to an*g-bne , I had mentioned in my post that we redeem on International economy flights. I would not use points for domestic fares. As far as destinations go, we tend to travel to a broad range of areas; Europe, Asia, USA, Sth America, so I didn't want to limit the conversation to specific locations. I think this is my problem in general, there are to many options! I'm tending towards unloading them all into Krisflyer, and just making sure we use them within 3 years....

 

[Jack_OC]

I would go with either Singapore or Etihad, as both are good airlines, with a wide range of destinations, generally good reward availability and good value rewards. Etihad has even better availability than SQ in premium cabins, but I think you can get economy rewards on almost any flight with either airline.

However, Etihad points would expire after 2 years if you have no status, and they can't be extended. Singapore last for 3 years and can be extended for another 6 months. So if you don't expect to use the points within 2 years, Singapore is definitely the best bet.

I am intrigued why you would only be interested in economy redemptions when you have so many points though! You have enough for 3 business class returns to Europe with SQ, or 4-5 business class returns to Asia. And since you don't seem sure that you would even use all these points within 3 years, it seems to me you could afford to treat yourselves to some luxury and get real value from the points (economy rewards don't save you that much money, since you still have to pay fees and fuel charges etc).

 

[Mwenenzi]

I would go with either Singapore or Etihad, as both are good airlines, with a wide range of destinations, generally good reward availability and good value rewards. Etihad has even better availability than SQ in premium cabins, but I think you can get economy rewards on almost any flight with either airline.......

An airline (like Singapore) in one of the major alliances (Star or OneWorld) will have more award opportunities & routes with partners, than a single non alliance airline. You are not restricted to routes of your airline. You have possible access to partner airline routes. The partners can be more useful than your own airline routes

SPG could warehouse your Amex miles, subject to the terms & conditions of that loyalty program. Be very careful about miles expiry,

 

[lahlee]

Great advice guys - thanks!

I did not realise Etihad points expire so quickly. And I do think I should probably consider some business class flights - I've never flown anything above economy class; I'm afraid I might never be able to go back once I experience the difference!!

 

[Jack_OC]

An airline (like Singapore) in one of the major alliances (Star or OneWorld) will have more award opportunities & routes with partners, than a single non alliance airline. You are not restricted to routes of your airline. You have possible access to partner airline routes. The partners can be more useful than your own airline routes

AFAIK, It's much more expensive to use KF miles with partners than with SQ.

Both EY and SQ have massive network coverage and good reward availability, so I don't think it would often be necessary to redeem with partners. But FWIW, EY does have a lot of airline partners too, even though it's not part of an alliance.

 

[aikman]

If you must close the Amex account I would personally go with post #3 and transfer the points to SPG and then to AA. 480,000 Amex points converts to 300,000 AA points. You then have access to the oneworld network and pay no fuel surcharge on most airlines. If you park the points in SPG for now and do a transfer out once every 18 months you can keep the accounts active indefinitely.

I think AA is a good option for global travel if you want to visit different destinations every time. Singapore Airlines is good too but those fuel surcharges can get depressing. I’ve found Etihad Y redemptions to be quite high eg. over 100,000 points one way to Europe. Partner redemption on Malaysia and Thai also seem quite high to me. Asia Miles penalises you for doing one way redemptions and Virgin Atlantic is London based although they do have lots of partners but from their website it is difficult to figure out the partner redemption rates.

 

[Jack_OC]

If you must close the Amex account I would personally go with post #3 and transfer the points to SPG and then to AA. 480,000 Amex points converts to 300,000 AA points. You then have access to the oneworld network and pay no fuel surcharge on most airlines.

Are there no fuel surcharges/fees with AA awards? I wasn't aware of that, but that would certainly be a major bonus.

However, wouldn't 480,000 Amex pts end up converting to just 240,000 AA miles? And bear in mind you need more AA miles than KF miles for an award flight to Europe.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Are there no fuel surcharges/fees with AA awards? I wasn't aware of that, but that would certainly be a major bonus.

With AA awards only BA flights have carrier surcharges. None on AA, QF & other award flights. You have to pay real taxes but these are minor (10's of $) and the dreaded high UK APD tax, if applicable. This is why AA is better than QF/BA for many people. Look at the AA forum here on AFF

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If you want to fly economy consider moving points to AA

For Business I would move to KF despite the fuel fines...good availability and easy to book.

 

[aikman]

And bear in mind you need more AA miles than KF miles for an award flight to Europe.

Points required are actually very similar.
In economy, AA charges 45,000 points one way to Europe on all airlines.
Krisflyer charges 50,000 points one way on Star Alliance airlines. This can be brought down to 40,375 points if flying only SQ using the 15% online booking discount. Then add $$$$$ in fuel surcharges.

 

[Jack_OC]

Points required are actually very similar.
In economy, AA charges 45,000 points one way to Europe on all airlines.
Krisflyer charges 50,000 points one way on Star Alliance airlines. This can be brought down to 40,375 points if flying only SQ using the 15% online booking discount. Then add $$$$$ in fuel surcharges.

SQ is cheaper than that for some EU destinations. But anyway, it means the OP could get 5 one way Y fares with AA or 11+ with SQ. so it's a matter of working out whether more than double the number of reward flights justifies the fuel fines.

 

[winfred]

I would find a program with good chance of upgrade with points as it is a much better way to burn points. Using points on Y fare is not a very good idea.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I would find a program with good chance of upgrade with points as it is a much better way to burn points. Using points on Y fare is not a very good idea.

For most airline freq fly programes you can only upgrade flights marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by your airline. Not other airlines. So in effect you are restricted to the routes your airline flys. Upgrade may or may not be instant or a lottery (as QF) and/or require a higher cost upgradable fare. And be carefull of co pay fees if applicable on upgrades

 

[winfred]

For most airline freq fly programes you can only upgrade flights marketed (flight number) and operated (metal) by your airline. Not other airlines. So in effect you are restricted to the routes your airline flys. Upgrade may or may not be instant or a lottery (as QF) and/or require a higher cost upgradable fare. And be carefull of co pay fees if applicable on upgrades

Yes you can only upgrade flights operated by the FF program airline but it offer a much better burn rate. You don't buy the ticket with the view of upgrading using points. Instead you buy your ticket without taking that into consideration and apply for the upgrade if it can be done.

 

[paultiffen]

AA also partner with Etihad and the redemption rates are great

If you must close the Amex account I would personally go with post #3 and transfer the points to SPG and then to AA. 480,000 Amex points converts to 300,000 AA points. You then have access to the oneworld network and pay no fuel surcharge on most airlines. If you park the points in SPG for now and do a transfer out once every 18 months you can keep the accounts active indefinitely.

I think AA is a good option for global travel if you want to visit different destinations every time. Singapore Airlines is good too but those fuel surcharges can get depressing. I’ve found Etihad Y redemptions to be quite high eg. over 100,000 points one way to Europe. Partner redemption on Malaysia and Thai also seem quite high to me. Asia Miles penalises you for doing one way redemptions and Virgin Atlantic is London based although they do have lots of partners but from their website it is difficult to figure out the partner redemption rates.

 

[BethCarr]

I have the same problem, have 780,000 points sitting in Amex and not sure where to put them so have left them there for the time being. I get staff travel at the moment so waiting until I am poor to use them! Interesting about the fuel charges and SPG, didnt know about that!