Laundering MR to HH via VS

[wafliron]

I think I have this right, but would appreciate confirmation before I pull the trigger:

Let's say I need 285k HH points, with the source being American Express Membership Rewards points.

Am I correct in thinking my best option is to launder them via Virgin Atlantic? And the process would be 142,500 MR points -> 142,500 VS points @ 1:1, then 142,500 VS points -> 285,000 HH points @ 1:2?

Assuming that is correct, what is a typical transfer time from MR to VS, and VS to HH?

Thanks!

 

[Pumbaa]

You're pretty much correct except until March 31st you get a 20% bonus when you transfer Amex MR Points -> Virgin Atlantic
So then you'll get a 1:2.4 transfer ratio so you only need to transfer 118 960 MR points to get your 285 000 HH points.

It might take a bit of time for the bonus to credit, but now is as good a time as any to trade Amex points for HH points.

I ended up buying points directly through HH @ a rate of $400 for 40 000 points. Believe it or not but I found a trick that allowed me to by 105 000 HH points for $1060

I would personally have problems trading up 142 500 of my valuable Amex points to get HH points. 142 500 MR points is nearly enough for get 3 return PER-HKG J tickets on Singapore Airlines!

 

[burmans]

I agree that's a lot of MR points to get HH points, what are you planning to use for that justifies this? Better uses IMO.

 

[wafliron]

You're pretty much correct except until March 31st you get a 20% bonus when you transfer Amex MR Points -> Virgin Atlantic

So then you'll get a 1:2.4 transfer ratio so you only need to transfer 118 960 MR points to get your 285 000 HH points.

It might take a bit of time for the bonus to credit, but now is as good a time as any to trade Amex points for HH points.

Thanks for confirming Pumbaa. Yeah, I was aware of the 20% bonus, but didn't want to complicate my post

Do you happen to know how long it normally takes for a MR -> VS transfer, and for a VS -> HH transfer? I've never done either before.

I would personally have problems trading up 142 500 of my valuable Amex points to get HH points. 142 500 MR points is nearly enough for get 3 return PER-HKG J tickets on Singapore Airlines!

I agree that's a lot of MR points to get HH points, what are you planning to use for that justifies this? Better uses IMO.

And this is what I'm wrestling with right now.

I 100% recognise that it's not the "best" use of MR points on a value-gained basis. What's making me consider it, though, it two factors:

- I'd be redeeming them at DT Suites NYC and Rome Cavalieri, both of which are expensive hotels, and hence getting around "OK" value of around 2c/pt for my MR points.

- I'm relatively point-rich, so as long as it's not going to stop me from being able to redeem other points (MR or otherwise) for flights, "why not" save some cash on the hotel stays?

Decisions, decisions :-/