What is the best use for Amex points?

[tbonesteak]

Just specific to American Express points - I've got a ton, where will I get the most value on them?

Thanks!

[Floorguy]

I really don’t think you’ll get any great deals with your points. I’ve accumulated “pleanty” through the years. I normally just use mine for restaurant gift cards!

[glenn_herwig]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

Just specific to American Express points - I've got a ton, where will I get the most value on them?

Thanks!

You always want to transfer them to an airline. Never buy things like suitcases or gift cards with your points. Also if you transfer them to Singapore airlines you can book United flights I think. There’s a really good blog called The Points Guy check him out I’m sure they will have a good solution.

[tyler1980]

first class international airfare. Transfer to a FF program.

You get the most value per point that way. Statement credits are a terrible value. Gift cards are better than statement credits but still not great.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by glenn_herwig

You always want to transfer them to an airline. Never buy things like suitcases or gift cards with your points. Also if you transfer them to Singapore airlines you can book United flights I think. There’s a really good blog called The Points Guy check him out I’m sure they will have a good solution.

Originally Posted by tyler1980

first class international airfare. Transfer to a FF program.



You get the most value per point that way. Statement credits are a terrible value. Gift cards are better than statement credits but still not great.

Yes transferring to an airline partner is the best bet for points. I run everything through my Amex. I probably have 1,500,000 points maybe more. I pretty much only use them for first class tickets or every once in a while a super cheap coach ticket. I look for a point value of around 1.5 to 2 cents minimum. Anything less and I’ll pay cash. I’ve gotten first class international tickets for a point value of over 4 cents before.

Generally I transfer to delta.


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[Floorguy]

Sounds like good advice! But as for me, I really don’t fly, but boy could I eat!!

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Yes transferring to an airline partner is the best bet for points. I run everything through my Amex. I probably have 1,500,000 points maybe more. I pretty much only use them for first class tickets or every once in a while a super cheap coach ticket. I look for a point value of around 1.5 to 2 cents minimum. Anything less and I’ll pay cash. I’ve gotten first class international tickets for a point value of over 4 cents before.

Generally I transfer to delta.


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earning 5 points per dollar on airfare on my AMEX makes it tough to redeem points as i just want to pay and earn more. Its a vicious cycle.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

earning 5 points per dollar on airfare on my AMEX makes it tough to redeem points as i just want to pay and earn more. Its a vicious cycle.

Haha yes it is. You gotta pay when the deals are good and redeem when it makes sense. I wait for 100,000 point first class tickets to Europe and things like that when airfare is normally 4-5k per ticket.

I did just use about 185,000 points for 4 tickets to the keys for the family. Cash price was like 3 grand. Not the optimum redemption but I just didn’t feel like dropping the 3 grand and I have so many darn points!


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[Spencer.]

I follow a travel blogger called The Points Guy. I have used some of his tricks/tips and transferred my AMEX points to a airline carrier and scored some cheap international first class tickets.

[tbonesteak]

They're offering to transfer 5 Amex points for 4.27 True Blue points on JetBlue, that seems low compared to what is being mentioned in here.

[Star Ferry]

A round trip CX ticket from NY to HK is $9000 or 145000 asia miles (transfer 1:1 for Amex rewards points). I think first class is $25K or 230,000 points

The business ticket is a 6 cent value per Amex point I've redeemed it before

[.brian.]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

They're offering to transfer 5 Amex points for 4.27 True Blue points on JetBlue, that seems low compared to what is being mentioned in here.

Yea, but then you have to fly JetBlue.

Edit: I think I am thinking of Spirit that is horrible, not JetBlue.

[CamSLC]

I've been extremely disappointed with the internal value of Amex points in the past year. I feel like I was baited into big point bonuses just to have them decrease the value of my points. It used to be, if a hotel was $500 a night it would equate to 50k points. Now it appears to be about 70k points. Meanwhile in comparison with Chase Sapphire Points for the same hotel is about 35k points a night.

For Amex points. I feel like as a Delta flyer my best option is to transfer to Delta. I know it's not consistently 1 to 1, but if you're flexible and check the delta emails they offer some good ones occasionally.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by CamSLC

I've been extremely disappointed with the internal value of Amex points in the past year. I feel like I was baited into big point bonuses just to have them decrease the value of my points. It used to be, if a hotel was $500 a night it would equate to 50k points. Now it appears to be about 70k points. Meanwhile in comparison with Chase Sapphire Points for the same hotel is about 35k points a night.

For Amex points. I feel like as a Delta flyer my best option is to transfer to Delta. I know it's not consistently 1 to 1, but if you're flexible and check the delta emails they offer some good ones occasionally.

I've been pondering this myself; is it worth switching to Sapphire and stop using my Amex?

I pay in full at the end of every month regardless, so APR means nothing to me.

[bayerische]

IHMO switching them to SPG points is the best use.

[CamSLC]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

I've been pondering this myself; is it worth switching to Sapphire and stop using my Amex?

I pay in full at the end of every month regardless, so APR means nothing to me.

I currently carry a Chase Sapphire, Amex Delta Platinum, and an Amex Platinum through Morgan Stanley (who covers the annual fee). I use my Sapphire when dining, drinking, and traveling almost exclusively. Delta purchases on Delta card. Amex platinum literally for Uber's and some recurring bills (phone, gym) If I was paying $550 a year I would drop the card.

[The Libertine]

Mine is linked to my Amazon account, and usually apply points toward purchases.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

I've been pondering this myself; is it worth switching to Sapphire and stop using my Amex?

I pay in full at the end of every month regardless, so APR means nothing to me.

Amex platinum is far better if you fly a lot as the 5 points per dollar on airfare and all the travel perks are very flight heavy. Otherwise the sapphire reserve is better as its more of an all around card and is better points earning in every other area minus flights.

[DJ TT 2002]

Use mine for flights too

[KrismanX]

I don't have Amex; but cash and travel accommodations are always great. As has been mentioned, Chase Sapphire Reserve card is awesome. If you've got a business, the Ink Business Preferred card has a $1,000 cashback offer for $5,000 spent in 3 months; but only Business Relationship Managers can allow for the $1,000 otherwise standard is $800. All points fully transferrable!

[tfjordan]

Delta points. 1:1 ratio!


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[locutus49]

We use ours on Amazon. Too hard these days to get decent upgrades when you want them.

[jschmidtdmd]

We also use ours on Amazon.

Having a young baby and packages literally coming everyday, this works out well.

[codester]

Haven't done the math but we usually use ours on gift cards.

[dera]

Originally Posted by bayerische

IHMO switching them to SPG points is the best use.

With the current transfer ratio? Are you drunk?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by dera

With the current transfer ratio? Are you drunk?

A little.

3X1 is not really great no. But using the Cash&Points option with a little planning usually scores us great deals.

Like right now. Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica. 6 nights ocean view room under a thousand bucks. Hard to beat.

[ejvette]

Originally Posted by Floorguy

I really don’t think you’ll get any great deals with your points. I’ve accumulated “pleanty” through the years. I normally just use mine for restaurant gift cards!

Bang for the buck im with you Rob

[Jay (Eire)]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

A round trip CX ticket from NY to HK is $9000 or 145000 asia miles (transfer 1:1 for Amex rewards points). I think first class is $25K or 230,000 points

The business ticket is a 6 cent value per Amex point I've redeemed it before

This is also my sole usage for AMEX points. I transfer them to my Marco Polo account and redeem only for Buisness Class upgrades or outright tickets for international travel. I generally wouldn't waste points on anything less than 6 hours in the air so I primarily use them for US - Asia flights.

[tyler1980]

transfer ratios are meaningless FWIW as different programs points are valued differently. Just because its a good multiplier doesnt make it a good deal. You need to convert what the purchase price would have been had you paid cash into cents per point.

[dera]

Originally Posted by bayerische

A little.

3X1 is not really great no. But using the Cash&Points option with a little planning usually scores us great deals.

Like right now. Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica. 6 nights ocean view room under a thousand bucks. Hard to beat.

And how many MR points?
For me it's been hard to find more than 1.5cpp value in SPG transfers.